Three-dimensional architectures based on carbon nanotube bridged Ti2C MXene nanosheets for Li–S batteries

Abstract Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are promising candidates for high density electrochemical energy storage systems. However, the poor conductivity of S and the shuttle effect of polysulfides are a bottleneck to practical applications. Herein, a three-dimensional architecture, based on carbon nanotube (CNT) bridged Ti2C MXene nanosheets, was constructed as a sulfur host. This architecture was based on Ti atoms, which can chemically absorb polysulfides. The CNTs are highly conductive and intercalate into the MXene nanosheets to prevent their stacking and construct an interspace for polysulfides. This hybrid, as a host of S, can effectively alleviate the shuttle effect through a combination of physical confinement and chemical adsorption. This resulted in an open internal space, which served as a cathode for the loaded S to promote electron transport and enhance electrochemical kinetics of the polysulfide conversion in Li–S batteries.