A Conductive Ni P Nanoporous Composite with a 3D Structure Derived from a Metal-Organic Framework for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Sulfur cathodes have attracted significant attention as next-generation electrode material candidates due to their considerable theoretical energy density. The main challenge in developing long-life Li-S batteries is to simultaneously suppress the shuttle effect and high areal mass loading of sulfur required for practical applications. To solve this problem, we have designed a novel nickel phosphide nanoporous composite derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as sulfur host materials. Homogeneous distribution of Ni P nanoparticles significantly avoids soluble polysulfides migrating out of the framework through strong chemical interactions, and the conductive 3D skeleton offers an accelerating electron transport. As a result, S@Ni P/NC has exhibited an enhanced performance of 1357 mAh g initially at 0.2 C (1 C=1675 mA g ) and remaining at 946 mAh g after 300 cycles. Even at an areal mass loading of sulfur as high as 4.6 mg cm , the electrode still showed an excellent specific capacity of 918 mAh g .