Performance Of Lithium-sulfur Batteries Research Articles

Accelerating catalytic conversion and chemisorption of polysulfides for advanced Li-S batteries from incorporating Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N hetero-nanocrystals into boron carbonitride nanotubes

With the rapid development of large-scale clean energy, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered to be one of the most promising energy storage devices. In this manuscript, the polymetallic hetero-nanocrystal of iron nickel@cobalt nitride encapsulating into boron carbonitride nanotubes (Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N@BCN) was designed and optimized for use as a modified material for commercial polypropylene (PP) separators. The prepared Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N@BCN-12 hybrid material presents strong chemisorption and catalytic conversion capabilities, which endows the Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N@BCN-12//PP separator with enhanced polysulfide shuttling inhibition. The assembled Li-S cells with Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N@BCN-12//PP separators have minimized charge transfer resistance and faster redox kinetics. Additionally, cells with Fe0.64Ni0.36@Co5.47N@BCN-12//PP separator provide high reversible capacity of 674 mAh/g for 400 cycles at 0.5C and excellent cyclability for 1000 cycles at 2C with a low decay rate of 0.05 % per cycle. Therefore, this study provides a feasible functionalization route for improving the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries through separator modification.

A Conductive Binder Based on Mesoscopic Interpenetration with Polysulfides Capturing Skeleton and Redox Intermediates Network for Lithium Sulfur Batteries.

The practical application of lithium-sulfur batteries with high theoretical energy density and readily available cathode active materials is hampered by problems such as sulfur insulation, dramatic volume changes, and polysulfide shuttling. The targeted development of novel binders is the most industrialized solution to the problem of sulfur cathodes. Herein, an aqueous conductive emulsion binder with the sulfonate-containing hard elastic copolymer core and the conjugate polymer shell, which is capable of forming a bicontinuous mesoscopic interpenetrating polymer network, is synthesized and investigated. Not only can the elastic skeleton formed by the copolymer bind the active substance under drastic volume changes, but also the rich ester and cyanide groups in it can effectively capture lithium polysulfide. Meanwhile, the conducting skeleton consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) both provides the additional charge conduction pathways and acts as the redox intermediates, significantly accelerating the kinetic process of lithium polysulfide conversion. Based on the synergistic effect of the above mechanisms, the use of the prepared binder on the sulfur carbon cathode significantly improves the rate performance and cycle stability of lithium sulfur batteries.

"Bowling Collision Effect" of CoMo6 Polyoxometalate Units Enables Wide Temperature Range from -20 to 60°C and Dendrite Mitigation Li-S Batteries.

To improve the performance of Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries, the reaction catalysts of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) reactions should have the characteristics of large surface area, efficient atomic utilization, high conductivity, small size, good stability, and strong adjustability. Herein, Anderson-type polyoxometalate ([TMMo6O24]n-, TM = Co, Ni, Fe, represented by TMMo6 POMs) are used as the modified materials for Li-S battery separator. By customizing the central metal atoms, this work gains insights into the layer-by-layer electron transfer mechanism between TMMo6 units and LiPSs, similar to the collision effect of a bowling ball. Theoretical analysis and in situ experimental characterization show that the changes of CoMo6 units with moderate binding energy and lowest Gibbs free energy result in the formation of robust polar bonds and prolonged S─S bonds after adsorption. Hence, the representative Li-S battery with CoMo6 and graphene composite modified separator has a high initial capacity of 1588.6mA h g-1 at 0.2 C, excellent cycle performance of more than 3000 cycles at 5 C, and uniform Li+ transport over 1900h. More importantly, this work has revealed the inherent contradiction between the kinetics and thermodynamics, achieving a stable cycle in the temperature range of -20 to 60°C.

