  A full lithium-ion-sulfur cell with a remarkable cycle life was achieved by
combining an environmentally sustainable biomass-derived sulfur-carbon cathode
and a pre-lithiated silicon oxide anode. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy,
energy dispersive spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry of the cathode evidenced
the disordered nature of the carbon matrix in which sulfur was uniformly
distributed with a weight content as high as 75%, while scanning and
transmission electron microscopy revealed the micrometric morphology of the
composite. The sulfur-carbon electrode in the lithium half-cell exhibited a
maximum capacity higher than 1200 mAhgS-1, reversible electrochemical process,
limited electrode/electrolyte interphase resistance, and a rate capability up
to C/2. The material showed a capacity decay of about 40% with respect to the
steady-state value over 100 cycles, likely due to the reaction with the lithium
metal of dissolved polysulfides or impurities including P detected in the
carbon precursor. Therefore, the replacement of the lithium metal with a less
challenging anode was suggested, and the sulfur-carbon composite was
subsequently investigated in the full lithium-ion-sulfur battery employing a
Li-alloying silicon oxide anode. The full-cell revealed an initial capacity as
high as 1200 mAhgS-1, a retention increased to more than 79% for 100
galvanostatic cycles, and 56% over 500 cycles. The data reported herein well
indicated the reliability of energy storage devices with extended cycle life
employing high-energy, green, and safe electrode materials.
