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Figure 9 displays the cyclic voltammetry curves (CV) of Li-S batteries with the three different separators. All
the batteries with the three kinds of separators showed two reduction peaks and one oxidation peak. The
CZGNF separator provided the highest reduction peak and the lowest oxidation peak, which proved that
the ZIF-67 particles and C in the CZGNF separator accelerated the conversion of lithium polysulfides and
60
reduced the difficulty of liquid/solid conversion of lithium sulfide batteries. The Li-S battery with CZGNF
separator had the sharpest CV curve peak, which further proves its rapid redox reaction kinetics.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, a gelatin-based nanofiber separator doped with C and ZIF-67 was constructed by
60
electrostatic spinning of two different solutions. It can be used as a multifunctional separator for Li-S
batteries. The CZGNF separator provides not only adsorption sites for lithium polysulfide, but also
conversion sites for lithium polysulfide, leading to improved conversion efficiency. Gelatin was used as the
separator substrate, not merely because it has very high ionic conductivity, but also because it has a high
lithium-ion transfer number, which improved the stability of the symmetric battery and kept the lithium
metal stable. The Li-S batteries with CZGNF separator were more stable than Li-S batteries with PP
separator. Li||Li symmetric batteries with CZGNF separator remained stable for more than 600 h at 0.5 mA
cm . In particular, after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.2 C, the discharge specific capacity of an Li-S
-2
battery with CZGNF separator was maintained at 888 mAh g , and the capacity retention rate of Li-S
-1
batteries was 72.9% after 400 cycles at 2 C, which means that there is good capacity retention rate and that
the batteries have better application prospects in future battery development.

DECLARATIONS
Authors’ contribution
Designed the research and funding acquisition: Liang X
Writing - draft: Liang X
Writing - original draft: Zhao D
Data collection and experiment: Wang L
Data collection and analysis: Zhao D, Huang Q
Data analysis: Deng C, Wang L, Liang S, Hu L
Review and editing: Liang X, Deng C, Wang L
Refining the ideas and finalizing this paper: Deng H, Xiang H

Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.

Financial support and sponsorship
Financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21606065,
52072105, 21676067, 51972093, and 51902079), Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Grant Nos.
2208085ME108, 1708085QE98, 1908085QE178, and 2008085QE271), the Fundamental Research Funds for
the Central Universities (Grant Nos. PA2021KCPY0028, PA2021GDGP0059, JZ2018HGBZ0138,
JZ2020YYPY0109, and PA2020GDJQ0026), the Key Technologies Research and Development Program of
Anhui Province (Grant No. 202104a05020044, 201904b11020040), the Major Science and Technology
Projects in Anhui Province (Grant Nos. 2021e03020001 and 202003a05020014), the Key Projects for the
Excellent Talent Foundation of Education Department of Anhui Province (No. gxyqZD2021136), the Top
Discipline Talents Foundation of Anhui Province Educational Committee (gxbjZD2021085), and the
University Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Province (KJ2021A1016) are gratefully acknowledged.
Many thanks also go to Dr. Tania Silver for critical reading of the manuscript and valuable remarks.