Zr doped NASICON-type LATP glass-ceramic as a super-thin coating onto deoxidized carbon wrapped CNT-S cathode for lithium-sulphur battery

• Amphophilic surfactant induces emulsification effect to make LATP component elements to be mixed at molecular level. • Zr doping in LAZTP sample facilitates Li-ion transfer and significantly increases its conductivity. • Deoxidized carbon plays a role of bridge in connecting each CNT and maintains intimate contact between sulphur species and conductive CNT. • Dual-phase electrolyte-based battery gives better charge/discharge performance and cycling stability by blocking soluble lithium polysulphides diffusing. Rechargeable lithium–sulphur (Li–S) battery is one of the best candidates for the next generation of high-energy-storage systems. However, widespread application of Li–S battery is being restricted by the solubility and migration of the reaction intermediates in both discharge and charge processes. In this paper, we report a dual-phase electrolyte-based Li-S battery with high capacity and safety performance. With a lithium superionic conductor coating on the deoxidized carbon wrapped carbon nanotube-sulphur (CNT-S) cathode, there is no obvious decay in capacity during the long-term cycles for the assembled dual-phase electrolyte-based Li–S battery, and the discharge capacities achieved after the fortieth cycle are observed to return back to the level of the initial cycle. The sub-micron crystallized NASICON-type glass-ceramic powders with high purity are synthesized by a modified sol-gel method. Compared to the best value reported recently, an order of magnitude enhancement in total conductivity under room temperature is obtained in the doped sample using the process. By introducing this super high lithium-ion conductor to the particular battery architecture and combining it with the developed high-performance positive electrode, the assembled dual-phase electrolyte-based Li–S battery exhibits an efficient utilization of active materials and outstanding high-rate discharge ability, which is promising for possible commercial exploitation and practical applications. Schematic of the modified sol-gel method for synthesizing the LATP precursor. .