Engineering Pocket‐Like Graphene–Shell Encapsulated FeS₂: Inhibiting Polysulfides Shuttle Effect in Potassium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

Abstract Resource‐rich FeS 2 is a promising anode for potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs). However, polysulfides emerge due to FeS 2 conversion during discharging, which dissolve into the ether‐based electrolyte and cause the continuous capacity degradation in PIBs. To address the polysulfides dissolution in PIBs, a graphene–shell‐encapsulated FeS 2 is fabricated and embedded in N/S codoped 3D hollow carbon spheres. As a protective pocket, the graphene–shell can effectively accommodate polysulfides inside the core–shell, inhibiting the polysulfides shuttle effect to enhance cycle stability of electrode. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that graphene–shells have a strong adsorption capacity for polysulfides, and the interfacial interaction between KFeS 2 and graphene–shell can boost the K ion mobility. As a result, the composite exhibits superior‐rate properties (524 and 224 mA h g −1 at 0.1 and 8 A g −1 , respectively) and long‐term cycle stability. This work demonstrates the promotion and protective effect of the graphene–shell for the FeS 2 to storage K from both experimental and computational perspectives. These research outputs can provide guidance for designing other metal‐based sulfide electrodes for PIBs.