Tunable Interaction between Metal‐Organic Frameworks and Electroactive Components in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: Status and Perspectives

Abstract Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries, with high theoretical energy density, promise to be the optimal candidate of next‐generation energy‐storage. Rapid development in materials has made a major step forward in Li–S batteries. However, a big gap in cycle life and efficiency for practical applications still remains. Reasonable design of materials/electrodes a is significant aspect that must be addressed. The rising metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are a new class of crystalline porous organic–inorganic hybrid materials. Abundant inorganic nodes and designable organic linkers allow tailored pore chemistry at a molecular‐scale, which enables tunable interaction with electroactive components in Li–S batteries. In this review, the interaction between basic component/structure of MOFs and electroactive components in Li–S batteries is clarified to guide precise function‐driven design of MOFs. First, the reaction mechanisms and issues in Li–S batteries are briefly summarized. Second, the structural advantages of MOFs in pore chemistry and morphology are highlighted. Based on the above two aspects of understanding, a bridge between issue‐structure‐function is proposed. The interaction between MOFs with transport and reaction of electroactive components are discussed. Finally, a perspective on the future development of MOFs based materials in Li–S batteries are given. It is believed that the tunable interaction will boost the frontier interdiscipline of MOFs based electrochemical systems.