Structurally Mutualized Ti₃C₂@Ni₂P Catalysts Realize Interfacial Charge Redistribution for Facilitating Redox Reaction Kinetics in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

The sluggish redox reaction kinetics of polysulfides (LiPSs) seriously hinders the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). To effectively accelerate the conversion of sulfur species, constructing heterostructure catalysts has emerged as a promising strategy. In this research, the Ti₃C₂@Ni₂P electrocatalysts heterostructured with mutual structural support were fabricated by a straightforward phosphorylation method. The synergistic integration of the Ti₃C₂ substrate and uniformly distributed Ni₂P particles solves the component agglomeration and stacking, accordingly, exposing more active sites and effectively anchoring LiPSs. Moreover, the built-in electric field could be formed between the heterointerfaces to promote the transfer of Li⁺/e^-, reducing the energy barriers for LiPSs redox. Based on these advantages, LSBs assembled with Ti₃C₂@Ni₂P catalysts could achieve an initial capacity of 1180 mAh g^-1 at 0.2 C and a cycling decay rate of only 0.031% after 1000 cycles at 1 C. Besides, an area capacity of 4.0 mAh cm^-2 was achieved even at a sulfur loading of 6.1 mg cm^-2.