Hollow multishelled FeP nanospheres as a separator modifier for high-performance Li-S batteries

The commercialization of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) is confronted with several conundrums, which mainly involves polysulfide dissolution/diffusion and retarded polysulfide conversion kinetics. Here, hollow multi-shelled FeP nanospheres are fabricated as a separator modifier for LSBs. The shells provide scores of chemisorptive and catalytic sites for polysulfides, leading to a higher sulfur utilization. Additionally, the hollow voids between various shells can buffer the volumetric expansion and contraction, ensuring high morphological stability of the catalyst. Consequently, the cell with the FeP separator exhibits a prolonged cycle life with a low capacity decay rate of 0.051% per cycle after 1000 cycles at 1C and superior rate capability (532.6 mAh/g at 3C).