Facile synthesis of CoMnO/C nanocages as an efficient sulfur host for lithium-sulfur batteries with enhanced rate performance.

Capacity reduction mainly caused by the shuttle effect and low conductivity restricts the commercial application of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Herein, we developed a method to overcome these two obstacles synchronously by designing nitrogenous carbon decorated hollow Co3-xMnxO4/C nanocages as hosts of sulfur. These hosts were derived from manganese doped ZIF-67 by a facile sintering method, which provided polar surface to anchor lithium polysulfides and considerable electronic conductivity. The polar material Co3-xMnxO4 and special hollow frame contribute to efficient synergistic sulfur-fixation, resulting in great cycling stabilities. The manganese elements ensure an efficient conversion among LSPs. At the same time, N-doped carbon provides excellent electrical conductivity, thereby leading to splendid rate performances. Thus, a battery with great stability and high capacity could be achieved. As a result, Co3-xMnxO4/C/S with 66 wt% sulfur content delivered a high initial capacity of 1082 mA h g-1 at 1C, together with a slow average capacity decay of 0.056% per cycle at 10C over 500 cycles. When the average sulfur loading is 1.3 mg cm-2, a capacity of 628 mA h g-1 can be maintained at 5C after 500 cycles.