Cu Based Metal Organic Framework as Electrocatalyst for High Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries with high energy and power densities have arisen as one of the most promising secondary batteries but due to Li-polysulfide (LiPSs) shuttle effect, declining discharge capacity and unstable cyclability are main problems. Implementing an effective catalyst which can not only reduce the LiPSs shuttle effect but also increase the conductivity of Li-S battery cathode is prime requirement. Here for the first time, we have implemented conductive Cu metal-based Metal organic framework (Cu-MOF) as a Li-S battery cathode material.<br/>Cu-MOF with tunable pore structure and thread like interwoven morphology has proven itself more efficient electrocatalysts for boosting sulfur conversions, and the innate pores of conductive Cu-MOF helps to trap the LiPSs product towards the cathode side. The well-defined architecture of organic ligands of Cu-MOF also participate to explicate the involved surface-binding mechanisms of S and polysulfide products. Conductive Cu-MOF improve the diffusion rate of Li ions, shackling LiPSs, upsurging conduction of electrons/ions, and regulating the deposition of Li₂S₂/Li₂S towards cathode side.<br/>The Li-S battery having sulfur percolated inside the pores of conductive Cu-MOF shows outstanding long-cycling performance. In this presentation, we will discuss the experimental data and mechanistic understanding of the outstanding battery cell performance. It is believed that introducing sulfur in conducting Cu-MOFs open up new gateways to further utilize other conductive MOFs in the Li-S batteries arena.