N, P co-doped mesoporous polyacenes derived from phenol-formaldehyde resin as sulfur hosts for lithium-sulfur batteries

Polarizing carbon substrate by heteroatom-doping has been verified as an effective strategy to suppress shuttling effect of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Polyacenes (PAs) derived from phenol-formaldehyde resin with controllable porous structure and high conductivity has been broadly integrated into lithium-ion batteries as conductivity coating material. Herein, a nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped polyacenes (NP-PAs) material was prepared for LSBs. The disordered mesoporous structure and high electronic conductivity of NP-PAs makes it suitable for sulfur host and plays the role of physical confinement. The polarized surface of NP-PAs further alleviates the shuttling effect. As a result, the NP-PAs/S cathode successfully meliorates the inherent vice of sulfur containing cathode, and presents elevated rate capabilities and robust long cycling stability (677.6 mAh/g of the 400th cycle at 1C with small average capacity attenuation of 0.071% for each cycle).