Three-Dimensional Carbon Nanotubes Forest/Carbon Cloth as an Efficient Electrode for Lithium–Polysulfide Batteries

The development of a three-dimensionally flexible, large-surface area, high-conductivity electrode is important to improve the low conductivity and utilization of active materials and restrict the shuttle of long-chain polysulfides in Li–polysulfide batteries. Herein, we constructed an integrated three-dimensional carbon nanotube forest/carbon cloth electrode with heteroatom doping and high electrical conductivity. The as-constructed electrode provides strong trapping on the polysulfide species and fast charge transfer. Therefore, the Li–polysulfide batteries with as-constructed electrodes achieved high specific capacities of ∼1200 and ∼800 mA h g –1 at 0.1 and 1 C, respectively. After 300 cycles at 0.5 C, a specific capacity of 623 mA h g –1 was retained.