Enhanced lithium host performance of multi-walled carbon nanotubes through acidic functionalization for lithium–sulfur batteries

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been explored as a potential cathode material for lithium-sulfur (Li–S) batteries owing to their unique structure. However, traditional CNTs exhibit poor dispersion properties when preparing electrodes. The non-uniform distribution of the conductive agents hinders the formation of enough sites for sulfur loading, which results in the aggregation of sulfur/Li2S and severe polarization. In this study, we propose the acidic functionalization of CNTs in the cathode structure as a practical solution for mitigating the poor dispersion and polysulfide shuttling in lithium-sulfur batteries. Multiwalled CNTs were functionalized by oxidation through acidic treatment using sulfuric, nitric, and mixed acids. The cathode prepared with a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids showed a coulombic efficiency of 99 % after 100 cycles, with a discharge capacity of 743 mAh g−1. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the acidic functionalization of CNTs as a promising approach for enhancing the electrochemical performance and commercial viability of lithium-sulfur batteries.

Pt nanoclusters confined in the pores of hollow carbon spheres boost adsorption and electrochemical redox reaction for lithium-sulfur batteries

Sulfur (S) cathode is considered an ideal energy storage material for secondary batteries due to the high specific capacity and energy density. However, the insulating nature of S and lithium sulfide and slow electrochemical reaction kinetics, among many other issues, limit its power and energy output. Precious metals are vigorous catalytic materials and have been applied in various fields. However, the investigation of small-sized precious metal nanoclusters as the catalytic for polysulfide conversion in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries has yet to be deepened. Herein, small-sized Pt nanoclusters are successfully synthesized and confined in the pores of hollow carbon spheres as the host for Li-S batteries cathode. The resultant PtNC@HCS provides the space for storing S and the electron transport network. Meanwhile, the Pt nanoclusters in the pores serve as catalytic sites for adsorbing and accelerating polysulfide conversion, thus effectively suppressing the shuttle effect. As a result, PtNC@HCS exhibits an initial capacity of 1460 mAh/g and a reversible capacity of 1316 mAh/g at 0.2C, with outstanding capacity retention, which confirms that such precious metal nanocluster catalytic material design effectively can optimize the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries

Sulfur-containing polymers for enhancing rate and cycle performance of lithium-sulfur batteries

Sulfur-containing polymer with covalent C-S bonds has become an ideal alternative cathode of element sulfur for lithium-sulfur battery. However, the rational design of polymer structure with high sulfur content and enhanced electrochemical performance of Li-S battery is still a great challenge. In this study, a facial synthesis of sulfur-containing polymer by using 1,2,3-trichloropropane and sulfur as starting materials at a mild condition was reported, and the covalent anchoring of the C-S bonds within the polymer effectively inhibited the shuttle effect of polysulfides, providing a splendid internal environment for the diffusion of lithium ions. As a result, the rich sulfur content (higher than 80 %) and its homogeneous distribution in the polymer backbone determined the excellent rate performance of obtained sulfur-containing polymers. In terms of cycling performance, the reversible specific capacity of the battery is 396 mAh/g after 500 cycles at a current density of 0.5 A/g and 350 mAh/g after 800 cycles at 1 A/g, with a capacity decay of only 0.06 % per cycle.

Empowering Low-Temperature Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Unlocking the Potential of Transition Metal Alloy-Based Cathode Materials.

At low temperatures, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have poor kinetics, resulting in extreme polarization and decreased capacity. In this study, we investigated the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries utilizing transition metal alloy-based cathode materials. Specifically, binary transition metal alloys (FeNi, FeCo, and NiCo) are integrated into a porous carbon nanofiber (CNF) matrix as composite cathode material. Our findings reveal that alloying metallic Ni with Fe in the FeNi@CNFs composite enhances the catalytic conversion of sulfur species, mitigating the shuttle effect and improving battery performance even under low temperatures. Li-S batteries employing a Li2S6/FeNi@CNFs cathode exhibited a significantly high initial discharge capacity of 1655 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C. Even at the higher current density of 10 C, the Li2S6/FeNi@CNFs composite can still reach an ultrahigh specific capacity of 828 mAh g-1. In addition, Li2S6/FeNi@CNFs demonstrated exceptional initial discharge capacities of 890.5 and 382.7 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C under -20 and -40 °C, respectively. With an initial capacity of 392.02 mAh g-1 and a capacity retention rate of 88.86% (after 60 cycles) at 0.2 C, the conversion of LiPSs in Li2S6/FeNi@CNFs is significantly enhanced even at ultralow temperatures of -40 °C. The findings of this study hold significant implications for the advancement of extremely low-temperature Li-S batteries.

