Electrochemical performance of all-solid-state lithium batteries with mechanochemically activated Li2S–Cu composite electrodes

The Li2S–Cu active materials were prepared by mechanochemical activation using a planetary ball mill apparatus. The all-solid-state cells of In/Li2S–P2S5 glass–ceramic/Li2S–Cu were constructed. The cell using the 75Li2S · 25Cu (mol%) electrode exhibited the highest initial capacity of about 490 mAh g− 1 in the Li2S–Cu system at the current density of 64 µA cm− 2. The utilization of carbon composite electrodes Li2S–Cu–C, which was prepared by mechanical milling for the mixture of the Li2S–Cu powder milled beforehand and acetylene-black powder, was effective in enhancing the rate capability of all-solid-state cells. The cells with the Li2S–Cu–C electrode was charged and discharged at the high current densities more than 1 mA cm− 2 at room temperature.