Received: 19 February 2024 / Revised: 26 March 2024 / Accepted: 3 April 2024 | Yunmeng Li1, Yinze Zuo2, Xiang Li1, Yongzheng Zhang1, Cheng Ma3, Xiaomin Cheng4, Jian Wang4,5, Jitong Wang1, Hongzhen Lin4, and Licheng Ling1
The study investigates the enhancement of sulfur reduction kinetics in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries using an Mo-based MXene heterostructure (MoS2@Mo2C). The MoS2@Mo2C heterojunction is synthesized by partially vulcanizing Mo2C MXene with sulfur, creating an electron delocalization effect. This effect promotes ion desolvation, increases the number of free lithium ions (Li+), and accelerates Li+ transport, thereby improving polysulfide conversion efficiency. The material also enhances the oxidation and reduction of polysulfides through its defects and vacancies, further boosting catalytic efficiency. Electrochemical tests show that the Li-S battery with the MoS2@Mo2C electrocatalyst maintains high capacity and rate performance over 500 cycles at 1 C, with an ideal capacity of 664.7 mAh·g-1. The battery retains 775.6 mAh·g-1 after 100 cycles under high loading conditions and 838.4 mAh·g-1 after 70 cycles at 0 °C, demonstrating excellent stability and low decay rate (0.063%). These results highlight the effectiveness of delocalized electrons in accelerating the catalytic conversion of lithium polysulfides, making the MoS2@Mo2C material a promising candidate for enhancing Li-S battery performance.The study investigates the enhancement of sulfur reduction kinetics in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries using an Mo-based MXene heterostructure (MoS2@Mo2C). The MoS2@Mo2C heterojunction is synthesized by partially vulcanizing Mo2C MXene with sulfur, creating an electron delocalization effect. This effect promotes ion desolvation, increases the number of free lithium ions (Li+), and accelerates Li+ transport, thereby improving polysulfide conversion efficiency. The material also enhances the oxidation and reduction of polysulfides through its defects and vacancies, further boosting catalytic efficiency. Electrochemical tests show that the Li-S battery with the MoS2@Mo2C electrocatalyst maintains high capacity and rate performance over 500 cycles at 1 C, with an ideal capacity of 664.7 mAh·g-1. The battery retains 775.6 mAh·g-1 after 100 cycles under high loading conditions and 838.4 mAh·g-1 after 70 cycles at 0 °C, demonstrating excellent stability and low decay rate (0.063%). These results highlight the effectiveness of delocalized electrons in accelerating the catalytic conversion of lithium polysulfides, making the MoS2@Mo2C material a promising candidate for enhancing Li-S battery performance.