A Lithium‐Ion Battery using a 3 D‐Array Nanostructured Graphene–Sulfur Cathode and a Silicon Oxide‐Based Anode

An efficient lithium‐ion battery was assembled by using an enhanced sulfur‐based cathode and a silicon oxide‐based anode and proposed as an innovative energy‐storage system. The sulfur–carbon composite, which exploits graphene carbon with a 3 D array (3DG‐S), was synthesized by a reduction step through a microwave‐assisted solvothermal technique and was fully characterized in terms of structure and morphology, thereby revealing suitable features for lithium‐cell application. Electrochemical tests of the 3DG‐S electrode in a lithium half‐cell indicated a capacity ranging from 1200 to 1000 mAh g −1 at currents of C/10 and 1 C, respectively. Remarkably, the Li‐alloyed anode, namely, Li y SiO x –C prepared by the sol–gel method and lithiated by surface treatment, showed suitable performance in a lithium half‐cell by using an electrolyte designed for lithium–sulfur batteries. The Li y SiO x –C/3DG‐S battery was found to exhibit very promising properties with a capacity of approximately 460 mAh g S −1 delivered at an average voltage of approximately 1.5 V over 200 cycles, suggesting that the characterized materials would be suitable candidates for low‐cost and high‐energy‐storage applications.