Accelerated Li-S chemistry at a cooperative interface built in situ

The performances of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have been markedly impaired by intricate multi-electron sulfur chemistry involving reversible conversion of polysulfides (LiPSs) to Li2S upon discharge and back to S8 upon charge. Herein, graphene in situ coated TiO2 nanotubes are realized via a direct chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique, leading to the design of a graphene-TiO2 (G-TiO2) promotor for Li-S chemistry. With the aid of detailed experimental and theoretical characterization, we reveal that the direct CVD-derived G-TiO2 realizes not only the coupling of Li+-ion diffusion and electron transfer but also efficient regulation of LiPSs, thereby producing a synergistic catalyzing effect on both LiPS conversion and Li2S decomposition. As a result, S/graphene-TiO2 (S/G-TiO2) presents a remarkable rate capability and an ultralow capacity decay rate of 0.052% over 1000 cycles at 2.0C. Even at a high sulfur loading of 9.4 mg cm-2, such a cathode still delivers a superior areal capacity of 8.7 mA h cm-2. This work would motivate the deep-seated revisiting of the sulfur reaction mechanism and offer a rational strategy to construct high-energy and long-life Li-S batteries.