Sulphur/functionalized graphene composite as cathode for improved performance and life cycle of lithium-sulphur batteries

Over the past years, significant advantages have been introduced to upgrade the performance of lithium-sulfur battery (Li-S) batteries since their prototype in the 1960s. Due to high theoretical energy density and cost efficiency, Li-S batteries have obtained great attention and have made great progress in the last few years. In this work, we developed the sulfur-attached few-layer graphene composite (S/FLG), sulfur-attached functionalized few-layer graphene using acetic acid (S/FLG-COOH) and sulfur-attached functionalized few-layer graphene using strong acid H2SO4 and HNO3 (S/FLG-OH) as a cathode material with high sulfur loading. The material’s structure is confirmed through XRD. The surface morphology is confirmed through SEM and elemental composition has been obtained through EDAX. The functional groups are confirmed through FTIR. The defect level and number of layers are confirmed through Raman characterization with an excitation laser wavelength of 532 nm. The electrochemical performance of three cathodes is also identified through EIS, CV, and GCD characterization. Meanwhile, highly developed defects and edges found in the functionalization of few-layer graphene using the strong acid (H2SO4 and HNO3) which consists of a hydroxyl functional group (FLG-OH) serve as polysulfide reservoirs to mitigate the shuttle effect. Among these cathodes, S/FLG-OH shows a high specific capacitance of 157.4 F g−1 and when applied as a cathode host on a coin cell it obtained a voltage of about 2.6 V. Well-performed S/FLG-OH cathode was used to fabricate the Coin Cell. The fabricated Coin Cell with S/FLG-OH as the cathode shows a stable potential over 50 cycles.

A Review of Electrospun Carbon-based Nanofibers Materials Used in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Commercial lithium-ion batteries are gradually approaching their theoretical values (200-250 Wh kg-1), which cannot meet the fast-growing energy storage demands. Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are anticipated to supersede lithium-ion batteries as the next-generation energy storage system owing to their high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mAh g-1) and energy density (2600 Wh kg-1). Nonetheless, Li-S batteries encounter several challenges, including the inadequate conductivity of sulfur and lithium sulfide, sulfur's volume expansion, and the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides, all of which significantly impact the practical utilization of Li-S batteries. Electrospun carbon-based nanofibers can simultaneously resolve these issues with their economical preparation, distinctive nanostructure, and exceptional flexibility. This review presents the most recent research findings on electrospun carbon-based nanofibers materials serving as sulfur hosts and interlayer components in Li-S batteries. We analyzed the impact of the material's structural design on the performance of Li-S batteries and the relative underlying mechanism. Finally, the current challenges and issues faced by carbon-based nanofibers composites in the application of Li-S batteries are summarized, and the future development trajectory are outlined.

Enhancing Lithium-Sulfur Battery Performance with MXene: Specialized Structures and Innovative Designs.

Established in 1962, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries boast a longer history than commonly utilized lithium-ion batteries counterparts such as LiCoO2 (LCO) and LiFePO4 (LFP) series, yet they have been slow to achieve commercialization. This delay, significantly impacting loading capacity and cycle life, stems from the long-criticized low conductivity of the cathode and its byproducts, alongside challenges related to the shuttle effect, and volume expansion. Strategies to improve the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries involve improving the conductivity of the sulfur cathode, employing an adamantane framework as the sulfur host, and incorporating catalysts to promote the transformation of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). 2D MXene and its derived materials can achieve almost all of the above functions due to their numerous active sites, external groups, and ease of synthesis and modification. This review comprehensively summarizes the functionalization advantages of MXene-based materials in Li-S batteries, including high-speed ionic conduction, structural diversity, shuttle effect inhibition, dendrite suppression, and catalytic activity from fundamental principles to practical applications. The classification of usage methods is also discussed. Finally, leveraging the research progress of MXene, the potential and prospects for its novel application in the Li-S field are proposed.

