Electrocatalytic Polysulfide Traps for Controlling Redox Shuttle Process of Li–S Batteries

Stabilizing the polysulfide shuttle while ensuring high sulfur loading holds the key to realizing high theoretical energy of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Herein, we present an electrocatalysis approach to demonstrate preferential adsorption of a soluble polysulfide species, formed during discharge process, toward the catalyst anchored sites of graphene and their efficient transformation to long-chain polysulfides in the subsequent redox process. Uniform dispersion of catalyst nanoparticles on graphene layers has shown a 40% enhancement in the specific capacity over pristine graphene and stability over 100 cycles with a Coulombic efficiency of 99.3% at a current rate of 0.2 C. Interaction between electrocatalyst and polysulfides has been evaluated by conducting X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron microscopy studies at various electrochemical conditions.