Junghwan
Sung
ab,
Junyoung
Heo
ab,
Dong-Hee
Kim
a,
Seongho
Jo
d,
Yoon-Cheol
Ha
ab,
Doohun
Kim
ab,
Seongki
Ahn
*c and
Jun-Woo
Park
*ab
aBattery Research Division, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), 12, Jeongiui-gil, Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 51543, Republic of Korea. E-mail: parkjw@keri.re.kr
bDepartment of Electro-Functionality Materials Engineering, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 305-333, Republic of Korea
cDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Hankyong National University, 27, Jungangro, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do 17579, Republic of Korea. E-mail: skahn@hknu.ac.kr
dDepartment of New Energy and Mining Engineering, Sangji University, 83, Sangjidae-gil, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do 26339, Republic of Korea
First published on 31st January 2024
All-solid-state batteries (ASSB) have gained significant attention as next-generation battery systems owing to their potential for overcoming the limitations of conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIB) in terms of stability and high energy density. This review presents progress in ASSB research for practical applications. It focuses on membrane production strategies, highlighting the need for considerations such as productivity, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness. Various fabrication techniques aimed at achieving enhanced safety and energy density are introduced. Additionally, this review introduces efforts towards the commercialization of ASSB electrode manufacturing and emerging research trends in the field. We highlight the challenges and advancements in these areas and discuss the prospects of ASSBs as practical alternatives to LIBs for various applications. This review is valuable for researchers and industry professionals seeking guidance in facilitating ASSB commercialization.
Based on survey results from the US DOE Global Energy Storage Database, the installed capacity of LIBs is projected to increase annually.26 This highlights the importance of developing innovative processes and advancing their commercialization. However, conventional LIBs still face various issues and challenges with enhanced attributes, such as higher energy density, longer lifespan, reduced cost, and improved eco-friendliness, to meet the demands of next-generation LIB markets.27–30 Despite serving as major energy storage devices for electronic devices owing to their high energy density and rechargeable nature, as technology and society's reliance on electronics has advanced, new challenges have emerged for LIBS.
Although LIBs have been instrumental in powering portable electronics, prominent concerns such as their inherent flammability and potential for thermal runaway, particularly when exposed to high temperatures or physical damage, remain. This has led to incidents and concerns regarding the use of LIBs in applications such as EVs and large-scale ESSs.31–34 Furthermore, LIBs have certain limitations in terms of their energy density and capacity. The theoretical capacities of various lithium-ion cathode materials are limited to specific ranges (e.g., LiCoO2: 140 mA h g−1, LiFePO4: 170 mA h g−1, LiMnO2: 286 mA h g−1, LiNiMnCoO2: 280 mA h g−1). This means that even with advancements in their design, LIBs are reaching a point where further significant improvements in energy density might be challenging to achieve.35–37 This underscores their limitations and drives the need for alternative battery technologies.38–40
The growing demand for large-scale energy storage solutions, particularly those driven by renewable energy integration and EV adoption, has highlighted the need for batteries with higher energy densities, improved safety, and more sustainable materials. To overcome the challenges associated with LIBs, researchers have been actively exploring various approaches for developing next-generation batteries. These efforts include investigating alternative ion systems such as sodium-ion,41–45 and magnesium-ion batteries,46–50 as well as new cathode materials with higher theoretical capacities than conventional nickel- and cobalt-based cathode materials, such as sulfur-based cathodes.51–55 Additionally, the interest in transitioning from liquid electrolytes to solid-state electrolytes (SSE) to enhance battery performance and safety has grown.56–60 These advancements aim to address the limitations of the current LIBs and establish more efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions.