The study on the reason why ZnS catalyst cannot suppress the shuttle effect of polysulfides in lithium-sulfur (Li–S) battery

The catalytic effect of zinc sulfide (ZnS) on the transformation of polysulfides (Li2S8) to lithium sulfide (Li2S) has been proven by the enhancement in the rate performance of lithium-sulfur (Li–S) batteries incorporating ZnS particles into the cathode. Accordingly, the shuttling effect of polysulfide should also be suppressed. However, the expected phenomenon is not found in the Li–S batteries with ZnS particles being added in the cathodes. In order to find the intrinsic mechanism of this phenomenon, detailed catalytic effects of ZnS particles on different polysulfide molecules are investigated. It is shown that ZnS can only enhance the reaction from Li2S4 to Li2S and it has almost no catalytic effect on the reaction from Li2S6 to Li2S4. This is why the shuttle effect of Li2S6 cannot be effectively prohibited. This mechanism is further verified via combining ZnS particles with S–C@PVA yolk-shell particles containing sulfur (S) and carbon black (C) as the core and PVA as the shell. Although the reaction from Li2S6 to Li2S4 cannot be directly catalysed by ZnS particles, it can still be enhanced when ZnS particles are distributed within the S–C@PVA yolk-shell structure (S–C–ZnS@PVA) because the reaction speed from the Li2S4 to Li2S is accelerated. The fast consumption of Li2S4 will result in the enhancement of the reaction from Li2S6 to Li2S4, which will largely reduce the diffusion of Li2S6 out of the PVA shell. While if ZnS particles are located outside the S–C@PVA yolk-shell structure (S–C@PVA-ZnS), large amount of Li2S6 can still diffuse out of the PVA shell and enter into the electrolyte since the transformation from is Li2S6 to Li2S4 relatively low. Both the rate performance and cycle stability of the batteries with S–C–ZnS@PVA cathodes are higher than those with S–C@PVA-ZnS ones. These results will give a guidance for the preparation of Li–S battery with high performance.

Promoting polysulfides conversion by hexagonal-like V-MOF-derived VC-doped carbon nanotubes for lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are one of the representatives of a new generation of high-performance batteries, due to their large theoretical specific discharge capacity, high energy density and low cost et al. However, shuttle effect and slow conversion kinetics of polysulfides (LiPSs) hinder the performance of LSBs. In order to mitigate shuttle effect, metal-organic frameworks are introduced. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is used as composite cathode, due to their high electrical conductivity. V-MOF/CNTs-derived hexagonal VC/CNTs nanosheets are successfully synthesized and used as the sulfur host. VC/CNTs nanosheet with mesoporous structure can provide a lot of active sites. VC nanosheets are uniformly distributed and interconnected with CNTs to form a conductive network structure. VC/CNTs has excellent chemical adsorption and catalytic properties on polysulfides, which can improve the redox reaction kinetics and the adsorption capability. Due to the synergistic effects, S/VC/CNTs has an excellent cycling stability. S/VC/CNTs shows a significant initial specific capacity of 1370 mAh g-1 at 0.1C. Capacity decay rate per cycle is about 0.037% After 500 cycles at 0.5C, the Coulomb efficiency is nearly to 100%. The results show that the introduction of VC/CNTs composites with special hexagonal structure can accelerate the catalytic electrochemical reaction, and the dissolution and diffusion of polysulfides are well controlled.

Advanced Separator Materials for Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Progress and Prospects.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are promising energy storage devices owing to their high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. However, several challenges, including volume expansion, slow reaction kinetics, polysulfide shuttle effect and lithium dendrite formation, hinder their commercialization. Separators are a key component of Li-S batteries. Traditional separators, made of polypropylene and polyethylene, have certain limitations that should be addressed. Therefore, this review discusses the basic properties and mechanisms of Li-S battery separators, focuses on preparing different functionalized separators to mitigate the shuttle effect of polysulfides. This review also introduces future research trends, emphasizing the potential of separator functionalization in advancing the Li-S battery technology.

