Designing a Functional CNT+PB@MXene-Coated Separator for High-Capacity and Long-Life Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Separators, as indispensable parts of LSBs (lithium-sulfur batteries), play a cucial role in inhibiting dendrite growth and suppressing the shuttle of lithium polysulfide (LiPSs). Herein, we prepared a functional carbon nanotube (CNT) and Fe-based Prussian blue (PB)@MXene/polypropylene (PP) composite separator using a facile vacuum filtration approach. The CNTs and MXene nanosheets are excellent electronic conductors that can enhance the composite separator electrical conductivity, while Fe-based Prussian blue with a rich pore structure can effectively suppress the migration by providing physical space to anchor soluble LiPSs and retain it as cathode active material. Additionally, MXene nanosheets can be well attached to Fe-based Prussian blue by an electrostatic interaction and contribute to the physical barriers that inhibit the shuttle of long-chain soluble Li₂S_n (4 ≤ n ≤ 8). When used as a lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cell membrane with a functional coating layer of CNT+PB@MXene facing the cathode side, the batteries reveal a high initial discharge capacity (1042.6 mAh g^-1 at 0.2 C), outstanding rate capability (90% retention of capacity at 1.0 C) and high reversible capacity (674.1 mAh g^-1 after 200 cycles at 1.0 V). Of note, separator modification is a feasible method to improve the electrochemical performance of LSBs.