Open AccessMo‐O‐C Between MoS 2 and Graphene Toward Accelerated Polysulfide Catalytic Conversion for Advanced Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Author(s) -
Zhang Jiayu,
Xu Guobao,
Zhang Qi,
Li Xue,
Yang Yi,
Yang Liwen,
Huang Jianyu,
Zhou Guangmin
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202201579
Subject(s) - graphene , catalysis , polysulfide , materials science , electrochemistry , density functional theory , chemical engineering , separator (oil production) , dissociation (chemistry) , van der waals force , oxide , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrode , electrolyte , molecule , computational chemistry , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , physics , engineering , metallurgy
Abstract MoS 2 /C composites constructed with van der Waals forces have been extensively applied in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. However, the catalytic conversion effect on polysulfides is limited because the weak electronic interactions between the composite interfaces cannot fundamentally improve the intrinsic electronic conductivity of MoS 2 . Herein, density functional theory calculations reveal that the MoS 2 and nitrogen‐doped carbon composite with an Mo–O–C bond can promote the catalytic conversion of polysulfides with a Gibbs free energy of only 0.19 eV and a low dissociation energy barrier of 0.48 eV, owing to the strong covalent coupling effect on the heterogeneous interface. Guided by theoretical calculations, a robust MoS 2 strongly coupled with a 3D carbon matrix composed of nitrogen‐doped reduced graphene oxide and carbonized melamine foam is designed and constructed as a multifunctional coating layer for lithium–sulfur batteries. As a result, excellent electrochemical performance is achieved for Li–S batteries, with a capacity of 615 mAh g –1 at 5 C, an areal capacity of 6.11 mAh cm –2 , and a low self‐discharge of only 8.6% by resting for five days at 0.5 C. This study opens a new avenue for designing 2D material composites toward promoted catalytic conversion of polysulfides.