High-Entropy Sulfides as Electrode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries

High-entropy sulfides (HESs) containing 5 equiatomic transition metals (M), with different M:S ratios, are prepared by a facile one-step mechanochemical approach. Two new types of single-phase HESs with pyrite (Pa-3) and orthorhombic (Pnma) structures are obtained and demonstrate a homogeneously mixed solid solution. The straightforward synthesis method can easily tune the desired metal to sulfur ratio for HESs with different stoichiometries, by utilizing the respective metal sulfides, even pure metals, and sulfur as precursor chemicals. The structural details and solid solution nature of HESs are studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, and Mossbauer spectroscopy. Since transition metal sulfides are a very versatile material class, here the application of HESs is presented as electrode materials for reversible electrochemical energy storage, in which the HESs show high specific capacities and excellent rate capabilities in secondary Li-ion batteries.

Automated summary

Two new types of single-phase high-entropy sulfides (HESs) with homogeneously mixed solid solution structures were successfully synthesized by a facile method. The desired metal to sulfur ratio for different stoichiometries of HESs can be easily tuned using metal sulfides, pure metals, and sulfur as precursors. The HESs show high specific capacities and excellent rate capabilities as electrode materials for reversible electrochemical energy storage in secondary Li-ion batteries.