Few-layered VC MXene derived 3D VS nanocrystal functionalized carbon flakes boosting polysulfide adsorption and catalytic conversion towards Li-S batteries

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2022-09, Vol.1 (36), p.18679-18689
• Main Authors: Tan, Zhaolin, Liu, Sen, Zhang, Xu, Wei, Jingxuan, Liu, Yang, Hou, Linrui, Yuan, Changzhou
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/d2ta05602j

Li-S batteries (LSBs) with high theoretical energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness have become a competitive candidate for next-generation energy storage devices. However, the shuttling of soluble lithium polysulfides (LPSs) seriously hampers its practical applications. Herein, an in situ crystal conversion strategy has been adopted to realize the transformation of two-dimensional (2D) V 2 C MXene into three-dimensional (3D) NiAs-type V 3 S 4 nanocrystal functionalized carbon flakes (V 3 S 4 @C). Thanks to the synergetic contributions from the polar V 3 S 4 mediator and conductive carbon framework, the optimized V 3 S 4 @C host is endowed with both robust chemical/physical adsorption and high catalytic activity towards polysulfides, effectively alleviating the shuttling effect. As expected, the optimum S/V 3 S 4 @C electrode exhibits an exceptional electrochemical performance in terms of both long-duration cycling and high-rate capacities even at high sulfur loading, highlighting the promising prospects of the designed 3D hybrid host for advanced LSBs. Few-layered V 2 C MXene derived 3D V 3 S 4 nanocrystal functionalized carbon flakes are controllably fabricated as an integrated host of sulfur for Li-S batteries, thanks to their strong chemical/physical adsorption and high catalytic activity.