Continuous zirconium-based MOF-808 membranes for polysulfide shuttle suppression in lithium-sulfur batteries

• A Zr-based continuous MOF-808 membrane was developed on carbon nanotube film. • MOF-808 membrane was used as ion-selective interlayer material for Li-S batteries. • MOF-808 membrane can selectively block polysulfides and promote their conversion. • The Li-S batteries deliver impressive cycle stability and rate capability. The shuttle effect of polysulfides is the most critical challenge impeding the practical process of lithium-sulfur batteries. Herein, we report a continuous crystalline zirconium-based MOF-808 membrane that prepared on carbon nanotube film through a facial in-situ hydrothermal method, which is to be employed as multifunctional interlayer material in lithium-sulfur batteries. The growth characteristics of MOF-808 membrane and its applicability to lithium-sulfur batteries are detailedly investigated. With appropriate pore size and good electrolyte wettability, the as-prepared MOFs membrane can serve as an ion-selective barrier that efficaciously blocks polysulfides while allowing the rapid transport of lithium ions through sieving effect. Moreover, the redox kinetics is also accelerated by the MOF-808 membrane. Consequently, with the employment of the as-prepared interlayer, lithium-sulfur batteries deliver a durable cycle stability with a limited decay of merely 0.03 % per cycle over 500 cycles at 1 C, and an excellent rate capability of 707.3 mAh g −1 under 5 C. The strategy proposed here would advance the development of continuous MOFs membrane in the field of rechargeable batteries.