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Research Article

Formation of hierarchically 3D cactus-like architecture as efficient Mott–Schottky electrocatalyst for long-life Li-S batteries

Biao Wang1,2, Yilun Ren1, Shaowei Chen1, Qingxi Zhai1, Yuxuan Shi1, Yujie Ma1, Shaochun Tang1,2( ), Xiangkang Meng1( )
National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Haian Institute of High-Tech Research, Nanjing University, Nanjing 226600, China
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Graphical Abstract

A new efficient and robust Mott–Schottky electrocatalyst with three-dimensional hierarchical cactus-like architecture is developed for long-life Li-S batteries.

Abstract

Searching for new promising electrocatalysts with favorable architectures allowing abundant active sites and remarkable structure stability is an urgent task for the practical application of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Herein, inspired by the structure of natural cactus, a new efficient and robust electrocatalyst with three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical cactus-like architecture constructed by functional zero-dimensional (0D), one-dimensional (1D), and two-dimensional (2D) components is developed. The cactus-inspired catalyst (denoted as Co@NCNT/NCNS) consists of N-doped carbon nanosheets (NCNS) and standing N-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNT) forest with embedded Co nanoparticles on the top of NCNT, which was achieved by an in situ catalytic growth technique. The unique structure design integrates the advantages of 0D Co accelerating catalytic redox reactions, 1D NCNT providing a fast electron pathway, and 2D NCNS assuring strong structure stability. Especially, the rich Mott–Schottky heterointerfaces between metallic Co and semiconductive NCNT can further facilitate the electron transfer, thus improving the electrocatalyst activity. Consequently, a Li-S battery with the Co@NCNT/NCNS modified separator achieves ultra-long cycle life over 4000 cycles at 2 C with ultralow capacity decay of 0.016% per cycle, much superior over that of recently reported batteries. This work provides a new strategy for developing ultra-stable catalysts towards long-life Li-S batteries.

Keywords

lithium-sulfur batteriesmultifunctional separatorshuttle effectenhanced catalytic activityMott–Schottky electrocatalyst

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Nano Research
Volume 16 Issue 7,
July 2023
Pages 9318-9326
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-023-5551-z
Cite this article:
Wang B, Ren Y, Chen S, et al. Formation of hierarchically 3D cactus-like architecture as efficient Mott–Schottky electrocatalyst for long-life Li-S batteries. Nano Research, 2023, 16(7): 9318-9326. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-5551-z
Topics:
Secondary batteries

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Received: 22 December 2022
Revised: 28 January 2023
Accepted: 05 February 2023
Published: 28 February 2023
© Tsinghua University Press 2023
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