Interfacial charge-transfer enhances the dual-function of the porous NiCo 2 S 4 @SiO 2 heterojunction for high-performance Li-S batteries.

Porous NiCo 2 S 4 @SiO 2 is employed as the sulfur host. The negatively charged SiO 2 can increase the charge density and conductivity of NiCo 2 S 4 and accelerate the conversion of sulfur. The charge transfer effect would in turn reduce the electrostatic repulsion between SiO 2 and negatively charged polysulfide, thereby enhancing the adsorption of polysulfides.