Chung-Ang University researchers develop interlayer material for lithium-sulfur batteries

Carbon-supported single-atom catalysts with metal-N moieties are highly promising for lithium–sulfur batteries. They can enhance redox kinetics and suppress the dissolution of lithium polysulfides. However, carbon substrate structure optimization and catalyst coordination environment modulation must be done simultaneously to maximize the potential of these catalysts.

Taking on this challenge, a team of researchers led by two Associate Professors from Chung-Ang University—Seung-Keun Park from the Department of Advanced Materials Engineering and Inho Nam from the Department of Chemical Engineering—has demonstrated dual‑level engineering of metal–organic framework (MOF)‑derived hierarchical porous carbon nanofibers with low‑coordinated cobalt single‑atom catalysts for high‑performance lithium–sulfur batteries. Their novel findings were made available online and published in Advanced Fiber Materials on 24 September 2025.

Dr. Park reveals the motivation behind their research. “Our motivation lies in addressing the fundamental materials challenges that have limited the development of next-generation energy storage systems. Lithium-ion batteries have been widely adopted but are approaching their intrinsic energy density limits. Lithium sulfur batteries offer much higher theoretical capacity and energy density, yet they are severely restricted by the polysulfide shuttle effect, slow redox kinetics, and rapid capacity fading. Our group has long been committed to overcoming these bottlenecks by combining structural engineering of carbon frameworks with atomic-level catalyst design.”

In this study, the researchers focused on embedding single cobalt atoms in a low-coordinated N₃ environment within a porous carbon nanofiber network. This approach enhances the adsorption of lithium polysulfides and accelerates their redox reactions, thereby mitigating the shuttle effect and improving overall kinetics. Therefore, the present work supports the belief that rational materials design at both the macro and atomic levels can solve long-standing challenges.

From a materials perspective, the proposed dual-level engineering strategy integrates a hierarchical porous carbon nanofiber structure with atomically dispersed cobalt single-atom sites in a low-coordinated N₃ configuration. The carbon nanofiber provides mechanical stability, abundant pore channels, and excellent electrolyte wettability, while the cobalt sites catalyze the adsorption and conversion of polysulfides. This synergistic design allows the battery to achieve high-capacity retention and superior rate performance over hundreds of cycles.

In the long term, the results of this study could contribute to the realization of high-performance lithium sulfur batteries for diverse real-life applications. These include electric vehicles with extended driving ranges, large-scale renewable energy storage systems that can balance intermittent solar and wind power, and lightweight, flexible power sources for portable and wearable electronics.

“Our material is free standing, binder free, and flexible. It can be directly applied as an interlayer in pouch cells and has been demonstrated to maintain mechanical integrity even under bending, while powering small devices,” points out Dr. Nam, highlighting the immense practical implications of their work.

For society, such advances mean safer and more efficient batteries that accelerate the transition to clean energy. This can reduce dependence on critical raw materials, lower costs, decrease carbon emissions, and ultimately make sustainable technologies more reliable and accessible in everyday life.

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Reference
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42765-025-00614-w

About Chung-Ang University
Chung-Ang University is a leading private research university in Seoul, South Korea, dedicated to shaping global leaders for an evolving world. Founded in 1916 and achieving university status in 1953, it combines academic tradition with a strong commitment to innovation. Fully accredited by the Ministry of Education, CAU excels in fields such as pharmacy, medicine, engineering, and applied sciences, driving impactful discoveries and technological progress. Its research-intensive environment fosters collaboration and excellence, producing scholars and professionals who lead in their disciplines. Committed to global engagement, CAU continues to expand its influence as a hub for scientific advancement and future-driven education.
Website: https://neweng.cau.ac.kr/index.do

About Seung-Keun Park
Seung-Keun Park received his Ph.D. in Convergence Science from Seoul National University in 2016 and conducted postdoctoral research at Korea University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Advanced Materials Engineering at Chung-Ang University. His research group focuses on designing nanostructured materials for advanced energy storage and conversion systems. As a leading researcher, he has authored over 110 papers in high-impact peer-reviewed journals. His work has been cited more than 6,600 times, with an H-index of 49 (Google Scholar), reflecting his strong impact in the field.
Website: https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/cau/researcher-profile?ep=1318

About Inho Nam
Inho Nam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Chung-Ang University (CAU), South Korea, since March 2019. He received B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Yonsei University in 2010 and Ph.D. degree in School of Chemical and Biological Engineering from Seoul National University in 2016. Following a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University, he joined Seoul Women’s University as a faculty member from 2018 to 2019. His current research is on experimental and computational design of nanomaterials for energy storage and conversion.
Website: https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/cau/researcher-profile?ep=1217