Simply and rapidly synthesized composites of MnO2 nanosheets anchoring on carbon nanotubes as efficient sulfur hosts for Li-S batteries

Li-S batteries are ones of the most promising secondary batteries owing to their high-energy density. However, Li-S batteries have some drawbacks, including the poor electrical conductivity and rapid capacity fading. In this work, MnO2 nanosheets/carbon nanotubes composites are synthesized via a simple and rapid hydrothermal deposit route. The carbon nanotubes (CNTs) serve as conductive network for electron. MnO2 nanosheets provide numerous sites to form strong chemical binding with polysulfide. The composite maintains a reversible capacity of 841 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.5 C, and the rate capacity of 1214 mA h g−1, 1072 mA h g−1, 877 mA h g−1, and 689 mA h g−1 was measured at 0.2 C, 0.5 C, 1 C, 2 C, respectively.