In Situ Built ZnS/MXene Heterostructure by a Mild Method for Inhibiting Polysulfide Shuttle in Li-S Batteries

With high specific surface area, excellent polysulfide conversion activity, and fast electron/ion transfer at the interface, MXene-derived heterostructures can be employed as catalysts for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries to accelerate sulfur redox kinetics and suppress shuttle effect. However, the preparation of MXene-derived heterostructures often requires high-temperature reactions, which can easily lead to the oxidation of MXene and sacrifice the electrical conductivity. Herein, a catalytic two-dimensional heterostructure (ZnS/MXene) was successfully synthesized via a mild method. The MXene skeleton retains the original nanosheet structure without oxidation. The in situ-grown ZnS nanospheres prevent the restacking of MXene nanosheets, which not only increases the active sites, but also guarantees channels for the fast passage of lithium ions. The interfacial built-in electric field further promotes electron/ion migration, thereby expediting the polysulfide conversion and suppressing the shuttle effect. Consequently, the batteries using ZnS/MXene modified separators exhibit a high initial discharge capacity of 1230 mAh g at 0.1 C and a low decaying rate of 0.082 % per cycle after 500 cycles at 0.5 C. This work offers a reference for the fabrication of MXene-based heterostructure in Li-S batteries.