title: Surface-enhanced redox chemistry of polysulphides on a metallic and polar host for lithium-sulphur batteries.
abstract: The lithium-sulphur battery relies on the reversible conversion between sulphur and Li2S and is highly appealing for energy storage owing to its low cost and high energy density. Porous carbons are typically used as sulfur hosts, but they do not adsorb the hydrophilic polysulphide intermediates or adhere well to Li2S, resulting in pronounced capacity fading. Here we report a different strategy based on an inherently polar, high surface area metallic oxide cathode host and show that it mitigates polysulphide dissolution by forming an excellent interface with Li2S. Complementary physical and electrochemical probes demonstrate strong polysulphide/Li2S binding with this 'sulphiphilic' host and provide experimental evidence for surface-mediated redox chemistry. In a lithium-sulphur cell, Ti4O7/S cathodes provide a discharge capacity of 1,070 mAh g(-1) at intermediate rates and a doubling in capacity retention with respect to a typical conductive carbon electrode, at practical sulphur mass fractions up to 70 wt%. Stable cycling performance is demonstrated at high rates over 500 cycles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L3G1.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L3G1.
authors.forename: Dipan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L3G1.
authors.forename: Marine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuisinier
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L3G1.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Nazar