Achieving accelerated electrochemical kinetics in lithium–sulfur batteries by regulating the asymmetry factor g of chiral catalysts

ABSTRACT Manipulating electron spin is an effective approach for enhancing the activity of catalysts. However, progress remains limited due to the lack of stable and universal strategies. Here, we report an innovative strategy to regulate the spin state of Co3O4 that relies on the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect, whereby modulation of the chiral asymmetric factor g through an external magnetic field enables elucidation of its intrinsic correlation with catalytic performance. The experimental results demonstrate that chiral Co3O4 nanoparticles used as separator modifiers in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries exhibit superior performance compared to achiral Co3O4. Moreover, we demonstrate a linear positive correlation between the g factor of chiral nanoparticles and the catalytic performance. Theoretical calculations reveal that the improved electrochemical performance primarily arises from an upshift of the Co d-band center, which effectively regulates interfacial charge-transfer kinetics. These findings provide guidance for the rational design of Li–S catalysts through electron spin engineering.