Intimate triple phase interfaces confined in two-dimensional ordered mesoporous carbon towards high-performance all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries

All-solid-state lithium-sulfur battery (ASSLSB) is one of the most promising next-generation energy storage devices while confronting great challenges for practical applications, in particular the sluggish reaction kinetics of the insulating active materials, less solid-solid contact, and insufficient electronic/ionic conduction networks within cathode layer. Herein, a two-dimensional (2D) ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) framework is developed and serves as an advanced host for active material Li2S and solid electrolyte Li6PS5Cl (LPSC), forming a mixed conductive nanocomposite with 5 orders and 12 orders of magnitude increase in ionic and electronic conductivities compared with Li2S, respectively. The ordered mesoporous in OMC provide confined space for the intimate contact between nanosized Li2S and LPSC, which are favorable for continuous lithium-ion transport and increasing Li2S utilization. Benefiting from these merits, the ASSLSBs employing Li2S/OMC/LPSC nanocomposite achieve high reversible capacity and excellent cyclic performance at both high current density and high cathode loading.

Automated summary

In this study, a two-dimensional ordered mesoporous carbon framework is developed as a host for the active material and solid electrolyte in all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries. This nanocomposite greatly enhances the ionic and electronic conductivities, leading to high reversible capacity and excellent cyclic performance.