Strategic design of high-directional scaffold enabling accelerated kinetics for high-loading low-temperature lithium-sulfur batteries

Abstract

The electronic market starves for efficient batteries at low temperatures. Herein, a free-standing and highly directional scaffold filled with NiCo-decorated carbon nanotube bushes (HDS-NCCNT) is synthesized and employed as a three-dimensional thick host for low-temperature lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. This unique structure can ensure the high loading of active material and improve the sluggish reaction kinetics at low temperatures. The NCCNT bushes can further suppress the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides and prolong the lifespan. As a result, the Li₂S₆@HDS-NCCNT cathode with a loading mass of 5 mg cm⁻² exhibits a remarkable capacity of 1026 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1C under −20 ℃. Even under −40 ℃, the Li₂S₆@HDS-NCCNT cathode also shows favorable performance with a high sulfur loading of 10 mg cm⁻². This pioneering work demonstrates the rational design of components and architectures ranging from micrometer to nanometer scale, which inspires the development of high-loading Li-S batteries under cryogenic conditions.