Porous Al11Ce3 intermetallics as effective sulphur host networks for stable lithium–sulphur batteries

Abstract

Lithium–sulphur (Li–S) batteries have garnered significant attention among various energy storage systems due to their high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. However, their commercialization application is hindered by poor redox kinetics and low cycling stability. In this study, Al₁₁Ce₃ intermetallics with porous network structures are synthesized. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that Al₁₁Ce₃ intermetallics possess excellent adsorption and catalytic properties for polysulfides. In this situation, the material presents good potential as a sulphur host for Li–S battery applications. Experimental results show that after cycling for 100 cycles at 0.2C, the specific capacity of the electrode can reach 204.83 mA h g⁻¹, while at 1C, the capacity decay rate per cycle is only 0.055%, revealing its good cycling stability. The excellent electrochemical properties can be attributed to the special network structure, plentiful active sites and unique electronic structure of Al₁₁Ce₃, which not only facilitates effective sulphur storage but also enhances the catalytic efficiency for polysulfide conversion. The work opens up a new pathway for the design of advanced rare earth-related materials and provides a new idea for improving the cycling stability of Li–S batteries by rare earth-based intermetallic sulphur hosts.