Hierarchically Constructed ZnO/Co3O4 Nanoheterostructures Synergizing Dendrite Inhibition and Polysulfide Conversion in Lithium–Sulfur Battery

The efficiency and stability of lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries remain limited due to the slow redox kinetics, uncontrollable polysulfide shuttling, and irreversible lithium dendrite growth. Herein, we report a bifunctional composite of heterostructured ZnO/Co3O4 nanocrystals on a 3D hierarchical reduced graphene oxide/carbon nanotubes skeleton (ZCNC@GC). The strong polarity of ZCNC benefits the polysulfides adsorption and uniform Li deposition, inhibiting the polysulfides shuttling, and Li dendrite growth. Meanwhile, the micro/nano interface field effect combined with the overall network conductive skeleton establishes a smooth and hierarchical conductive pathway, facilitating the charge transfer, thus accelerating the reaction kinetics. As a result, the full battery affords a rate performance of 652 mAh g–1 at 5 C and a capacity decay of only 0.034% per cycle at 5 C over 500 cycles, surpassing most Li–S batteries. This work provides a perspective on the interface engineering of electrode materials for fabricating built-in electric fields to promote the Li–S battery system.