P-block element modulated 1 T phase MoS with Ru lattice grafting for high-performance Li | |O batteries.

The metallic phase MoS (1T-MoS) supported metal-nanocatalyst is an appealing material system for accelerating the redox kinetics of non-aqueous Li | |O batteries. However, the drawbacks associated with the surface orbital steric effect and the internal electron coupling results in a detrimental effect for the stability of 1T-MoS, especially for the interface charge transfer. This makes it difficult to incorporate guest metal nanoparticles without compromising the 1 T phase support. To circumvent these issues, here we propose a p-block element (In-O) doping strategy to stabilize the 1 T phase MoS by moderating the surface orbital steric effect and strengthening the internal chemical bonding, and thus for the epitaxial Ru nanocatalyst graft on the stabilized 1T-MoS for Li | |O batteries. The experimental and theoretical analyzes indicate that the In-O-MoS@Ru enhances the O dissociation and facilitates the adsorption of LiO intermediates. This effect promotes the growth of weakly crystalline LiO films during oxygen reduction reaction, which can be more easily decomposed during the oxygen evolution reaction, thereby enhancing the bifunctional-catalytic kinetics. When employed at the positive electrode for non-aqueous Li | |O batteries, In-O-MoS@Ru shows an overpotential of 0.37 V and a cycling life of 284 cycles at 200 mA g with a final discharge specific capacity of 1000 mAh g at 25 °C.