MoP@NC/S cathode with multiple synergistic effect contributes to Li-S battery

Li-S battery is seen as the main technical route in high-energy density storage system because of high specific capacity. There are many challenges including volume expansion, shuttle effect and sluggish kinetics during the electrode reaction. Herein, we construct MoP nanoparticles which are embedded in N-doped carbon hollow nanostructure (MoP@NC) as host with multiple synergistic mechanism to facilitate multiphase sulfur redox reaction kinetics, inhibit polysulfide shuttle and buffer the side effects of volume expansion in Li-S battery. In consequence, MoP@NC/S cathode shows a surprisingly discharge capacity of 1587 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 C, and a stable long cycle life over 1000 cycles at 1 C with low capacity loss of average 0.04% per cycle. The MoP@NC/S cathode effectively solves the essential problem and further promotes the commercialization of Li-S battery.

Automated summary

In this study, MoP@NC/S cathode with multiple synergistic mechanisms was constructed, solving the key problems in Li-S battery and improving its performance. MoP@NC/S cathode exhibited a surprising discharge capacity at 0.1 C and demonstrated stability in long cycle life testing.