A hybrid shell material with mixed ion/electron conductivity used for high-performance Li–S batteries

Abstract

A hybrid shell material of hollow Nb₂O₅ microspheres has been engineered as an effective sulfur host for use in Li–S batteries. Of particular note is that the selected Nb₂O₅ not only exhibits ultrafast Li⁺ motion properties due to its unique room-and-pillar NbO₆/NbO₇ framework structure, but also demonstrates moderate polar affinities to the lithium polysulfides based on theoretical calculations.