Developing a high-voltage electrolyte based on conjuncto-hydroborates for solid-state sodium batteries

Developing solid electrolytes with a wide electrochemical window and high ionic conductivity is key to the development of all-solid-state batteries with high energy and power density. A novel conjuncto-hydroborate of Na2B20H18 is reported here as a promising solid electrolyte with electrochemical stability up to 5.1 V vs. Na+/Na and a Na-ion conductivity of 2.5 x 10(-6) S cm(-1) at 25 degrees C. Furthermore, encouraging performance has been realized using the mixed-anion electrolyte of Na2B20H18/Na2B12H12, with a fast ionic conductivity of 2.8 x 10(-4) S cm(-1), wide electrochemical window beyond 4.8 V vs. Na+/Na, superior sodium-ion transference number of 0.976 at 25 degrees C, and excellent interfacial compatibility with the electrodes. The corresponding Na symmetrical cell could stay stable at 40 mV and a high current density of 0.1 mA cm(-2) for 100 h at 25 degrees C. Meanwhile, the all-solid-state battery of Na|Na2B20H18-4Na(2)B(12)H(12)|TiS2 exhibited a high capacity retention of 82% after 100 cycles at 0.1C.

Automated summary

This article reports a promising solid electrolyte, Na2B20H18, which exhibits a wide electrochemical window and high ionic conductivity. Additionally, the mixed-anion electrolyte of Na2B20H18/Na2B12H12 shows excellent performance and good interfacial compatibility with electrodes. These results suggest the potential applications of this solid electrolyte in all-solid-state batteries.