Adenine Derivative Host with Interlaced 2D Structure and Dual Lithiophilic–Sulfiphilic Sites to Enable High-Loading Li–S Batteries

How to simultaneously restrain the loss of active species and facilitate the conversion reaction under high S loading condition is the key to solve the commercialization of Li–S batteries. For this system, the availability of raw materials and simplicity (high efficiency) of synthetic strategies are also important factors. Herein, we propose an interlaced two-dimensional (2D) carbon material as advanced Li–S cathode host characterized by corrugated monolithic morphology and Co/N dopants as dual lithiophilic–sulfiphilic sites. This 2D structure is derived from a cheap biomass precursor, adenine, with bonding interaction with a MgCl2 hydrate template via a facile ionothermal method. It allows a homogeneous spatial distribution of S/Li2S deposits and strong adsorbability and enhanced conversion kinetics for polysulfides. Benefiting from the synergistic effects of corrugated 2D conductive matrix and embedded heteroatom/nanodot catalyst, the resultant sulfur cathode releases a high specific capacity of 1290.4 mA h g–1 at 0.2 C, small capacity fading rate of 0.029% per cycle over 600 cycles at 2 C, superior rate performance up to 20 C, and considerable areal capacity retention of 6.0 mA h cm–2 even under an ultrahigh sulfur loading up to 9.7 mg cm–2.