Multifunctional Lithium Phytate/Carbon Nanotube Double-Layer-Modified Separators for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Li dendrite and the shuttle effect are the two primary hindrances to the commercial application of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Here, a multifunctional separator has been fabricated via successively coating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and lithium phytate (LP) onto a commercial polypropylene (PP) separator to improve the performance of LSBs. The LP coating layer with abundant electronegative phosphate group as permselective ion sieve not only reduces the polysulfide shuttle but also facilitates uniform Li+ flux through the PP separator. And the highly conductive CNTs on the second layer act as a second collector to accelerate the reversible conversion of sulfide species. The synergistic effect of LP and CNTs further increases the electrolyte wettability and reaction kinetics of cells with a modified separator and suppresses the shuttle effect and growth of Li dendrite. Consequently, the LSBs present much enhanced rate performance and cyclic performance. It is expected that this study may generate an executable tactic for interface engineering of separator to accelerate the industrial application process of LSBs.

Modeling the dependence of electrolyte design on lithium-sulfur battery performance

Herein, we offer two electrochemical models, a zero-dimensional (0-D) and a one-dimensional (1-D) model, to mechanistically explore the impact of the electrolyte-to-sulfur (E/S) ratio and electrolyte properties on the discharge behavior of a lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cell. The electrochemically active area in both models is defined based on the carbon weight fraction and reference porosity, so the influence of the carbon loading and E/S ratio on the reaction kinetics is included. Mass transfer of the species must be considered to model the reliance of the discharge capacity on the current density. Instead, the 0-D model is more responsive to the influence of the E/S ratio on the discharge capacity. The effect of electrolyte properties can be modeled implicitly through model parameters. The 0-D model is less sensitive to the variance in model parameters than the 1-D model in terms of the predicted capacity.

Interfacial engineering assists dendrite-inhibiting separators for high-safety Li-S batteries

The impediments to the safety and cyclic performance of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries arise from the lithium dendrite growth and “shuttle effect” of polysulfides. Herein, an interfacial engineering was proposed by pre-irradiation grafting acrylic acid (AA) into polypropylene (PP) separator to achieve a dendrite-inhibiting and high stability functional separators. The abundant –COOH groups, introduced to the surface of PP along with AA, effectively modulate lithium dendrite growth by eliminating the local aggregation of Li+ on the surface of the anode and restrain the “shuttle effect” of polysulfides by the physical confinement and electrostatic interaction. Lithium-sulfur batteries with the grafted separator achieved a high initial capacity of 1108.7 mAh g−1 with an ultralow attenuation rate of 0.012 % per cycle at 1C, outperforming the traditional commercial PP separator. Additionally, the grafted separator also appeared a remarkable flexibility owing to the chemical bond between AA and PP-chain. Notably, the pre-irradiation grafting process, characterized by a mild reaction condition and high economic benefit, endowed the grafted separator with outstanding potential for industrialization. Those results showed the practical prospects of the grafted separator, offering a promising new option for high-safety Li-S batteries.

The benzothiadiazole-based COF/CNT composite as host for efficient Li-S batteries with excellent cycling stability

The cycle stability and dynamic performance of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have been major challenges, which primarily arise from the dissolution and migration of the soluble reaction intermediates during cycling, as well as the low conductivity of sulfur. In this study, a covalent organic framework containing heteroatoms (B/N/S) is uniformly wrapped on the outer surface of carbon nanotubes to form a nanocomposite (COF@CNT). The composite combines the excellent electrical conductivity of CNTs and the COF material containing evenly distributed heteroatoms that can adsorb and catalyze polysulfides. B atom on COF can be chemically adsorbed by the negatively charged SX2−, S and N atoms can interact with Li+ to reduce the “shuttle effect”. At the same time, the heteroatoms promote the liquid-to-solid phase conversion of the soluble long-chain Li2Sx (4 ≤ x ≤ 8), and the subsequent conversion of solid Li2S2 to Li2S, thereby enhancing the dynamic kinetics. As a cathode material, COF@CNT/S exhibits an initial specific capacity of 1176 mAh/g at 0.2 C, maintaining a capacity of 688 mAh/g after 1000 cycles at 1 C with a Coulombic efficiency of 99.7 %. Notably, a quite low capacity decay rate of 0.029 % per cycle has been achieved, making the COF@CNT/S cathode one of the most stable electrode material for Li-S batteries. This work provides insights into improving cycle performance of Li-S batteries, and also enriches the current study on host materials.

