Issue 36, 2025

A sulfonate ligand hybrid ZIF-8 modified separator achieved high-performance Li–S batteries

Abstract

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries, as a promising high-energy-density storage system, face critical technical challenges such as lithium dendrite growth and the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfide (LiPS). This work employs a ligand hybridization strategy to develop a novel sulfonated metal–organic framework material (ZIF-8-SO3H), which is utilized for functional modification of the Li–S battery separator. ZIF-8-SO3H retains the original topology of ZIF-8 while achieving a uniform distribution of sulfonic acid groups within the channels. The ZIF-8-SO3H@PP composite separator exhibits excellent Li+ conductivity (1.246 mS cm−1) and a high Li+ transference number (0.82) at room temperature. A Li‖Li symmetric battery with this separator demonstrates a cycling life exceeding 2200 hours at 0.1 mA cm−2. The Li–S battery based on the ZIF-8-SO3H@PP separator retains a reversible capacity of 641.3 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1C, and exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 836.9 mAh g−1 at 2C. This work presents a universal functionalized MOF material design strategy, expanding its potential applications in advanced energy storage systems.

Graphical abstract: A sulfonate ligand hybrid ZIF-8 modified separator achieved high-performance Li–S batteries

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Jun 2025
Accepted
03 Aug 2025
First published
05 Aug 2025

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025,13, 30632-30641

A sulfonate ligand hybrid ZIF-8 modified separator achieved high-performance Li–S batteries

X. Xia, Y. Xiao, W. Xie, J. Liu, Y. Yu, Y. Ren, J. Chen, B. Yang, J. Zhang, Z. Yang, W. Hu and H. Yang, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025, 13, 30632 DOI: 10.1039/D5TA05169J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements