摘要
Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)battery is highly regarded as a promising next-generation energy storage device but suffers from sluggish sulfur redox kinetics.Probing the behavior and mechanism of the sulfur species on electrocatalytic surface is the first step to rationally introduce polysulfide electrocatalysts for kinetic promotion in a working battery.Herein,crystalline lithium sulfide(Li_(2)S)is exclusively observed on electrocatalytic surface with uniform spherical morphology while Li_(2)S on non-electrocatalytic surface is amorphous and irregular.Further characterization indicates the crystalline Li_(2)S preferentially participates in the discharge/charge process to render reduced interfacial resistance,high sulfur utilization,and activated sulfur redox reactions.Consequently,crystalline Li_(2)S is proposed with thermodynamic and kinetic advantages to rati on alize the superior performances of Li-S batteries.The evoluti on of solid Li_(2)S on electrocatalytic surface not only addresses the polysulfide electrocatalysis strategy,but also inspires further investigation into the chemistry of energy-related processes.
基金
supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(2016YFA0202500 and 2016YFA0200102)
the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China(21676160,21825501,and U1801257)
the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program.
