xiaojiawen

3D metal carbide@mesoporous carbon hybrid architecture (Ti₃C₂T_x@Meso-C, T_X ≈ F_xO_y) is synthesised and applied as cathode material hosts for lithium-sulfur batteries. Exfoliated-metal carbide (Ti₃C₂T_x) nanosheets have high electronic conductivity and contain rich functional groups for effective trapping of polysulfides. Mesoporous carbon with a robust porous structure provides sufficient spaces for loading sulfur and effectively cushion the volumetric expansion of sulfur cathodes. Theoretical calculations have confirmed that metal carbide can absorb sulfur and polysulfides, therefore extending the cycling performance. The Ti₃C₂T_x@Meso-C/S cathodes have achieved a high capacity of 1225.8 mAh g⁻¹ and more than 300 cycles at the C/2 current rate. The Ti₃C₂T_x@Meso-C hybrid architecture is a promising cathode host material for lithium-sulfur batteries.

Metal carbide@mesoporous carbon hybrid architecture (Ti₃C₂T_x@Meso-C) with a hierarchical architecture provides new strategies to suppress the shuttle effect of polysulfides for lithium sulfur batteries via inherently active 2D functional surfaces to chemically bond intermediate polysulfides. Ti₃C₂T_x@Meso-C/S cathode demonstrates an enhanced electrochemical performance for lithium-sulfur batteries, including a high specific capacity, good rate performance, and excellent cycling stability.