Petal-like Mn-doped α-Ni(OH)(2) nanosheets for high-performance Li–S cathode material

Lithium–sulphur (Li–S) batteries are high-energy-density and cost-effective batteries. Herein, petal-like Ni(1−x)Mn(x)(OH)(2) (x ≈ 0.04) nanosheets were synthesised using a hydrothermal method and the electrical conductivity of Ni(OH)(2) was improved by applying the cathode functional materials in Li–S batteries. With up to 5 mg cm(−2) of S content in the cathode, the fabricated Ni(1−x)Mn(x)(OH)(2) electrode exhibited specific discharge capacities up to 1375 and 1150 mA h g(−1) at 0.2 and 0.5C, and retained this capacity at 813 and 714 mA h g(−1) after 200 cycles, respectively. Electrochemical measurement results show that Ni(1−x)Mn(x)(OH)(2) plays a critical role in Li–S batteries as it has a larger specific surface area than Ni(OH)(2), which has superior adsorption performance toward lithium polysulphides. Moreover, the conductivity performance of Ni(1−x)Mn(x)(OH)(2) is significantly better than that of Ni(OH)(2), which improves the electrochemical reaction kinetics of the Li–S batteries.