All-Solid-State Li-Ion Batteries Using a Combination of Sb₂S₃/Li₂S-P₂S₅/Acetylene Black as the Electrode Composite and LiBH₄ as the Electrolyte

Abstract

Batteries play an important role in energy storage and conversion. Lithium-ion batteries have gained high commercial interest because of their high efficiency and performances. However, these batteries have several safety-related hazards. Considerable improvements in the safety-related issues with the use of solid electrolytes witnessed a sudden surge in the research on all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLIBs); however, finding their compatible electrode material is still a challenge. The conversion–alloying type Sb2S3 is an interesting material because of its high theoretical capacity (946 mAh g–1). In the present work, the hybrid Sb2S3 composite material has been investigated for ASSLIBs using a different combination of solid electrolytes Li2S–P2S5 and LiBH4 in the electrode and electrolyte layers. The detailed electrochemical reaction mechanism for lithium insertion and extraction with two different solid electrolytes has been introduced using X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The solid-state batteries consisting of Sb2S3 + Li2S–P2S5 + carbon| Li2S–P2S5|Li operated in a different range of temperatures and current rates showed excellent discharge/charge performances and high capacity. A half cell with Sb2S3 + Li2S–P2S5 + carbon|LiBH4|Li combination exhibited a superior capacity of 6264 mAh cm–3 (1373 mAh g–1) with high cycling stability (∼60% after 100 cycles) and nearly 100% coulombic efficiency. The Sb2X3–LPS–AB composites with LiBH4 as a solid electrolyte present a highly stable combination of chalcogenide–sulfide–hydride materials, which showed superior performances for ASSLIBs.