title: Encapsulation of sulfur with thin-layered nickel-based hydroxides for long-cyclic lithium-sulfur cells.
abstract: Elemental sulfur cathodes for lithium/sulfur cells are still in the stage of intensive research due to their unsatisfactory capacity retention and cyclability. The undesired capacity degradation upon cycling originates from gradual diffusion of lithium polysulfides out of the cathode region. To prevent losses of certain intermediate soluble species and extend lifespan of cells, the effective encapsulation of sulfur plays a critical role. Here we report an applicable way, by using thin-layered nickel-based hydroxide as a feasible and effective encapsulation material. In addition to being a durable physical barrier, such hydroxide thin films can irreversibly react with lithium to generate protective layers that combine good ionic permeability and abundant functional polar/hydrophilic groups, leading to drastic improvements in cell behaviours (almost 100% coulombic efficiency and negligible capacity decay within total 500 cycles). Our present encapsulation strategy and understanding of hydroxide working mechanisms may advance progress on the development of lithium/sulfur cells for practical use.
authors.affiliation: Nanyang Technological University-Nanjing Tech Center of Research and Development, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China.|Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jianhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Nanyang Technological University-Nanjing Tech Center of Research and Development, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China.|Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Applications for Batteries of Zhejiang Province, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors.forename: Xiuli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yanlong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chenji
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Nanyang Technological University-Nanjing Tech Center of Research and Development, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China.|Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE), Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, Jiangsu, China.|Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays and Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts &Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.|Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yu