Atomic Tungsten on Graphene with Unique Coordination Enabling Kinetically Boosted Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Abstract

AbstractUse of catalytic materials is regarded as the most desirable strategy to cope with sluggish kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) transformation and severe shuttle effect in lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs). Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) with 100 % atom‐utilization are advantagous in serving as anchoring and electrocatalytic centers for LiPSs. Herein, a novel kind of tungsten (W) SAC immobilized on nitrogen‐doped graphene (W/NG) with a unique W‐O2N2‐C coordination configuration and a high W loading of 8.6 wt % is proposed by a self‐template and self‐reduction strategy. The local coordination environment of W atom endows the W/NG with elevated LiPSs adsorption ability and catalytic activity. LSBs equipped with W/NG modified separator manifest greatly improved electrochemical performances with high cycling stability over 1000 cycles and ultrahigh rate capability. It indicates high areal capacity of 6.24 mAh cm−2 with robust cycling life at a high sulfur mass loading of 8.3 mg cm−2.