Application of Biomass Carbon‐Supported Bifunctional Layered Niobium‐Based Materials in High‐Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

The development of advanced cathode materials is of paramount significance in surmounting the challenges of shuttle effects and sluggish redox kinetics inherent in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. In the present study, a novel biomass‐derived porous carbon‐supported bifunctional layered niobium‐based heterostructure (T‐Nb 2 O 5 ‐Nb 4 N 5 /PC) is synthesized and employed as an efficacious host for sulfur cathodes. By integrating the high adsorption capacity of T‐Nb 2 O 5 , the potent catalytic activity of Nb 4 N 5 , and the expeditious electron transfer induced by the built‐in field of the heterostructure, the T‐Nb 2 O 5 ‐Nb 4 N 5 /PC heterostructure augments the adsorption and expedites the catalytic conversion of lithium polysulfide (LiPS). Electrochemical assays manifest that T‐Nb 2 O 5 ‐Nb 4 N 5 /PC conspicuously diminishes battery polarization, ameliorates redox kinetics, and attains remarkable cycle stability and rate performance. Electrochemical evaluations reveal that the T‐Nb 2 O 5 ‐Nb 4 N 5 /PC cathode delivers an impressive initial capacity of 944.4 mAh g − 1 at 0.1 C and exhibits the smallest voltage gap (Δ E ) and overpotential (9.2 mV) among the studied samples, indicating minimal polarization and rapid reaction kinetics. This research spotlights the potential of heterostructured bifunctional niobium‐based materials in propelling Li–S battery technology, proffering a novel avenue for high‐performance energy storage systems.