A High Capacity All Solid-State Li-Sulfur Battery Enabled by Conversion-Intercalation Hybrid Cathode Architecture

As demands for electrochemical energy storage continue to rise, alternative electrochemistries to conventional Li-ion batteries become more appealing. Here, an intercalation-conversion hybrid cathode that combines intercalation-type VS2 with conversion-type sulfur chemistry to construct high performance solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries is reported. The layered VS2 nanomaterial features Li-ion transport channels, metallic conductivity, and active capacity contribution, all of which provide an ideal platform for the solid state S/Li2S redox couple to unlock its high gravimetric capacity. The S/VS2/Li3PS4 hybrid cathode composite is prepared by a facile, low-cost, and low-energy mechanical blending process. The S/VS2/Li3PS4|Li3PS4|Li/In (or Li) all-solid-state cell exhibits sulfur utilization of approximate to 85%, with a Coulombic efficiency of close to 100%. High areal capacity up to 7.8 mA h cm(-2) with an active material loading (S/VS2) as high as 15.5 mg cm(-2) is achieved.

Automated summary

In this study, an intercalation-conversion hybrid cathode was reported for high performance solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries, achieving high sulfur utilization and areal capacity. The S/VS2/Li3PS4 hybrid cathode composite was prepared using a simple and low-cost mechanical blending process.