A Lithium-Ion Sulfur Battery Based on a Carbon-Coated Lithium-Sulfide Cathode and an Electrodeposited Silicon-Based Anode

In this paper, we report a lithium-ion battery employing a lithium sulfide cathode and a silicon-based anode. The high capacity of the silicon anode and the high efficiency and cycling rate of the lithium sulfide cathode allowed optimal full cell balance. We show in fact that the battery operates with a very stable capacity of about 280 mAh g(-1) at an average voltage of 1.4 V. To the best of our knowledge, this battery is one of the rare examples of lithium-metal-free sulfur battery. Considering the high theoretical capacity of the employed electrodes, we believe that the battery here reported may be of potential interest as high-energy, safe, and low-cost power source for electric vehicles.This work was in part supported by the Human Resources Development program (No. 20124010203310) of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korea government Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MEST) (2009-0092780) and by the Italian Institute of Technology (Project "REALIST" Rechargeable, advanced, nano structured lithium batteries with high energy storage) and by the "Regione Lazio", Italy, and by the "Center for Practical Chemical Wisdom", Waseda University, Japan and Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program (ALCA) Special Priority Area "Next-generation Rechargeable Battery", the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)