Hyaluronic acid molecular orientation induces uniform distribution of polysulfides for high-performance lithium-sulfur battery

Abstract

In the commercialization of lithium-sulfur battery, multiphase reaction-induced polysulfide shuttling and uneven dispersion have become a bottleneck that needs to be solved. Inspired by the exquisite recognition and self-adaptive mechanisms of biomolecules in nature, this study proposes a bioinspired binder strategy based on Hyaluronic acid to reconstruct the interfacial microenvironment of the cathode at the molecular level. The binder, with its rich multipolar groups and dynamic hydrogen-bonding network, effectively enhances the anchoring and adsorption of polysulfides. Meanwhile, the unique double-helix chain structure of Hyaluronic acid generates a “breathing mode” that realizes the selective capture and spatial redistribution of active materials, thereby effectively promoting the kinetic conversion and reaction reversibility of polysulfides. The high-sulfur-loading cathode (63.8 wt%) assembled based on this mechanism manifests exceptional electrochemical performance, with an initial discharge capacity of 1347.75 mAh·g⁻¹ at 0.2 C and a capacity decay rate of merely 0.1% per cycle at 3 C. Polysulfide shuttling and uneven dispersion are two challenges that hinder the commercialization of lithium-sulfur batteries. Here, hyaluronic acid is used as a binder to reconstruct the molecular structure of the cathode surface, leading to improved performance.