Solid-state lithium batteries are becoming a mature technology with potential use in stationary and electromobility applications thanks to the advances on new highly-conducting solid electrolytes. Oxide and phosphates have appealing properties as solid electrolytes, exhibing high Li ion conductivity, wide electrochemical stability and compatibility with Li metal anode. For practical application in a solid-state device, these materials need to be densified under high temperatures above 1000ºC. Such requirement hampers their processing into composite cathodes with active materials usually having a narrower thermal stability, thus being a bottleneck for the upscaling of the technology.

In this work we will discuss our recent findings regarding oxide and phosphate-based ion-conductors, including the recent synthesis and characterization of a new form of crystalline LiPON [1]. Besides we will focus on the impact that the processing of garnet-type electrolytes under temperatures below 500 ºC has on the ionic conductivity, taking a close look to the grain growth and boundary interconnection as main responsible for the ionic conductivity.

References:

[1] P. López-Aranguren, M. Reynaud, P. Głuchowski, A. Bustinza, M. Galceran, J-M. Lopez del Amo, M. Armand, M. Casas-Cabanas, ACS Energy Letters 6 (2021), 445-450.