Defects Engineering of Lightweight Metal-Organic Frameworks-Based Electrocatalytic Membrane for High-Loading Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

The sluggish kinetics and shuttle effect of lithium polysulfide intermediates are the major issues that retard the practical applications of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Herein, we introduce a defect engineering strategy to construct a defected-UiO-66-NH2-4/graphene electrocatalytic membrane (D-UiO-66-NH2-4/G EM) which could accelerate the conversion of lithium polysulfides in high sulfur loadings and low electrolyte/sulfur (E/S) ratio Li-S batteries. Metal-organic frameworks (UiO-66-NH2) can be directionally chemical engraved to form concave octahedra with abundant defects. According to electrocatalytic kinetics and DFT calculations studies, the D-UiO-66-NH2-4 architecture effectively provides ample sites to capture polysulfides via strong chemical affinity and effectively delivers electrocatalytic activity of polysulfide conversion. As a result, a Li-S battery with such an electrocatalytic membrane delivers a high capacity of 12.3 mAh cm(-2) (10(13) mAh g(-1)) at a sulfur loading up to 12.2 mg.S cm(-2) under a lean electrolyte condition (E/S = 5 mu L mg(-1)-sulfur) at 2.1 mA cm(-2) (0.1 C). Moreover, a prototype soft package battery also exhibits excellent cycling stability with a maintained capacity of 996 mAh g-1 upon 100 cycles.

Automated summary

The introduction of defect engineering strategy to construct an electrocatalytic membrane enhances the conversion rate of lithium polysulfides in lithium-sulfur batteries, delivering high capacity and cycling stability under high sulfur loadings and low electrolyte/sulfur ratio conditions.