Chalcohalide Solid Electrolytes for Fast Ion Transport and Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing superionic solid electrolytes face challenges in achieving high ionic conductivity and stability, limiting their practical application in all-solid-state batteries due to synthesis difficulties and safety issues associated with liquid electrolytes.
Innovation Solution
Development of chalcohalide solid electrolytes with a general formula AaMbNcXdYeSf, synthesized via a cost-effective one-step mechanochemical approach, offering high ionic conductivity and stability suitable for large-scale energy storage applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If ternary halide electrolytes (LiAlCl4, NaAlCl4) are used in liquid or molten state, then fast ion transport and low cost are achieved, but safety issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the electrolyte from liquid/molten phase to solid phase by incorporating sulfur into the halide structure, creating solid chalcohalide electrolytes. This phase transition eliminates the safety hazards of liquid electrolytes while preserving fast ion transport properties through the solid-state structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite solid electrolytes by combining halide components (AlCl4-) with sulfur components (Sx2-), forming chalcohalide compounds with formula AaMbNcXdYeSf. This composite structure integrates the advantages of both halide fast ion transport and solid-state safety.
2Speed
If computational predictions for doped LiAlCl4 are followed, then improved ionic conductivity is expected, but synthesis becomes unachievable due to thermodynamic considerations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters by introducing sulfur into the halide structure, creating a new class of chalcohalide electrolytes. This parameter change enables synthesis under achievable thermodynamic conditions while achieving the desired high ionic conductivity that pure doping approaches could not attain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional thermal synthesis methods with mechanochemical synthesis (ball milling). This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature heating steps that create thermodynamic barriers, enabling successful synthesis of materials with high ionic conductivity that were previously unachievable.
3Ease of manufacture
If one-step mechanochemical synthesis is used, then extra heating step is removed and synthesis is simplified, but ionic conductivity of the resulting SE remains significantly low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs composite chalcohalide electrolytes with specific stoichiometries (e.g., Li2AlCl3S, Li4AlCl3S2) that combine halide and sulfur components in optimized ratios. This composite approach maintains the simplicity of one-step mechanochemical synthesis while achieving high ionic conductivity through proper compositional design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the local chemical environment within the chalcohalide structure by controlling the distribution and coordination of sulfur and halide ions. This local quality optimization creates favorable conditions for fast ion transport while maintaining the simplicity of the synthesis process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The chalcohalide electrolytes exhibit high ionic conductivity and stability, enabling efficient energy storage in solid-state batteries, addressing the limitations of previous electrolytes and enhancing their practical application.
Implementation Method 1
a one-step synthesis approach that uses mechanochemistry is beneficial as it can remove the extra heating step
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosure, in one aspect, relates to solid chalcohalide electrolytes and the efficient synthesis of solid chalcohalide electrolytes. The electrolytes have the general formula AaMbNcXdYeSf and have relatively high ionic conductivity. The electrolytes can be a component of different types of batteries. The process of synthesizing the electrolytes can be done with cost-effective materials, which is useful for scaling-up production of batteries such as all-solid-state batteries.