Improved polysulfide adsorption by using honeycomb-like titanium dioxide boxes as efficient sulfur hosts for advanced lithium-sulfur batteries

Despite the fact that lithium-sulfur batteries are considered promising energy storage system due to their high specific capacity and energy density, however, there is no doubt that the severe polysulfide migration greatly hindered the practical employment of the lithium-sulfur batteries. In our work, novel honeycomb-like TiO2 boxes were designed as host materials for sulfur in the lithium-sulfur batteries. Owing to the strong chemical adsorption ability for polysulfide and superior electronic transportation, the polysulfide migration could be efficiently inhibited and the electronic conductivity is greatly improved. As a result, the as-prepared honeycomb-like TiO2/S (HLTO/S) composite electrode delivers high specific capacity of 1268 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C. Moreover, the specific capacity could remain at 712 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.5 C, demonstrating excellent cycling stability. This work provides a new strategy to develop the host materials for sulfur in the lithium-sulfur batteries.