A uniform ceramic tape of well-dispersed garnet-type Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 particles (LLZTO) with a high solid content of 70 wt % is prepared as an electrolyte in solid-state Li–S batteries. The use of appropriate dispersants is crucial for achieving fine dispersion and uniform distribution of LLZTO particles in the ceramic tape. This leads to improved surface flatness and mechanical strength of the ceramic tape. Moreover, the ionic conductivity increases remarkably at the same time from 10–5 to 10–4 to 10–4 to 10–3 S cm–1, and the Li+ transport number doubles from 0.35 to 0.70. The Li–S battery constructed with the dispersed LLZTO electrolyte shows an adequate capacity of above 600 mA h g–1 after 100 cycles at a discharge current of 84 mA g–1, and it is capable of charging/discharging at a high current of 1672 mA g–1. In comparison, the battery with a nondispersed LLZTO electrolyte functions only at the lower current of 84 mA g–1 and fails to work after 25 cycles.

The effect of gelatinization and retrogradation of the popular binder, guar gum, on the dispersion of electrode constituents and the cell performance of the lithium-sulfur battery is studied. When guar gum is added in a gelatinized state, the fabricated electrode slurry adopts a gel-like structure, leading to the poor dispersion of constituents and poor electrochemistry of constructed cells. With the addition of retrograded guar gum, the prepared slurry is not gelled, and the dispersion of constituents and the cell performance are both greatly improved.

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