Tungsten Disulfide Catalysts Supported on a Carbon Cloth Interlayer for High Performance Li–S Battery

Abstract

The capacity limitations of insertion‐compound cathodes has motivated interest in a sulfur cathode for a rechargeable battery cell with a metallic‐lithium anode; but irreversible capacity loss owing to solubility of intermediate Li 2 S x (x = 2–8) polysulfides in the organic‐liquid electrolytes used has prevented practical application. A dual‐function cathode structure consisting of layered tungsten disulfide (WS 2 ) supported both on the cathode current collector and on a carbon cloth interlayer (CCl) gives excellent performance in a lithium half‐cell by providing strong adsorption of the soluble Li 2 S x on the WS 2 with fast access to electrons from the current collector via a blocking carbon cloth interlayer.