Reduced graphene oxide/TiO(2)(B) nanocomposite-modified separator as an efficient inhibitor of polysulfide shuttling in Li–S batteries

The shutting effect in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries hinders their widespread application, which can be restrained effectively by a modified separator. In this work, a composite of reduced graphene oxide and beta-phase TiO(2) nanoparticles (RGO/TiO(2)(B)) is designed as a separator modification material for improving the electrochemical behavior of Li–S batteries. The TiO(2)(B) nanoparticles are in situ prepared and tightly adhere to the RGO layer. A series of examinations demonstrated that the RGO/TiO(2)(B)-coated separator efficiently inhibits the polysulfide shuttling phenomenon by the cooperative effect of physical adsorption and chemical binding. Specifically, as modified separators, a comparison between TiO(2)(B) and anatase TiO(2)(A) each composited with RGO has been conducted. The TiO(2)(B) sample not only exhibits a superior blocking character of migrating polysulfides, but also enhances battery electrochemical kinetics by fast Li ion diffusion.