Undercoordinated Molybdenum Catalysts Enable Ultrafast Quasi‐Solid Sulfur Chemistry in Sodium‐Sulfur Batteries

M Mingyue Wang (Department of Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering and School of Biomedical Sciences) Y Yubing Hu (Institute of Molecular Plus Department of Chemistry Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China) R Rui Li X Xinran Gao (School of Telecommunication and Information Engineering, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications 2 , Nanjing 210000,) Z Ziwei Tong (Centre for Clean Energy Technology, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science University of Technology Sydney Sydney NSW 2007 Australia) Q Qian Yao Y Yameng Fan (School of Science) B Bernt Johannessen (Australian Synchrotron, ANSTO) S Shixue Dou N Nana Wang L Langli Luo G Guoxiu Wang (Center for Clean Energy Technology, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science) Z Zhongchao Bai

Abstract

ABSTRACT Room‐temperature sodium─sulfur (RT Na─S) batteries face sluggish redox kinetics and severe polysulfide shuttling. Here, a quasi‐solid‐state redox pathway is activated via an unsaturated coordination chemistry strategy, in which unsaturated MoS 2 anchored on cross‐linked carbon microspheres forms a multifunctional sulfur host (S@U‐MoS 2 /C) that combines strong polysulfide adsorption with accelerated redox kinetics. Structural and electronic analyses show unsaturated Mo sites act as Lewis acid centers for rapid, selective polysulfide conversion. In situ transmission electron microscopy with newly developed Na‐ion diffusion descriptors visualize ultrafast nanoscale sodiation dynamics and quantify Na‐ion transport. Consequently, the S@U‐MoS 2 /C cathode delivers an impressive capacity of 933 mAh g − 1 after 150 cycles at 200 mA g − 1 and retains 425 mAh g − 1 after 30 000 cycles at 10 A g − 1 . This work provides a mechanistic blueprint for designing high‐rate, long‐life Na─S batteries by coupling catalysis with structural confinement.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 24
Published April 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (13)

M

Mingyue Wang

Department of Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering and School of Biomedical Sciences

Y

Yubing Hu

Institute of Molecular Plus Department of Chemistry Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China

R

Rui Li

X

Xinran Gao

School of Telecommunication and Information Engineering, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications 2 , Nanjing 210000,

Z

Ziwei Tong

Centre for Clean Energy Technology, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science University of Technology Sydney Sydney NSW 2007 Australia

Q

Qian Yao

Y

Yameng Fan

School of Science

B

Bernt Johannessen

Australian Synchrotron, ANSTO

S

Shixue Dou

N

Nana Wang

L

Langli Luo

G

Guoxiu Wang

Center for Clean Energy Technology, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science

Z

Zhongchao Bai