Three-Dimensionally Ordered Macro/Mesoporous Nb2O5/Nb4N5 Heterostructure as Sulfur Host for High-Performance Lithium/Sulfur Batteries
Haoxian Chen, Jiayi Wang, Yan Zhao, Qindan Zeng, Guofu Zhou, Mingliang Jin
Abstract
The severe shuttle effect of soluble polysulfides hinders the development of lithium–sulfur batteries. Herein, we develop a three-dimensionally ordered macro/mesoporous (3DOM) Nb2O5/Nb4N5 heterostructure, which combines the strong adsorption of Nb2O5 and remarkable catalysis effect of Nb4N5 by the promotion “adsorption-transformation” mechanism in sulfur reaction. Furthermore, the high electrocatalytic activity of Nb4N5 facilitates ion/mass transfer during the charge/discharge process. As a result, cells with the S-Nb2O5/Nb4N5 electrode delivered outstanding cycling stability and higher discharge capacity than its counterparts. Our work demonstrates a new routine for the multifunctional sulfur host design, which offers great potential for commercial high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries.