Template-guided synthesis of porous MoN microrod as an effective sulfur host for high-performance Lithium–Sulfur batteries

Abstract

Exploiting a sulfur host with strong immobilization and catalysis effects on soluble polysulfide is central for developing advanced lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. On this basis, a molybdenum nitride (MoN) microrod was fabricated using the one-pot ammoniation strategy of metal-oxide template. After the sulfur-melting permeation, rod-like architecture, which was assembled by confining the sulfur in a porous MoN microrod (MoN–S), was successfully achieved. When used as a cathode material for Li–S batteries, the as-prepared MoN–S could deliver an initial discharge capacity of as high as 1315 mAh g−1 and maintain a reversible capacity of 902 mAh g−1 after 350 cycles when a high areal loading of 3.1 mg cm−2 was applied. Such outstanding electrochemical performance was mainly attributed to the advantageous surface characteristic and unique chemical properties of the MoN microrod, which assured rapid electron transferability, effective sulfur-content utilization, and strong chemical-binding and catalytic effects on the soluble polysulfide.