Carbon-metal oxide nanocomposites as lithium-sulfur battery cathodes

In rechargeable lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, the conductive carbon materials with high surface areas can greatly enhance the electrical conductivity of sulfur cathode, and metal oxides can restrain the dissolution of lithium polysulfides within the electrolyte through strong chemical bindings. The rational design of carbon-metal oxide nanocomposite cathodes has been considered as an effective solution to increase the sulfur utilization and improve cycling performance of Li-S batteries. Here, we summarize the recent progresses in the carbon-metal oxide composites for Li-S battery cathodes. Some insights are also offered on the future directions of carbon-metal oxide hybrid cathodes for high performance Li-S batteries.