Origin and Acceleration of Insoluble Li2S2-Li2S Reduction Catalysis in Ferromagnetic Atoms-based Lithium-Sulfur Battery Cathodes

Accelerating insoluble Li2S2-Li2S reduction catalysis to mitigate the shuttle effect has emerged as an innovative paradigm for high-efficient lithium-sulfur battery cathodes, such as single-atom catalysts by offering high-density active sites to realize in situ reaction with solid Li2S2. However, the profound origin of diverse single-atom species on solid-solid sulfur reduction catalysis and modulation principles remains ambiguous. Here we disclose the fundamental origin of Li2S2-Li2S reduction catalysis in ferromagnetic elements-based single-atom materials to be from their spin density and magnetic moments. The experimental and theoretical studies disclose that the Fe-N-4-based cathodes exhibit the fastest deposition kinetics of Li2S (226 mAh g(-1)) and the lowest thermodynamic energy barriers (0.56 eV). We believe that the accelerated Li2S2-Li2S reduction catalysis enabled via spin polarization of ferromagnetic atoms provides practical opportunities towards long-life batteries.

Automated summary

This study reveals the origin of Li2S2-Li2S reduction catalysis in single-atom materials based on ferromagnetic elements, attributing it to the spin density and magnetic moments. Experimental and theoretical studies show that Fe-N-4-based cathodes exhibit the fastest deposition kinetics of Li2S and the lowest thermodynamic energy barriers. Accelerated Li2S2-Li2S reduction catalysis enabled via spin polarization provides practical opportunities for long-life batteries.