Identifying the Role of the Cationic Geometric Configuration in Spinel Catalysts for Polysulfide Conversion in Sodium–Sulfur Batteries

An AB2X4 spinel structure, with tetrahedral A and octahedral B sites, is a paradigmatic class of catalysts with several possible geometric configurations and numerous applications, including polysulfide conversion in metal–sulfur batteries. Nonetheless, the influence of the geometric configuration and composition on the mechanisms of catalysis and the precise manner in which spinel catalysts facilitate the conversion of polysulfides remain unknown. To enable controlled exposure of single active configurations, herein, Cotd2+ and Cooh3+ in Co3O4 catalysts for sodium polysulfide conversion are in large part replaced by Fetd2+ and Feoh3+, respectively, generating FeCo2O4 and CoFe2O4. Through an examination of electrochemical activation energies, the characterization of symmetric cells, and theoretical calculations, we determine that Cooh3+ serves as the active site for the breaking of S–S bonds, while Cotd2+ functions as the active site for the formation of S–Na bonds. The current study underlines the subtle relationship between activity and geometric configurations of spinel catalysts, providing unique insights for the rational development of improved catalysts by optimizing their atomic geometric configuration.