Rate-Determining Process at Electrode/Electrolyte Interfaces for All-Solid-State Fluoride-Ion Batteries

Developing high-performance solid electrolytes that are operable at room temperature is one of the toughest challenges related to all-solid-state fluoride-ion batteries (FIBs). In this study, tetragonal beta-Pb0.78Sn1.22F4, a promising solid electrolyte material for mild-temperature applications, was modified through annealing under various atmospheres using thin-film models. The annealed samples exhibited preferential growth and enhanced ionic conductivities. The rate-determining factor for electrode/electrolyte interface reactions in all-solid-state FIBs was also investigated by comparing beta-Pb0.78Sn1.22F4 with representative fluoride-ion- and lithium-ion-conductive materials, namely, LaF3, CeF3, and Li7La3Zr2O12. The overall rate constant of the interfacial reaction, k(0), which included both mass and charge transfers, was determined using chronoamperometric measurements and Allen-Hickling simulations. Arrhenius-type correlations between k(0) and temperature indicated that activation energies calculated from k(0) and ionic conductivities (sigma(ion)) were highly consistent. The results indicated that the mass transfer (electrolyte-side fluoride-ion conduction) should be the rate-determining process at the electrode/electrolyte interface. beta-Pb0.78Sn1.22F4, with a large sigma(ion) value, had a larger k(0) value than Li7La3Zr2O12. Therefore, it is hoped that the development of high-conductivity solid electrolytes can lead to all-solid-state FIBs with superior rate capabilities similar to those of all-solid-state Li-ion batteries.

Automated summary

This study investigated the modification of tetragonal beta-Pb0.78Sn1.22F4 for all-solid-state fluoride-ion batteries by annealing under various atmospheres, resulting in enhanced ionic conductivities. The rate-determining factor at the electrode/electrolyte interface reactions was found to be mass transfer, suggesting that developing high-conductivity solid electrolytes could lead to FIBs with superior rate capabilities similar to those of Li-ion batteries.