Protective catalytic layer powering activity and stability of electrocatalyst for high-energy lithium-sulfur pouch cell

Seoa Kim, Won-Gwang Lim, Hyeonjung Jung, Yo Chan Jeong, Cheol-Young Park, Seung Bo Yang, Chang Hoon Lee, Donghai Wang, Kwonnam Sohn (), Jeong Woo Han () and Jinwoo Lee ()
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Seoa Kim: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Won-Gwang Lim: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Hyeonjung Jung: Seoul National University
Yo Chan Jeong: LG Science Park
Cheol-Young Park: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Seung Bo Yang: LG Science Park
Chang Hoon Lee: LG Science Park
Donghai Wang: The Pennsylvania State University
Kwonnam Sohn: LG Science Park
Jeong Woo Han: Seoul National University
Jinwoo Lee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Designing an electrocatalyst that simultaneously satisfies high catalytic activity and surface stability is essential for realizing high-performance lithium-sulfur (Li||S) batteries. Here, we propose an advanced electrocatalyst by constructing a thin protective catalytic layer (PCL) on the surface of metal nanoparticle catalysts. This few atomic layer thicknesses of the PCL composed of pyridinic N embedded graphitic carbon allows electrons to transfer from a metal nanoparticle to pyridinic N, resulting in an optimized p-orbital level of pyridinic N of PCL favorable for highly active conversion reaction of lithium sulfide. Further, PCL suppresses the direct contact of sulfur species with metal electrocatalysts. This surface protection effect inhibits the phase change of metal electrocatalysts to metal sulfide impurities, which maintains a highly active Li||S electrocatalysis for long-term cycling. Consequently, A h-level Li||S pouch cell with >500 W h kg−1 (specific energy based on current collector, anode, separator, electrolyte, and cathode), Coulombic efficiency (>95%), and stable life of 20 cycles was successfully realized.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56606-2

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