The differences between conventional LIBs and ASSBs are illustrated in Fig. 1(a) and (b). In a conventional LIB system, a cell is prepared using a liquid electrolyte and a separator. The conventional organic liquid electrolytes used in LIBs exhibit desirable physical and electrochemical properties, including high lithium-ion conductivity and reactivity with the cathode and anode during the charge/discharge process. However, it has significant disadvantages such as poor thermal stability and potential leakage issues.68–70 The poor thermal stability of organic liquid electrolytes can lead to thermal runaway and safety hazards, particularly under extreme conditions or during battery abuse. The flammability of electrolytes increases the risk of fire incidents and compromises the overall safety of EVs.71–75 Moreover, electrolyte leakage can result in performance degradation, energy density loss, and compromised durability of battery systems (Fig. 1(c)). These shortcomings pose critical challenges, particularly in EV applications.76
Fig. 1 Schematic illustration of a (a) conventional LIB with liquid electrolyte and (b) ASSB, and batteries with (c) liquid electrolytes and (d) SSEs. |
Unlike conventional LIBs, ASSBs employ SSEs in their cell configuration. This unique design feature offers several advantages, including the ability to reduce cell thickness. As illustrated in Fig. 1(d), this reduction in thickness allows the downsizing of the battery cell, module, and pack, which can increase the volumetric energy density. By decreasing the overall volume of battery components, more energy can be packed into a given volume, resulting in higher volumetric energy density than conventional LIBs. This is a significant advantage for applications where space is limited, such as EVs, as it allows for greater energy storage capacity within a smaller footprint, making them highly attractive for various applications requiring high energy density in a compact form.
This review article primarily focuses on the challenges and research trends surrounding ASSBs, in the context of productivity, cost, eco-friendliness, and important strategies, with the aim of facilitating their commercialization. Additionally, we explore the potential applications of all-solid-state electrolytes in next-generation batteries, including lithium–sulfur, sodium-ion, and magnesium-ion batteries. The key points discussed in this review are the: (a) crucial considerations for the commercialization of ASSBs, (b) strategies for addressing these challenges, and (c) alternative applications for solid electrolytes (SE). This comprehensive review offers valuable insights and guidance regarding important strategies and solutions for the successful commercialization of ASSBs.
Recent studies have highlighted the current research trends in SEs and the major obstacles hindering their commercialization. Ongoing research is primarily focused on enhancing the ionic conductivity of SEs, which is critical for the efficient movement of ions in these materials. Many studies reference existing methods such as high-energy ball milling, a dry fabrication technique that allows the synthesis of high-purity SEs with high ionic conductivities by minimizing impurities. However, this process consumes substantial energy, leading to high production costs and limiting large-scale production. To facilitate the commercialization of solid-state batteries, researchers have been investigating methods to reduce costs and enable the mass production of SEs for use in a broad range of applications.
The aforementioned studies involved significant time consumption for the reaction between the solvents and precursors, leading to substantial time wastage in the synthesis of SEs. Phuc et al. rapidly advanced the reaction between Li2S and P2S5 by mixing LiI and P2S5 and conducting the reaction in ethyl propionate solvent.98 To accelerate the synthesis kinetics of the precursor, P2S5 and LiI were mixed to form a solution, and Li2S was added to synthesize the SE. Based on the XRD analysis results, with the exception of a small unknown peak located at 2θ ≈ 20.2°, the other peaks primarily exhibited the characteristics of Li7P2S8I. Furthermore, this unknown peak was observed only in samples synthesized over short times (30, 45, and 60 min) and disappeared in samples prepared for 6 h, suggesting that it is an intermediate substance. As the reaction time extended, this intermediate appeared to transform into LPSI. This mechanism reduced the reaction time to 30–60 min by enhancing the synthesis kinetics of the precursor (Fig. 2(a)).
