Lithium Sulfide–Carbon Composites via Aerosol Spray Pyrolysis as Cathode Materials for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

We demonstrate a new technique to produce lithium sulfide-carbon composite (Li(2)S-C) cathodes for lithium-sulfur batteries via aerosol spray pyrolysis (ASP) followed by sulfurization. Specifically, lithium carbonate-carbon (Li(2)CO(3)-C) composite nanoparticles are first synthesized via ASP from aqueous solutions of sucrose and lithium salts including nitrate (LiNO(3)), acetate (CH(3)COOLi), and Li(2)CO(3), respectively. The obtained Li(2)CO(3)-C composites are subsequently converted to Li(2)S-C through sulfurization by reaction to H(2)S. Electrochemical characterizations show excellent overall capacity and cycle stability of the Li(2)S-C composites with relatively high areal loading of Li(2)S and low electrolyte/Li(2)S ratio. The Li(2)S-C nanocomposites also demonstrate clear structure-property relationships.