A Separator Coated by Cerium‐Zirconium Oxide/Carbon Nanotube Promotes Li ₂ S Precipitation for Advanced Li‐S Batteries

ABSTRACT Although lithium‐sulfur (Li‐S) batteries exhibit extensive potential application as a novel type of rechargeable battery, their practical implementation is hindered by the shuttle effect of soluble polysulfides and the sluggish redox kinetics involved in converting polysulfides to Li 2 S 2 /Li 2 S. Herein, we synthesized cerium‐zirconium oxide/carbon nanotube (CZO/CNT) composite via a facile hydrothermal‐calcination method for use as a separator coating. In this material, the highly conductive network structure of CNTs optimizes charge transport pathways, ensuring rapid lithium‐ion migration. Meanwhile, the strong polarity of CZO exhibits strong adsorption‐catalytic capacity toward Lewis‐basic polysulfides, thereby accelerating the reaction kinetics and improving the deposition efficiency of Li 2 S. Based on these merits, the Li‐S battery utilizing CZO/CNT separator delivered a high discharge capacity of 1339 mAh g −1 at 0.1 C. In particular, the battery exhibited exceptional cycling stability, retaining a reversible capacity of 490 mAh g −1 for 800 cycles at 2 C, with a 0.059% capacity fade per cycle. This research demonstrates the potential of CZO/CNT composite in enhancing Li‐S battery performance, offering a promising approach for developing advanced separator materials.