Fig. 2 Schematic examples of SE synthesis methods and results: (a) XRD patterns of the initial components and LPSI (x = 0) prepared at various times after drying at 170 °C for 2 h.98 (b) Formation processes of Li3PS4 SE facilitated by a nucleophilic, LiSC2H5.99 (c) Li6PS5X (X = Cl, Br) synthesized through ball milling and solution-engineered synthesis techniques.101 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 101, Copyright 2018 American Chemical Society. (d) Liquid-phase synthesis process for LPSCl SEs, (e) Nyquist plots and (f) ionic conductivities for various LPSCl SE. (g) Direct current (DC) polarization curve of THF-SE under an applied voltage of 1.0 V.100 |
In the synthesis of sulfide-based SEs such as LPS and LPSCl, P2S5 is commonly used as the source material. However, its insoluble nature and tendency to form a P4S10 case structure limit its potential for SE synthesis. To address this challenge and enable the rapid solution synthesis of thiophosphate electrolytes, a solvent that either dissolves or reacts first to form a soluble complex must be employed, thereby disrupting the cage structure to initiate the reaction. In the pre-reaction step, a strong nucleophilic agent, lithium thioethoxide (LiSEt), was used. LiSEt reacted with P4S10 to form a completely soluble complex. Subsequently, it reacted with Li2S to synthesize Li3PS4. This approach enables the efficient synthesis of thiophosphate electrolytes by circumventing the limitations associated with P2S5 and achieving soluble complex formation. The utilization of LiSEt as a nucleophile agent contributes to the successful synthesis of β-Li3PS4 SE (1.32 × 10−4 S cm−1), an important SE material for advanced battery systems (Fig. 2(b)).99
However, SEs obtained via wet synthesis continue to display limited ionic conductivities. Therefore, researchers have aimed to produce SEs with improved ionic conductivity. For example, in making a type of SE called argyrodite Li6PS5Cl using wet fabrication methods, the optimal solvent to achieve elevated ionic conductivity must be used. Choi et al. found that the choice of solvent significantly affected the purity, crystallinity, and conductivity of the resulting SEs. The Choi group compared different solvents and discovered that THF led to the highest solubility of the precursor materials and the formation of highly conductive crystalline LPSCl SEs. These THF-processed SEs exhibited a maximum ionic conductivity of 2.20 mS cm−1 at 25 °C. All-solid-state lithium batteries were fabricated using THF-processed LPSCl SEs, and their electrochemical performance was evaluated. These cells exhibit excellent rate capabilities and cycling stabilities at various current densities, demonstrating the potential of the developed THF-processed SEs for high-performance all-solid-state lithium batteries (Fig. 2(d)–(g)).100 Moreover, some researchers have also presented the use of solvent mixtures, enabling a broader range of solvent choices other than nonpolar solvents. Zhou et al. introduced a solution-engineered method for synthesizing other argyrodite-type SEs, including a new argyrodite solid-solution phase, Li6–yPS5–yCl1+y (y = 0–0.5), in addition to Li6PS5Cl.101 This method involves dissolving Li3PS4·3THF, Li2S, and LiX (X = Cl, Br, I) in a mixture of THF and ethanol to synthesize Li6PS5X materials. The resulting materials exhibited high ion conductivities with a maximum of 3.96 mS cm−1. These findings present a novel perspective on the mass synthesis of ASSB SEs for commercialization (Fig. 2(c)).
