SnS/SnS2 Heterostructures Embedded in Hierarchical Porous Carbon as Polysulfides Immobilizer for High-Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Driven by the strong adsorptive and catalytic ability of metal sulfides for soluble polysulfides, it is considered as a potential mediator to resolve the problems of shuttle effect and slow reaction kinetics of polysulfides in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. However, their further development is limited by poor electrical conductivity and bad long-term durability. Herein, one type of new catalyst composed of SnS/SnS₂ heterostructures on hierarchical porous carbon (denoted as SnS/SnS₂-HPC) by a simple hydrothermal method is reported and used as an interlayer coating on the conventional separator for blocking polysulfides. The SnS/SnS₂-HPC integrates the advantages of a porous conductive network for promoting the transport of electrons and an enhanced electrocatalyst for accelerating polysulfides conversion. As a result, such a cell coupled with a SnS/SnS₂-HPC interlayer exhibits a long-term lifespan of 1200 cycles. This work provides a new cell configuration by using heterostructures with a built-in electric field formed from a p-n heterojunction to improve the performance of Li-S batteries.