A facile synthetic approach to nanostructured Li₂S cathodes for rechargeable solid-state Li-S batteries

Li-S solid state batteries, employing Li₂S as a pre-lithiated cathode, present a promising low cost, high capacity and safer alternative to their liquid electrolyte counterparts, where dissolution of intermediate polysulfide species can result in loss of active material and a subsequent decrease in ionic conductivity. A nanostructured Li₂S material would afford greater flexibility in optimising the cathode composite for more harmonious electrode-electrolyte interactions, yet facile routes to such nanoscale materials are limited. Here, we report a facile and scalable microwave approach to directly synthesize nanostructured Li₂S from a glyme solution containing lithium polysulfides. As-synthesized Li₂S presents an ideal architecture for the construction of free-standing cathodes for all-solid-state Li-S batteries.