Improving the Electrochemical Performance of Li–S Batteries via a MnCo₂S₄–CoS_1.097 Heterostructure with a Hollow Structure and High Catalytic Activity

Abstract

Rechargeable lithium−sulfur (Li−S) batteries are thought to be one of the most important candidate materials for new accumulated energy devices due to the preeminent theoretical specific capacity and energy density. Nevertheless, the shuttle effect of higher-order lithium polysulfide (LiPSs) severely impedes its actual practice. In this work, the hollow tubular MnCo 2 S 4 −CoS 1.097 heterostructure composite is explored as the effective sulfur host to provide strong chemisorption and swift kinetics of LiPSs redox reactions so as to limit the dissolution and shuttle of LiPSs and obtain a prominent electrochemical performance. As a consequence, the assembled cathode based on the MnCo 2 S 4 −CoS 1.097 heterostructure host exhibits a prominent initial specific capacity of 973 mA h g −1 at a high rate of 1 C and still retains a capacity of 762 mA h g −1 even after 500 cycles with a capacity decay rate per cycle of 0.041%. Especially, the MnCo 2 S 4 −CoS 1.097 /S cathode is fully operational even at a high sulfur load of 6 mg cm −2 . Therefore, this work highlights a new strategy for the rational design of the heterostructure and provides a new idea for the industrial applications of Li−S batteries.

Synergistic design of a semi-hollow core–shell structure and a metal–organic framework-derived Co/Zn selenide coated with MXene for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries

“…To overcome these challenges, researchers have focused on developing sulfur-based cathode composites, particularly hollow nanostructured hosts that can mitigate the volume changes of sulfur during battery cycling while acting as nanoscale electrochemical reactors that provide space constraints for LiPSs. [10][11][12][13] In order to further improve the adsorption capacity of the host material towards LiPSs and reaction kinetics, polar materials such as metal oxides [14][15][16] and metal sulfides [17][18][19] can be combined with hollow structures as sulfur hosts. However, the conductivity of these materials is restricted, which can affect the rate performance and longterm cycling stability of the battery.…”

MoS2 mediated tuning of CuCo2S4–MoS2 nanocomposites for high-performance symmetric hybrid supercapacitors

“…[19][20][21][22][23] Materials that have shown potential for HSCs are transition metal-based thiospinel sulfides (TMTSs), specifically MCo 2 S 4 (where M = Ni, Mn, Cu, Fe, etc.). [24][25][26][27][28] These compounds exhibit complex valence states, favorable charge accumulation ability, charge adsorption/desorption capability, and high energy density. Interestingly, TMTS compounds have the ability to exhibit a combination of EDL and pseudo capacitance because transition metals such as nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), etc.…”

“…). 24–28 These compounds exhibit complex valence states, favorable charge accumulation ability, charge adsorption/desorption capability, and high energy density. Interestingly, TMTS compounds have the ability to exhibit a combination of EDL and pseudo capacitance because transition metals such as nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), etc.…”