Synergistic adsorption and catalysis enabled by hollow Co9S8–CoO heterostructures for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries†

The shuttle effect remains a major obstacle to the commercialization of high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. To address this challenge, we have proposed heterostructured Co₉S₈–CoO hollow polyhedron as an effective sulfur host. Its unique hollow architecture accommodates high sulfur loading and effectively traps polysulfides within the cathode region. Moreover, the inherent built-in electric field at the heterointerface significantly promotes electron transfer and enhances redox kinetics. The synergistic combination of adsorption and catalytic effects at the heterostructure interface empowers the Co₉S₈–CoO@S to achieve superior electrochemical performance.