Preparation and electrochemical properties of a new Fe0.5Co0.5S2 cathode material for thermal batteries

Abstract Composite sulfide Fe 0.5 Co 0.5 S 2 used as cathode material in thermal batteries can be prepared through traditional high-temperature solid-state method and liquid phase method, which combines precipitation and high temperature sulfuration. The single cells with S-Fe 0.5 Co 0.5 S 2 and L-Fe 0.5 Co 0.5 S 2 exhibit discharge capacities of 1547.17 A s g −1 and 1872.89 A s g −1 with the cut-off voltage of 1.25 V. For comparison, the single cell with FeS 2 also discharged, demonstrating a discharge capacity of 1221.45 A s g −1 . Moreover, the physical properties and electrochemical behaviors of L-Fe 0.5 Co 0.5 S 2 are obviously superior to that of S-Fe 0.5 Co 0.5 S 2 . Due to its excellent electrochemical properties, Fe 0.5 Co 0.5 S 2 compound, especially synthesized by liquid phase method, can be used as cathode material instead of FeS 2 for thermal batteries.