High electrochemical activity of Li2S2 linking two-dimensional tungsten boride nanosheet enables high-loading and long-lasting lithium-sulfur batteries

The Li2S-based cathodes with a high theoretical capacity of 1,166 mAh/g are regarded as the commercially available lithium-sulfur battery that can be coupled with Li-free anodes to avoid the safety concern of lithium metal. However, the instinct Li2S passivation leads to a high activation potential and low sulfur utilization with the notorious polysulfide migration. Herein, the single-atom tailoring strategy in designing liquid Li2S2 catholyte is created without the use of any complicated manufacturing processes or additives, where the Li2S2 cell enables the 3.0 V activation voltage without potential barrier. Mean-while, the conductive and polar tungsten boride offer the active center to anchor polysulfides migration. As expected, the tungsten boride-Li2S2 cathode exhibits excellent cycling stability, impressive cycling performance without initial potential barrier. (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study presents a single-atom tailoring strategy to design a liquid Li2S2 electrolyte, achieving a low activation voltage and excellent cycling stability, effectively addressing the safety concern and polysulfide migration issue in lithium-sulfur batteries.