Novel technique to form electrode-electrolyte nanointerface in all-solid-state rechargeable lithium batteries

The electrode-electrolyte nanocomposites, where the nano-sized NiS electrode with large capacity was embedded in the 80Li(2)S center dot 20P(2)S(5) electrolyte with high Li(+) conductivity, were successfully prepared by the mechanochemical method. Contact area of solid-solid interface between the electrode and the electrolyte was remarkably increased in the nanocomposites. All-solid-state cell using the nanocomposites as a working electrode exhibited larger capacity and better cycling performance than the cell using the electrode obtained by conventional hand-mixing of powders. The mechanochemical technique sheds light on a new formation process of electrode-electrolyte interfaces endowing solid-state batteries with high power density and high energy density. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.