N-Doped Porous Carbon Microspheres Derived from Yeast as Lithium Sulfide Hosts for Advanced Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium sulfide (Li2S) is considered to be the best potential substitution for sulfur-based cathodes due to its high theoretical specific capacity (1166 mAh g(-1)) and good compatibility with lithium metal-free anodes. However, the electrical insulation nature of Li2S and severe shuttling of lithium polysulfides lead to poor rate capability and cycling stability. Confining Li2S into polar conductive porous carbon is regarded as a promising strategy to solve these problems. In this work, N-doped porous carbon microspheres (NPCMs) derived from yeasts are designed and synthesized as a host to confine Li2S. Nano Li2S is successfully entered into the NPCMs' pores to form N-doped porous carbon microspheres-Li2S composite (NPCMs-Li2S) by a typical liquid infiltration-evaporation method. NPCMs-Li2S not only delivers a high initial discharge capacity of 1077 mAh g(-1) at 0.2 A g(-1), but also displays good rate capability of 198 mAh g(-1) at 5.0 A g(-1) and long-term lifespan over 500 cycles. The improved cycling and high-rate performance of NPCMs-Li2S can be attributed to the NPCMs' host, realizing the strong fixation of LiPSs and enhancing the electron and charge conduction of Li2S in NPCMs-Li2S cathodes.

Automated summary

The use of nitrogen-doped porous carbon microspheres as a host for confining lithium sulfide showed promising results in improving the cycling stability and rate capability of lithium-sulfur batteries. The composite material exhibited high initial discharge capacity, good rate capability, and long-term lifespan, attributed to the strong fixation of lithium polysulfides and enhanced electron and charge conduction in the cathode. This approach provides a new perspective for the application of lithium-sulfur batteries.