Components | Weight in a cell [g] | Unit price [$ per kg] | Cost [$] | Price ratio [%] | ASSB (conventional SEs) | Conventional LIBs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NCM811 | 31.613 | 22 | 0.6955 | 12.4 | 695.5 | 185.69 |
Carbon black | 1.317 | 35 | 0.0461 | 0.82 | 46.1 | 4.57 |
Binder | 1.317 | 65 | 0.0856 | 1.53 | 85.62 | 8.48 |
Al foil | 2.207 | 8 | 0.0177 | 0.31 | 17.66 | 11.04 |
Gr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45.75 |
SBR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.3 |
CMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.69 |
Ni foil | 4.769 | 10 | 0.0477 | 0.85 | 47.69 | 29.38 |
Separator | 7.199 | 271.6 | 1.9551 | 34.85 | 1955.14 | 74.81 |
Electrolyte | 9.66 | 277.1 | 2.6769 | 47.72 | 2676.85 | 64.5 |
Al pouch | 2.24 | 17 | 0.0381 | 0.68 | 38.08 | 6.78 |
Lead tab (+) | 0.156 | 300 | 0.0469 | 0.84 | 46.92 | 4.5 |
Lead tab (−) | 0.455 | 200 | 0.0909 | 1.62 | 90.92 | 9.6 |
Total weight [g] | 60.478 | 5.6096 | 100 | 5700.5 | 456.1 |
Currently, sulfide SEs have been gaining attention because of their high ion conductivity and significant ductility. However, their commercialization faces a hurdle owing to the high cost of a key raw material, lithium sulfide (Li2S), in their manufacturing process. Tu et al. focused on the development of a low-cost and scalable synthesis method for high-purity Li2S involving the carbothermic reduction of lithium sulfate with different raw material mixing methods to improve the reaction efficiency. Ethanol was then used to purify Li2S, and the subsequent calcination temperature was optimized to obtain a high-purity product. Their low-cost and scalable synthesis method offers a practical solution for producing high-purity Li2S. By considering the complete conversion of Li2SO4 to Li2S as the theoretical yield and the obtained pure lithium sulfide (PLS) as the actual output, the yield of PLS was calculated to be 81.08%, which is significantly higher than the yield achieved with dry-mixing and ball-milling methods (71.18%). The current market price of Li2SO4 is $17 per kilogram, while the cost of sucrose is less than $1 per kilogram. With an impressive yield of 81.08%, the raw material cost for PLS amounts to approximately $62 per kilogram. Even when considering labor and electricity costs, the overall production cost remains significantly lower than the market price of commercially available Li2S ($10000–15000 per kilogram). These findings highlight the substantial economic benefits of the proposed Li2S preparation strategy, which has the potential to significantly reduce the production costs of sulfide-based solid-state batteries, making them economically viable for large-scale commercialization. The high-purity Li2S synthesized using this method shows promise for enhancing the performance and reliability of solid-state batteries, contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy storage technologies (Fig. 3(a)).102
Fig. 3 Schematic examples of SE cost reduction methods and results: (a) Li2S synthesis approach and minimization of expenses related to raw materials.102 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 102, Copyright 2022 American Chemical Society. (b) Comparison of the price of the final battery cells, considering the production of ASSBs employing the traditional SEs and proposed sulfide SEs, and traditional LIBs with liquid electrolytes. (c) Price ratios of the components of conventional and proposed ASSBs when the SE takes the highest price and the lowest price.103 (d) Process of making Li6PS5Cl SE.104 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 104, Copyright 2022 American Chemical Society. (e) Raw-material cost of Li2ZrCl6 and state-of-the-art chloride SEs.105 |
To overcome the hurdles associated with the commercial use of LPSCl SE, Kim et al. introduced a readily processable bulk-type solution-based synthesis method that eliminates the need for high-energy ball milling. By incorporating elemental sulfur during preparation, polysulfides are formed from Li2S and S, facilitating the reaction of P2S5 to yield LPSCl with an outstanding ion conductivity of up to 1.8 mS cm−1. The purity of the bulk-type precursors did not affect the final composition or ionic conductivity of the sulfide electrolytes, which demonstrated electrochemical characteristics comparable to those of ASSB cells, with a high discharge capacity of 185.6 mA h g−1.
