Garnet Oxide Electrolyte with Tetragonal Phases for Simpler Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

The preparation of raw materials and firing methods for producing garnet-type oxide with Li, Zr, and La require rigorous control to stabilize the cubic system, making the process complex and difficult to manage.

Innovation Solution

The development of an oxide with a garnet-type crystal structure that includes at least two tetragonal phases with different lattice constants, allowing for a simpler production method and increased ion conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigorous control of raw material preparation and firing method is applied to stabilize the cubic system, then the chemical stability and lithium ion-conductive property are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the crystal system parameter from cubic to tetragonal, which fundamentally alters the manufacturing requirements. The tetragonal system allows for broader compositional ranges and less stringent firing conditions while maintaining high lithium ion conductivity, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite oxide system containing Li, La, Zr, and optionally Sr, where the combination of these elements in a tetragonal garnet structure achieves both chemical stability and high ion conductivity without requiring the rigorous control needed for cubic systems. The multi-element composition provides structural flexibility that simplifies manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If rigorous control of raw material preparation and firing method is applied to stabilize the cubic system, then the lithium ion-conductive property is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium ion conductivityVSAvoidease of production
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the crystal system from cubic to tetragonal, the invention modifies the structural parameters that govern both ion conductivity and manufacturing ease. The tetragonal structure maintains adequate ion conductivity pathways while allowing for simpler raw material preparation and firing processes with broader parameter tolerances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention allows different regions of the compositional space to be explored in the tetragonal system, where certain compositions within the Li-La-Zr-Sr oxide system provide optimal balance between ion conductivity and manufacturing ease, without requiring uniform rigorous control across all parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This approach enables the production of an oxide with high ion conductivity, simplifying the manufacturing process and improving the performance of power storage devices.

Implementation Method 1

an oxide which has a garnet-type crystal structure including Li, Zr, and La exhibits high chemical stability and a lithium ion-conductive property

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4567836A1Oxide, electrolyte composition, and power storage device
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 NITERRA CO LTD
  • EP4567836A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4567836A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4567836A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are an oxide, an electrolyte composition, and a power storage device, all of which can be manufactured by simple methods. The oxide has a garnet-type crystal structure containing Li, La, and Zr, and the crystal structure has at least two tetragonal crystal phases that are different in lattice constant. The crystal structure belongs to a space group I41/acd, and the occupancy proportion of Li at an 8a site in at least one of the tetragonal crystal phases may be 95% or less. The oxide may contain Sr. The electrolyte composition and the power storage device contain said oxide.