Flower-like Bi₂S₃ nanostructures as highly efficient anodes for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries

Herein, we introduce the detailed electrochemical reaction mechanism of Bi₂S₃ (bulk as well as nanostructure) as a highly efficient anode material with Li-ions in an all-solid-state Li-ion battery (LIB). Flower-like Bi₂S₃ nanostructures were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and were used as an anode material in a LIB with LiBH₄ as a solid electrolyte. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern verified the formation of Bi₂S₃ nanostructures, which belongs to the orthorhombic crystal system (JCPDS no. 00-006-0333) with the Pbnm space group. Morphological studies confirmed the flower-like structure of the obtained product assembled from nanorods with the length and diameter in the range of 150-400 nm and 10-150 nm respectively. The electrochemical galvanostatic charge-discharge profile of these nanostructures demonstrates exciting results with a high discharge and charge capacity of 685 mA h g^-1 & 494 mA h g^-1 respectively at 125 °C. The discharge and charge capacities were observed as 375 mA h g^-1 and 352 mA h g^-1 after 50 cycles (with 94% coulombic efficiency), which are much better than the cells having bulk Bi₂S₃ as the anode material.