At present, the cost ratio of liquid electrolytes to that of the conventional LIBs is approximately 14%. Therefore, the price ratio of SEs must be significantly decreased to at least be comparable to that of LIBs to commercialize ASSBs. Kim et al. presents a promising strategy to significantly reduce the production costs of sulfide SEs potentially up to 92% by employing low-cost and less pure precursors for large-scale SE production through a solution-based approach. The proposed method has potential for the mass production of high-capacity and low-cost ASSBs that satisfy the electrochemical performance requirements for highly stable EVs and ESS. Moreover, commercial ASSBs adopting this approach are expected to achieve a competitive cost per unit energy density of approximately 0.46 $ per W. This will be of great interest to those seeking a cost-effective mass production solution for sulfide-based SEs in commercial ASSB applications by minimizing unnecessary steps (Fig. 3(b) and (c)).103
One alternative method for synthesizing LPSCl uses a high-cost sulfide-based electrolyte instead of expensive Li2S. This method involves a metathesis reaction between inexpensive LiCl and Na2S to produce Li2S nanocrystals in situ. Li2S is required in both the intermediate Li3PS4 and the final product Li6PS5Cl, making it advantageous to produce Li2S in one step to produce Li6PS5Cl. Additionally, the use of LiCl as a reactant for Li2S production eliminates the need for separate recovery of LiCl from Li2S. The common ion effect facilitated by LiCl enhanced the precipitation of the NaCl byproduct during Li2S synthesis. The excess Li2S used in the Li3PS4 step was expected to promote faster reaction kinetics. The synthesis strategy involves three stages: (1) adding Na2S and LiCl in a molar ratio of 5/2:6 to ethanol to generate Li2S, removing the precipitated NaCl, and collecting the remaining Li2S and LiCl as powder after ethanol distillation; (2) adding P2S5 and THF to the Li2S powder to produce white precipitate Li3PS4, and collecting the solid mixture of Li3PS4, LiCl, and Li2S after THF distillation; and (3) dissolving the solid mixture in ethanol recovered from stage 1 to obtain a Li6PS5Cl solution, followed by ethanol distillation to obtain lc-Li6PS5Cl powder, which is then calcined under argon to obtain hc-Li6PS5Cl. This method reduces the material cost by approximately 50 times compared with methods using Li2S and offers the potential for the low-cost and large-scale production of practical Li6PS5Cl electrolytes. The resulting electrolyte demonstrates excellent performance in terms of ionic conductivity (approximately 2 mS cm−1) and cycling stability (over 99.8% capacity retention after 400 cycles at 1C) (Fig. 3(d)).104
Halide-based SSEs have gained attention because of the combination of mechanical deformability from sulfides and excellent electrochemical stability from oxides. Wang et al. identified new orthorhombic phases by substituting scarce and costly elements, such as Y, Er, Sc, and In, with Zr in halide-based systems. Wang et al. focused on the synthesis of novel halide superionic conductors, specifically hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Li2ZrCl6 and Fe3+-doped Li2ZrCl6, using a cost-effective mechanochemical method with readily available elements. This represents a significant advancement in the field of practical all-solid-state technologies and provides valuable insight into the design of future halide superionic conductors. Wang et al. introduces Li2ZrCl6 as a cost-effective high-performance chloride SE that can maintain electrochemical performance while using substantially cheaper raw material sets ($1.38 per m2) than other chloride SEs, making a highly competitive option for practical applications in solid-state batteries. Furthermore, the study underscores the significance of the properties and potential for industrial utilization of Li2ZrCl6 (0.81 mS cm−1 at room temperature). Through this approach, high-cost sulfide- and chloride-based SEs can be made more affordable, offering a new alternative for the commercialization of ASSBs (Fig. 3(e)).105
Although ASSBs offer great potential for high-energy-density energy storage, the development of scalable and environmentally friendly synthesis methods for sulfide electrolytes remains challenging. Researchers have systematically investigated the effects of various green solvents on sulfide electrolyte synthesis by considering factors such as solubility, stability, and reaction kinetics. Jo et al. summarized the research on engineering green and sustainable solvents for the scalable wet synthesis of sulfide electrolytes in high-energy-density ASSBs106 and proposed an innovative approach that focuses on the selection and optimization of green and sustainable solvents for wet syntheses. The use of environmentally friendly solvents not only ensures the sustainability of the battery manufacturing process, but also promotes the synthesis of high-quality sulfide electrolytes with desirable electrochemical properties. The results demonstrate that the choice of solvent significantly influences the morphology, composition, and electrochemical performance of the sulfide electrolytes. By carefully selecting and optimizing green solvents, researchers have successfully fabricated sulfide electrolytes with improved ionic conductivities, enhanced interfacial stabilities, and excellent cycling performances. These findings contribute to the development of sustainable and scalable wet synthesis methods for sulfide electrolytes in high-energy-density ASSBs, opening new avenues for the large-scale production of environmentally friendly ESSs (Fig. 4(a)).
