Li+ conduction in aliovalent-substituted monoclinic Li2ZrCl6 for all-solid-state batteries: Li2+xZr1-xMxCl6 (M = In, Sc)

Newly emerging halide superionic conductors with excellent (electro)chemical oxidation stability and deform ability are considered as the enabler for high-performance all-solid-state batteries. Compared to close-packed monoclinic Li3InCl6 or Li3ScCl6, despite the same structural framework, the lower ionic conductivity of Li2ZrCl6 is intriguing. Herein, the structural evolution and Li+ migration of aliovalent-substituted Li2ZrCl6 with In3+ (or Sc3+) are investigated. A monoclinic crystal structure over the entire range of substitution (0 < x < 1.0 in Li2+xZr1-xInxCl6) is identified by the Rietveld refinement of neutron diffraction. By the aliovalent substitution, the Li+ conductivity of Li2ZrCl6 is increased drastically from 7.1 x 10(-6) to max. 2.1 x 10(-3) S cm- 1 at 30 ?. It is revealed that the aliovalent substitution results in anisotropic lattice volume expansion and redistribution of Li in the lattice. Specifically, the increased concentration of Li+ in the (002) plane renders the Li+ migration more favorable. The bond valence energy level calculations also disclose two dimensionally (2D) preferable 3D Li+ migration channels, which emphasizes a tetrahedral Li site in the (002) plane as the key for facile Li+ migration. Furthermore, the excellent electrochemical performance of all-solid-state batteries using In-substituted Li2ZrCl6 is demonstrated for single-crystalline LiN(i0.88)Co0.11Mn(0.01)O(2) cathode.

Automated summary

Aliovalent-substituted Li2ZrCl6 with In3+ (or Sc3+) shows drastically increased Li+ conductivity, attributed to anisotropic lattice volume expansion and redistribution of Li in the lattice, leading to more favorable Li+ migration pathways in the (002) plane.