journal article·2026-04-23

Atomic Cascade Catalysts for Expedited Sulfur Conversions in Low-Temperature Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Zhen-Hua Che, Yong-Zheng Zhang, Jian Wang, Bai-Shan Liu, Yu-Hang Lin, Zhi-Yan Wang, Han Wang, Duan Bin, Hong-Bin Lu, Bei-Bei Yang, Hui-Bing He, Hong-Zhen Lin, Jing Zhang, Yan-Li Wang, Liang Zhan

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Abstract

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries demonstrate remarkable theoretical capacity and energy density; however, the practical application is hindered by large Li + desolvation barriers and polysulfide shuttling, exhibiting the cascade sulfur reactions. Herein, single atomic cobalt atoms are anchored onto nitrogen-doped polymeric carbon spheres (SACo@NPCS) via polymerization and pyrolysis, serving as the cascade catalyst to promote reaction kinetics in harsh conditions. Specifically, cobalt single atoms with high electronegativity and catalytic efficiency enhance the interactions with sulfur species and reduce the energy barrier of deposition and decomposition of Li 2 S after accelerating the desolvation and diffusion of Li(solvent) x + in advance, as comprehensively verified through theoretical simulations and experimental electrochemical tests. Impressively, the optimal cell maintains stable operation for over 300 cycles under a sulfur loading of 5.4 mg cm –2 and tolerates the high-rate capability up to 5 C even at 0 °C, highlighting the promise of atom-level cascade catalysts for practical implementation.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies · Advancements in Battery Materials · Advanced Battery Technologies Research

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Specially Functional Polymeric Materials and Related Technology (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering

East China University of Science and Technology

School of Textile & Clothing

Nantong University

Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU)

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Guangxi University

i-Lab & CAS Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Materials and Device

Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

School of Materials Science and Engineering

Xi’an University of Technology

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China · Suzhou Institute of Nanotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences · Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality · Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Key Laboratory of Engineering Dielectrics and Its Application, Ministry of Education · Iner Mongolia Engineering Research Center of Lithium-Sulfur Battery Energy Storage

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