Metal Oxides as Lithium Polysulfide Adsorbents in Lithium Sulfur Batteries

Recently, higher energy density storage devices are highly requested by a growing market. Researchers’ choices for the next-generation of electrochemical energy storage devices are limited between few options [16]. Lithium–Sulfur batteries have been counted as the best option for energy storage devices, such as rechargeable batteries. These types of cells attracted tremendous attention because of their higher capacity and reasonable cost compared to the other types of available batteries. Although the lithium-sulfur battery has tremendous advantages over lithium ions batteries, the performance and capacity of Lithium–Sulfur batteries suffers from high cathode volume, insulation of sulfur species, lithium dendrites formation and soluble polysulfide [25]. Li-S batteries have limited cycle life and rate capability due to the low electronic conductivity of sulfur. To solve these issues, Hollow Carbon Nanospheres (HCNs) have been used for improving the conductivity problem [50].To achieve better bonding between mechanistic penetration and high performance Li-S battery’s performance, the weak interchange between carbon and polysulfide’s source should be minimized through stronger interactions [1,16]. Also, using alternative options to recapture the active sulfur species diffused in the electrolyte can improve the final performance. To overcome these obstacles and achieve better electrochemical properties, the introduction of transitional metal can improve the common interlinkage to strong bond [25]. Hence, understanding of the interaction between lithium polysulfides and transitional groups is important. The transitional metal oxide with lithium polysulfides adsorbents as a cathode material is a promising option for Lithium Sulfur batteries to obtain the relationship between product properties and capacity [25,16]. This important material is a stepping stone to achieve higher capacity, conductivity and strong binding between Li- S species [1,16,17]. Metal oxide, such as MgO and Mn O_2, can absorb sulfur particles. These materials, due to their intrinsic hydrophilic surfaces, will sort sulfur in electrolyte stronger with higher conductivity, less sulfur solubility, and stronger chemical bonding [1]. Subsequently, hollow sulfur sphere nanocomposites with metal oxide nanoparticles can effectively change the electrochemical stability of Li- S batteries. As a result, Mn O_2 shows even more efficient corresponding electrochemical performances including cycling stability, higher gravimetric, capacity and coulombic efficiency.