Liu, FangfangFeng, LijuanYou, HuijuanRen, JianweiLiang, YangjieWang, Hui2026-02-172025-12Liu, F., Feng, L., You, H. et al. 2025, 'Adiponitrile-enabled low-solvation strategy to mitigate the shuttle effect in lithium-sulfur batteries', Chemistry - An Asian Journal, vol. 20, no. 24, art. e70473, pp. 1-11, doi : 10.1002/asia.70473.1861-4728 (print)1861-471X (online)10.1002/asia.70473http://hdl.handle.net/2263/108327DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.Lithium–sulfur batteries are promising for meeting growing global energy needs and supporting sustainable development. However, the shuttle effect is a key barrier to their wide use. Reducing Li⁺ ion solvation is an effective solution. In this study, adiponitrile (ADN), featuring two highly electronegative cyano groups, forms a stable [Li(ADN)]⁺ complex that contracts the solvation shell of Li⁺. Its moderate molecular size also helps form a denser interfacial protective film on the sulfur cathode, boosting surface stability. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations show ADN's cyano groups bind strongly to Li⁺, forming stable local structures that suppress polysulfide migration and improve cycle stability. Experimentally, batteries with ADN retain 75% of initial capacity after 120 cycles at 0.2 C and have a 744 mAh g−1 discharge capacity at 2 C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms ADN-Li⁺ interaction and reveals ADN's role in regulating the electrolyte's solvation environment. This work provides new insights for electrolyte design in next-generation Li–S batteries.en© 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH. This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article : 'Adiponitrile-enabled low-solvation strategy to mitigate the shuttle effect in lithium-sulfur batteries', Chemistry - An Asian Journal, vol. 20, no. 24, art. e70473, pp. 1-11, 2025, doi : 10.1002/asia.70473.. The definite version is available at : https://aces.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1861471x.Adiponitrile (ADN)Reduced solvation structureLithium–sulfur batteries (LiSBs)Electrolyte additivePostprint Article