Leading dramatic improvement in lithium-sulfur battery performance! DGIST develops a multifunctional carbon-titanium composite material in a single process

□ A research team led by Professor Jongsung Yu of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST (President Kunwoo Lee) has successfully developed a new electrode material that can significantly enhance the performance of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The main achievement of this research is the simple production of titanium monoxide (TiO) nanoparticles and nitrogen (N)-containing honeycomb-structured highly graphitized porous carbon (TiO-NGPC) in a single process (magnesium reduction).

□ Lithium-sulfur batteries are gaining attention as next-generation high-capacity batteries because of their higher energy storage and lighter weight compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. However, sulfur is not a good electrical conductor, and lithium polysulfide, a substance produced during charging and discharging, can leak into the electrolyte, which reduces battery performance while making commercialization difficult.

□ To address these issues, a porous carbon structure that securely holds sulfur and promotes electrical conductivity is crucial. The TiO-NGPC material developed by the DGIST research team features a porous, honeycomb-like carbon structure with high electrical conductivity, effectively storing sulfur and enabling smooth charge transfer.

□ Additionally, this material contains both polar titanium monoxide (TiO) and nitrogen (N), giving it excellent adsorption capacity that strongly binds the polar lithium polysulfide produced during battery reaction. It also acts as a catalyst to accelerate the reaction, prevent sulfur leakage, and boost battery reaction efficiency, thus improving both battery performance and lifespan.

□ Professor Jongsung Yu stated, "This research presents a new design strategy to address the chronic performance degradation problem of lithium-sulfur batteries. It also enables the single-process manufacturing of multifunctional carbon-based host materials, which will be a significant turning point for future commercialization research.“

□ This research was funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea's Mid-career Researcher Support Program (2024) and the Science Challenge Convergence Research and Development Program (2024). Professors Jongsung Yu and Seungtae Hong of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST, along with doctoral student Yu Bo (lead author) and Professor Kunpeng Wang of Shanghai University participated in the research. The results were published in November 2025 in ACS Nano, a renowned international journal in nanomaterials.