Recent developments and future challenges in designing rechargeable potassium-sulfur and potassium-selenium batteries

The use of chalcogenide elements, such as sulfur (S) and selenium (Se), as cathode materials in rechargeable lithium (Li) and sodium (Na) batteries has been extensively investigated. Similar to Li and Na systems, rechargeable potassium-sulfur (K-S) and potassium-selenium (K-Se) batteries have recently attracted substantial interest because of the abundance of K and low associated costs. However, K-S and K-Se battery technologies are in their infancy because K possesses overactive chemical properties compared to Li and Na and the electrochemical mechanisms of such batteries are not fully understood. This paper summarizes current research trends and challenges with regard to K-S and K-Se batteries and reviews the associated fundamental science, key technological developments, and scientific challenges to evaluate the potential use of these batteries and finally determine effective pathways for their practical development.