Heterostructured WOx/W2C Nanocatalyst for Li2S Oxidation in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries with High‐Areal‐Capacity

Abstract Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries show extraordinary promise as a next‐generation battery technology due to their high theoretical energy density and the cost efficiency of sulfur. However, the sluggish reaction kinetics, uncontrolled growth of lithium sulfide (Li 2 S), and substantial Li 2 S oxidation barrier cause low sulfur utilization and limited cycle life. Moreover, these drawbacks get exacerbated at high current densities and high sulfur loadings. Here, a heterostructured WO x /W 2 C nanocatalyst synthesized via ultrafast Joule heating is reported, and the resulting heterointerfaces contribute to enhance electrocatalytic activity for Li 2 S oxidation, as well as controlled Li 2 S deposition. The densely distributed nanoparticles provide abundant binding sites for uniform deposition of Li 2 S. The continuous heterointerfaces favor efficient adsorption and promote charge transfer, thereby reducing the activation barrier for the delithiation of Li 2 S. These attributes enable Li–S cells to deliver high‐rate performance and high areal capacity. This study provides insights into efficient catalyst design for Li 2 S oxidation under practical cell conditions.