ALKALI METAL-SULFUR SECONDARY BATTERY CONTAINING CONDUCTING POLYMER NETWORK-PROTECTED CATHODE MATERIAL PARTICULATES

Provided is a rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur cell comprising an anode active material layer, an electrolyte, and a cathode active material layer comprising multiple particulates, wherein at least one of the particulates comprises one or a plurality of sulfur-containing material particles being partially or fully embraced or encapsulated by a thin shell layer of a conducting polymer network, having a lithium ion conductivity no less than 10S/cm, an electron conductivity from 10to 10S/cm at room temperature (typically up to 5×10S/cm), and a shell layer thickness from 0.5 nm to 10 μm. This battery exhibits an excellent combination of high sulfur content, high sulfur utilization efficiency, high energy density, and long cycle life. Also provided are a powder mass containing such multiple particulates, a cathode layer comprising such multiple particulates, and a method of producing the cathode layer and the battery cell.