The Role of the Anion in Concentrated Electrolytes for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Highly concentrated electrolytes show promise in enhancing lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery performance by mitigating polysulfide (PS) solubility. The role of the salt anion for the performance improvement(s) is however not well understood. Here a systematic characterization using (concentrated) electrolytes based on three different salts: LiTFSI, LiTf, and LiTDI, in a common DOL:DME solvent mixture is reported for a wide range of physicochemical and electrochemical properties: ionic conductivity, density, viscosity, speciation, and PS solubility. While increased salt concentration in general improves Li-S battery performance, the role of the salt anion introduces complexity. The 2 m LiTDI-based electrolyte, with a slightly higher viscosity and lower PS solubility, outperforms the LiTFSI-based counterpart in terms of accessible reversible capacity. Conversely, the 2 m LiTf-based electrolyte exhibits subpar performance due to the formation of ionic aggregates that renders more free solvent and, therefore higher PS solubility, which, however can be improved by using a 5 m concentrated electrolyte. Hence, using electrolyte salt concentration as a rational design route demands an understanding of the local molecular structure, largely determined/affected by the choice of anion, as well as how it connects to the global properties and in the end improved Li-S battery performance.

Electrocatalytic tungsten boride quantum dots anchored reduced graphene oxide as the desolvation promotor for efficient sulfur redox kinetics

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries boast a multitude of compelling attributes, chief among them being their exceptional energy density and relatively low raw material costs. However, the sluggish redox kenitics of sulfur stemming from the considerable desolvation energy barrier and the notorious shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides, pose significant challenges in the commercialization of Li-S batteries. In this work, ultra-fine WB quantum dots were in-situ and uniformly dispersed on reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (WB-rGO) by mild melting-salt method, in which the abundant oxygen-containing functional groups in graphene oxide effectively prevent the agglomeration of WB. Such ultra-fine WB quantum dot as well as dual-active sites stemming from W and electronics-deficient B, confer the WB-rGO composite with improved electrochemical active surface area for dissociating Li+-solvents molecules and catalyzing polysulfides transformations, thus improving cycling and rate performance of Li-S battery. Hence, the cells with WB-rGO@PP maintained a stable long-term cycling (650 mAh g-1 after 900 cycles at 1C with an average decay rate of 0.038% per cycle) and an impressive rate capability (740 mAh g-1 at 4C). Even at a sulfur loading of 4.7mgcm-2, the cell performed a high areal capacity of 3.6 mAh cm-2 after 200 cycles.

A Conductive Binder Based on Mesoscopic Interpenetration with Polysulfides Capturing Skeleton and Redox Intermediates Network for Lithium Sulfur Batteries

The practical application of lithium‐sulfur batteries with high theoretical energy density and readily available cathode active materials is hampered by problems such as sulfur insulation, dramatic volume changes, and polysulfide shuttling. The targeted development of novel binders is the most industrialized solution to the problem of sulfur cathodes. Herein, an aqueous conductive emulsion binder with the sulfonate‐containing hard elastic copolymer core and the conjugate polymer shell, which is capable of forming a bicontinuous mesoscopic interpenetrating polymer network, is synthesized and investigated. Not only can the elastic skeleton formed by the copolymer bind the active substance under drastic volume changes, but also the rich ester and cyanide groups in it can effectively capture lithium polysulfide. Meanwhile, the conducting skeleton consisting of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) both provides the additional charge conduction pathways and acts as the redox intermediates, significantly accelerating the kinetic process of lithium polysulfide conversion. Based on the synergistic effect of the above mechanisms, the use of the prepared binder on the sulfur carbon cathode significantly improves the rate performance and cycle stability of lithium sulfur batteries.