Petal-like Mn-doped α-Ni(OH) nanosheets for high-performance Li-S cathode material.

Lithium-sulphur (Li-S) batteries are high-energy-density and cost-effective batteries. Herein, petal-like Ni Mn (OH) ( ≈ 0.04) nanosheets were synthesised using a hydrothermal method and the electrical conductivity of Ni(OH) was improved by applying the cathode functional materials in Li-S batteries. With up to 5 mg cm of S content in the cathode, the fabricated Ni Mn (OH) electrode exhibited specific discharge capacities up to 1375 and 1150 mA h g at 0.2 and 0.5C, and retained this capacity at 813 and 714 mA h g after 200 cycles, respectively. Electrochemical measurement results show that Ni Mn (OH) plays a critical role in Li-S batteries as it has a larger specific surface area than Ni(OH), which has superior adsorption performance toward lithium polysulphides. Moreover, the conductivity performance of Ni Mn (OH) is significantly better than that of Ni(OH), which improves the electrochemical reaction kinetics of the Li-S batteries.