Preparation of Mn3O4-CNTs microspheres as an improved sulfur hosts for lithium-sulfur batteries

[Display omitted] •A novel sulfur host was constructed by a facile spray method.•The caddice-like microspheres with Mn3O4 nanoparticles are interweaved by CNTs.•Mn3O4 can effectively prevent the dissolution of polysulfides.•Mn3O4-CNTs microspheres exhibit excellent cycle stability and rate capability. A novel, sulfur host, Mn3O4-CNTs microsphere was prepared by ultrasonic spraying with subsequent impregnation methods and appeared to effectively mitigate the dissolution of intermediate polysulfides from the Li-S cathode. Mn3O4-CNTs microspheres are caddice-like balls that are interwoven with CNTs that contains Mn3O4 nanoparticles. These novel Mn3O4-CNTs microspheres were found to exhibit high initial charge and discharge capacities of 1216 and 1227 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and they exhibited a favorable cycle stability of 1087 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C after 200 cycles. These attributes make this new material a good, potential cathode material for lithium-sulfur batteries.