Nitrogen, phosphorus co-doped porous carbon originated from egg white for advanced lithium–sulfur battery

Abstract N, P co-doped micro-/meso-/macroporous carbon originated from egg white using freeze drying followed by carbonization method. The porous carbon derived from protein provides moderate nitrogen and phosphorus doping in carbon matrix. When used for sulfur host and the cathode with a sulfur loading of 0.57 mg cm−2 demonstrates brilliant battery performance with a first capacity of 1635 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and kept at 762 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles, remarkable rate capabilities of 1352, 1017, 961 and 701 mAh g–1 at 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 A g–1. The excellent stability and rate performance are due to the N, P co-dopants and porous structure, which have strong adsorption effect to the soluble polysulphides.