S, N-codoped carbon capsules with microsized entrance: Highly stable S reservoir for Li-S batteries

Abstract Nanostructured carbon materials are extensively applied as host materials to improve the utilization rate and reversibility of elemental sulfur in lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Here, S, N-codoped carbon capsules (SNCCs) with microporous walls, prepared by a self-assembly process, are used as the sulfur host material in Li-S batteries. The SNCCs provide plenty of micron-sized cavities to accommodate a high S loading, which are sealed by thick walls with microsized entrance to efficently suppress the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides. As the cathode in Li-S battery, the SNCCs/sulfur composite with a sulfur mass loading of 70 wt% exhibits a high average reversible capacity of 1220 and 1116 mA h g−1 at 0.5C and 1C, respectively, superior rate performance (905 and 605 mAh g−1 at 5C and 10C, respectively) and excellent cycling stability (capacity fading rate of 0.03% per cycle in 500 cycles). Even at a high sulfur areal loading of 7.3 mg/cm2, the SNCCs/0.7S electrode still deliver a high initial discharge capacity of 838 mAh g−1 and keeps at 730 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, corresponding to an extraordinary capacity retention of 87.1%, showing an excellent cyclic stability. The outstanding electrochemical performance is associated with the unique capsule structure with abundant volume, microsized entrance and high conductivity. Our results provides a new strategy to prepare highly stable sulfur-carbon composites for the application in Li-S batteries.