Disordered Rock-Salt Type Li(2)TiS(3) as Novel Cathode for LIBs: A Computational Point of View

The development of high-energy cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries with low content of critical raw materials, such as cobalt and nickel, plays a key role in the progress of lithium-ion batteries technology. In recent works, a novel and promising family of lithium-rich sulfides has received attention. Among the possible structures and arrangement, cubic disordered Li(2)TiS(3) has shown interesting properties, also for the formulation of new cell for all-solid-state batteries. In this work, a computational approach based on DFT hybrid Hamiltonian, localized basis functions and the use of the periodic CRYSTAL code, has been set up. The main goal of the present study is to determine accurate structural, electronic, and spectroscopic properties for this class of materials. Li(2)TiS(3) precursors as Li(2)S, TiS(2), and TiS(3) alongside other formulations and structures such as LiTiS(2) and monoclinic Li(2)TiS(3) have been selected as benchmark systems and used to build up a consistent and robust predictive scheme. Raman spectra, XRD patterns, electronic band structures, and density of states have been simulated and compared to available literature data. Disordered rock-salt type Li(2)TiS(3) structures have been derived via a solid solution method as implemented into the CRYSTAL code. Representative structures were extensively characterized through the calculations of their electronic and vibrational properties. Furthermore, the correlation between structure and Raman fingerprint was established.