Issue 13, 2019

SiO2@MoS2 core–shell nanocomposite layers with high lithium ion diffusion as a triple polysulfide shield for high performance lithium–sulfur batteries

Abstract

This study introduces an improved design of interlayers to achieve a balance between high Li+ diffusion and polysulfide inhibition in lithium–sulfur batteries. The design involves encapsulating mesoporous SiO2 nanospheres in few-layer MoS2 nanosheets via a facile one-step self-assembly to form a core–shell nanocomposite (SiO2@MoS2). The SiO2@MoS2 layer overlaid on a sulfur cathode simultaneously intercepts polysulfides and ensures rapid Li+ diffusion. Few-layer MoS2 as the shell is capable of breaking up polysulfides by a catalytic reaction, while mesoporous SiO2 as the core allows for physiochemical adsorption of such species; moreover, the densely packed hermetic SiO2@MoS2 nanocomposite layer provides an additional physical shield against polysulfide diffusion, realizing the full protection of the whole cathode. At the same time, the high Li+ density in the nanolayered MoS2 shell and the additional Li+ pathways created by the mesoporous SiO2 core allow for fast Li+ diffusion. Thus, a pristine sulfur cathode battery with a SiO2@MoS2 interlayer exhibits an outstanding electrochemical performance with a negligible capacity decay of 0.028% per cycle over 2500 cycles. The core–shell design suggested in this study could be extended to other nanomaterials for the optimization of Li–S battery interlayers.

Graphical abstract: SiO2@MoS2 core–shell nanocomposite layers with high lithium ion diffusion as a triple polysulfide shield for high performance lithium–sulfur batteries

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Jan 2019
Accepted
27 Feb 2019
First published
04 Mar 2019

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019,7, 7644-7653

SiO2@MoS2 core–shell nanocomposite layers with high lithium ion diffusion as a triple polysulfide shield for high performance lithium–sulfur batteries

J. Wu, N. You, X. Li, H. Zeng, S. Li, Z. Xue, Y. Ye and X. Xie, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019, 7, 7644 DOI: 10.1039/C9TA00982E

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