Influence of Crystallinity of Lithium Thiophosphate Solid Electrolytes on the Performance of Solid-State Batteries

Solid electrolytes (SEs) largely define the properties of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) and are expected to improve their safety, stability, and performance. Their ionic conductivity has much improved in recent years, enabling higher power and energy density. However, more subtle parameters, such as crystallinity, may also influence the electrochemical performance of cells. In this work, the correlation between the performance of ASSBs and thiophosphate SEs having the same stoichiometry, but different crystallinity is investigated. In In/InLi | SE | LiCoO2@ LiNb0.5Ta0.5O3 model cells, better cycling and rate performance is achieved when using glass/glass-ceramic SEs (e.g., 75Li(2)S center dot 25P(2)S(5) glass, 70Li(2)S center dot 30P(2)S(5) glass, and Li6PS5Cl glass-ceramic). This can be mostly attributed to the mitigation of contact loss by the glass/glass-ceramic SEs compared to their crystalline SE counterparts. Furthermore, the SE decomposition at typical cathode potentials is investigated by using SE and carbon composites as cathodes. Larger volume changes and more severe decomposition are observed with crystalline SEs in the SE/carbon composite cathode after cycling. The crystalline SEs show higher electronic partial conductivity which results in more degradation in the composite cathode. This work sheds light on optimized composite cathode design for ASSB by carefully choosing solid electrolytes with appropriate mechanical and (electro-)chemical properties.

Automated summary

Solid electrolytes play a crucial role in defining the properties of all-solid-state batteries. This study investigates the impact of crystallinity on the performance of solid electrolytes, revealing that glass/glass-ceramic electrolytes show better cycling and rate performance compared to crystalline counterparts. Furthermore, the decomposition behavior of solid electrolytes at typical cathode potentials is studied, with crystalline electrolytes showing higher electronic partial conductivity leading to more degradation in composite cathodes.