Li-ion conductivity in LiOHClBr solid electrolytes: grains, grain boundaries and interfaces

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Vol. 1; no. 21; pp. 11574 - 11586
• Main Authors: Lee, Hyeon Jeong, Darminto, Brigita, Narayanan, Sudarshan, Diaz-Lopez, Maria, Xiao, Albert W, Chart, Yvonne, Lee, Ji Hoon, Dawson, James A, Pasta, Mauro
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 31.05.2022
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/d2ta01462a

In this study, we conduct a comprehensive investigation of the effect of grain, grain boundary and interfacial resistance on the total Li-ion conductivity in Li 2 OHCl 1− x Br x antiperovskite solid electrolytes. We highlight how the thermal expansion coefficient can serve as an indicator for the presence of structural defects, which are difficult to probe directly with X-ray techniques, and their effect on bulk Li-ion conduction. The detrimental effect of grain boundaries on ionic conductivity is investigated by atomistic calculations and validated experimentally by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy on pellets with controlled grain size. The effect of composition on interfacial resistance is probed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These insights provide design principles to improve Li-ion conductivity in lithium hydroxide halide antiperovskites. Li 2 OHCl 0.9 Br 0.1 exhibits the highest Li-ion conductivity in Li 2 OHCl 1− x Br x material system due to the combined effect of its defective structure and reduced grain boundary resistance.