Eggshell membrane-derived polysulfide absorbents for highly stable and reversible lithium-sulfur cells

The carbonized eggshell membrane (CEM) powder with abundant micropores and high porosity is embedded within conventional sulfur cathodes (CEM-S cathodes) as a polysulfide (PS) absorbent for lithium-sulfur batteries. The CEM PS absorbent effectively limits the irreversible active material loss from CEM-S cathodes and prevents the formation of severe inactive agglomerations on the surface of the cathode during cycling. In addition to trapping the migrating PSs, the conductive and porous CEM facilitates efficient electron transport and electrolyte immersion, which ensures successive reactivation and reutilization of the trapped active material. As a result, the CEM-S cathodes with a reasonable sulfur content of 60 wt % exhibit a high capacity retention rate of 85% and a low capacity fade rate of 0.10% per cycle for 150 cycles. Such superior cycle stability suggests that natural starting materials with unique porous structures can be utilized to manufacture high-performance cell components for Li-S cells.