Design of Novel Transition-Metal-Doped C6N2 with High-Efficiency Polysulfide Anchoring and Catalytic Performances toward Application in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are highly expected because of their high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. However, its application still faces challenges, including the shuttle effect affecting the sulfur reduction reaction, the high decomposition energy barrier of Li₂S during charging, the volume change of sulfur, and the poor conductivity during charging and discharging. Here, combined with density functional theory and particle swarm optimization algorithm for the nitrogen carbide monolayer structural search (C_mN_8-m, m = 1-8), the surprising discovery is that a single metal-atom-doped C₆N₂ monolayer could effectively accelerate the conversion of lithium polysulfide and anchor lithium polysulfide during discharging and decrease the decomposition energy barrier of Li₂S during charging. This "anchoring and catalyzing" mechanism effectively reduces the shuttle effect and greatly improves the reaction kinetics. Among a series of metal atoms, Cr is the best doping element, and it exhibits suitable adsorption energy for polysulfides and the lowest decomposition energy barrier for Li₂S. This work opens up a new way for the development of transition-metal-doped carbon-nitrogen materials with an excellent catalytic activity for lithium polysulfide as cathode materials for Li-S batteries.