Self-assembled BNNSs/rGO heterostructure as a synergistic adsorption and catalysis mediator boosts the electrochemical kinetics of lithium-sulfur batteries.

[Display omitted] • BNNSs/rGO heterostructure is synthesized by self-assembly crosslinking approach. • The mediator can suppress the shuttle effect of LiPSs by superior adsorption. • It can markedly catalyze the conversion of liquid-phase LiPSs and solid-phase Li 2 S. • BNNSs/rGO-based Li-S batteries show improved electrochemical reaction kinetics. Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery with high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mAh/g), has been deemed as one of the most potential candidates of secondary energy storage system. However, the large-scale applications of Li-S batteries have been obstructed by internally sluggish multi-step redox reaction and terrible shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Herein, boron nitride nanosheets/reduced graphene oxide (BNNSs/rGO) heterostructure prepared by self-assembly crosslinking method has been designed to modify commercial separator for Li-S batteries. The hierarchical pores, physical and chemical cross-links within heterostructure can significantly enhance the adsorption capacity for LiPSs, uniquely physical and electronic interaction between BNNSs and rGO can effectively catalyze the conversion of sulfurated species. Benefiting from the synergistic adsorption-catalysis effect, BNNSs/rGO not only greatly inhibits the shuttle behaviors, but also considerably accelerates the electrochemical reaction kinetics for LiPSs and Li 2 S. Attributed to these merits, Li-S battery with BNNSs/rGO heterostructure mediator delivers superiorly reversible capacity as high as 915.0 mAh/g at 1 C. Even at high sulfur loading of 3.9 mg cm−2, the cell delivers ultra-stable specific capacity of 629.1 mAh/g at 1 C, and still maintains 605.5 mAh/g over 500 cycles corresponding to a capacity fade of merely 0.0075% per cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]