Inorganic Porous Nanostructures Prepared by The Breath Figure Mechanism and Their Application in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries, recognized for their high theoretical capacity and plentiful sulfur source, are potential candidates for future energy storage devices. One significant challenge to commercialization is the polysulfide shuttle effect, which reduces the cycling stability and battery lifespan. We solved this issue by incorporating porous nanostructured metal sulfide into the battery's separator. We prepared metal sulfide nanoparticles through a simple hydrothermal synthesis and subsequently developed a porous thin film using the breath figure approach. Variables like substrate choice, temperature, and humidity were adjusted to refine the nanostructures. These modifications helped curb the shuttle effect by trapping the mobile polysulfides, thereby enhancing battery efficiency. The electrochemical attributes of these upgraded devices are elaborated upon in this research.