Oxygen?vacancy?containing cerium oxide nanoparticle?decorated nanonetwork?structured carbon toward high?performance lithium–sulfur batteries

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have been regarded as promising next-generation energy-storage devices owing to their inherently high theoretical energy density. Unfortunately, the poor capacity and cycling life caused by severe polysulfide shuttle effect sluggish redox kinetics in sulfur cathodes greatly impede practical application of Li–S batteries. Herein, a new class nanonetwork-structured carbon decorated with oxygen-vacancy-containing cerium oxide nanoparticles (NSC–CeO2?x), which skeleton is composed highly conductive nanotube core welded hybrid shell, has developed via one-step heating treatment molecular brush further employed functional interlayer modify separator battery. Owing synergistic active CeO2?x three-dimensional nanonetwork enhancing preservation soluble polysulfides boosting species, NSC–CeO2?x significantly promotes electrochemical performance cathode. As result, as-constructed exhibit an ultrahigh initial utilization 92.9% extremely large 751 mA h g?1 at rate 5 C. Remarkably, stable 728 over 300 cycles 1 C also achieved.