Co₉S₈ Nanorods as an Electrocatalyst to Enhance Polysulfide Conversion and Alleviate Passivation in Li-S Batteries under Lean Electrolyte Conditions

As a result of the high theoretical energy density of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, they have been accepted as the next-generation energy storage system. Nevertheless, the current performance of Li-S batteries is still unsatisfactory under lean electrolyte conditions. It is because of sluggish deposition of Li₂S₂/Li₂S passivating the sulfur/electrolyte interface, thus leading to lower sulfur use and bad rate performances of Li-S batteries. Herein, a novel Co₉S₈ nanorod-based catalytic interlayer placed between the cathode and separator is proposed. The interlayer possesses a three-dimensional open structure, which facilitates electrolyte infiltration but without trapping too much electrolyte. As a result, the electrocatalytic Co₉S₈ nanorods within the interlayer promote faster electrochemical kinetics and enhance the conversion of polysulfides, thus resulting in a higher specific discharge capacity and better rate and cycling performance. This work proves a feasible method in developing practical Li-S batteries.