AUTHOR=Shi Jiayan , Zhang Jian , Zhao Yifan , Yan Zheng , Hart Noam , Guo Juchen 

TITLE=Synthesis of Li2S-Carbon Cathode Materials via Carbothermic Reduction of Li2SO4

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Energy Research

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/energy-research/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2019.00053

DOI=10.3389/fenrg.2019.00053

ISSN=2296-598X

ABSTRACT=<p>Pre-lithiated sulfur materials are promising cathode for lithium-sulfur batteries. The synthesis of lithium sulfide-carbon (Li<sub>2</sub>S-C) composite by carbothermic reduction of lithium sulfate (Li<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>) is investigated in this study. The relationship between reaction temperature and the consumption of carbon in the carbothermic reduction of Li<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> is first investigated to precisely control the carbon content in the resultant Li<sub>2</sub>S-C composites. To understand the relationship between the material structure and the electrochemical properties, Li<sub>2</sub>S-C composites with the same carbon content are subsequently synthesized by controlling the mass ratio of Li<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>/carbon and the reaction temperature. Systematic electrochemical analyses and microscopic characterizations demonstrate that the size of the Li<sub>2</sub>S particles dispersed in the carbon matrix is the key parameter determining the electrochemical performance. A reversible capacity of 600 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> is achieved under lean electrolyte condition with high Li<sub>2</sub>S areal loading.</p>