Li-ion conductivity of NASICON-type Li1+2xZr2-xCax(PO4)3 solid electrolyte prepared by spark plasma sintering

In order to improve Li-ion conductivity of Li1+2xCaxZr2-x(PO4)(3) (x = 0.05-0.3) solid electrolytes, the Spark Plasma Sintering technique is applied. High conductive rhombohedral phase is obtained in x = 0.1-0.3, while at x = 0.05, both triclinic and rhombohedral phases are formed. The samples sintered by the Spark Plasma Sintering technique show higher density than conventionally sintered samples. Elemental distributions of Ca and Zr are overlapped each other, indicating that Ca is incorporated into the LiZr2(PO4)(3) lattice, while the Ca-rich grain boundary phase is observed in conventionally sintered Li1+2xCaxZr2-x(PO4)(3). This would be attributed to suppression of Ca diffusion into the grain boundary region due to low temperature and short time of the Spark Plasma Sintering process. The highest bulk conductivity of 5.8 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) is achieve at x = 0.1. With further Ca substitution, the bulk conductivity is decreased. This is consistent with theoretical calculation which reveals Li-ion is trapped near Ca ion in higher concentration of Ca. The highest total conductivity is 1.0 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at x = 0.15 which is higher than that of conventionally sintered samples. The spark plasma sintering technique is useful to obtain well sintered Li1+2xCaxZr2-x(PO4)(3) pellets with high Li-ion conductivity. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Utilizing Spark Plasma Sintering technique to enhance the Li-ion conductivity of Li1+2xCaxZr2-x(PO4)(3) solid electrolytes resulted in high conductivity rhombohedral phase, especially at x = 0.1-0.3. The overlap of Ca and Zr elemental distributions indicates Ca incorporation into the lattice, with Ca-rich grain boundary phase observed in conventionally sintered samples. The technique is beneficial for achieving well-sintered pellets with high Li-ion conductivity.