Fig. 4 Schematic examples of sustainability research concerning SEs: (a) liquid-phase synthesis procedure of LPSCl SEs employing different solvent systems, i.e., traditional THF, greener alternative solvents (CPME and 2-MeTHF), and sustainable inert solvents (G1–G4).106 (b) Water-based manufacturing for the LFP-PEO composite cathode with LLZO separator utilized in SSLBs.107 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 107, Copyright 2022 American Chemical Society. (c) Recycling routes.109 (d) Proposed ASSB recycling procedure at an industry, based on the principles of direct recycling.110 |
Sustainability refers to the production of batteries using environment-friendly materials via sustainable processes. Environmentally friendly materials are abundant, available from renewable resources, and are less toxic or non-toxic. Sustainable processes focus on improving the carbon footprint of production. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) is a highly sustainable active cathode material. Ye et al. used the interaction of PEO with water via hydrophilic interactions involving hydrogen bonding to create water-soluble PEO. By exploiting this property, an LFP–PEO composite cathode was fabricated to induce improved interfacial formation. The influence of various solvents on the PEO was compared to evaluate the water-based processing of the LFP–PEO composite cathode. The battery produced using the LFP–PEO composite cathode achieved a specific capacity of 136 mA h g−1 at a current density of 50 μA cm−2 in the first cycle (Fig. 4(b)).107
Recycling spent batteries, including ASSBs, plays a crucial role in creating eco-friendly environments. Developing innovative recycling processes for lithium recovery is vital for the sustainable management of natural lithium resources and eco-conscious production methods. EV manufacturers are actively exploring opportunities to reuse spent batteries in applications such as ESS to maximize their value and reduce industrial waste. The recycling dimensions of ASSBs are currently underexplored but are of utmost importance given the expected increase in the disposal of LIBs, particularly in the automotive sector. The current state of LIB recycling is insufficient, and the introduction of lithium–metal anodes and SE chemistry in ASSBs introduces additional complexities. Thus, recycling and efficient waste management should be prioritized to advance the commercialization of ASSBs.108 Qin et al. explored the recycling potential of SSEs, focusing on solvent sludge and achieved a densification interface with a high lithium-ion conductivity of 3.55 × 10−4 S cm−1 at room temperature. The critical current density of the deformation-driven re-sintering (DDR)-SSE reached 1.24 mA cm−2, demonstrating a stable lithium stripping and plating process. The recycled DDR-SSE exhibited superior cycling performance, with a discharge capacity of 126.7 mA h g−1 and a capacity retention of 89.7% after 400 cycles (0.5C). SSLBs assembled using recycled DDR-SSE exhibited a desirable performance. The application of the DDR technology for recycling spent SSEs has proven to be an effective way of enhancing the environmental sustainability and economic viability of the battery industry (Fig. 4(c)).109 Furthermore, Tan et al. proposed a scalable recycling model for ASSBs to recover and regenerate SEs and cathode materials from spent batteries and used the EverBatt model to assess the energy consumption and environmental impact of their recycling strategies and compared them with traditional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods.110 The regenerated Li6PS5Cl exhibited structural properties and ionic conductivity similar to those of pristine Li6PS5Cl and LiCoO2, highlighting the effectiveness of the recycling models (Fig. 4(d)).
Ref. | SE | Ionic conductivity (mS cm−1) | Thickness (μm) | Capacity (mA h g−1) | C-Rate | Cyc. (th) | T (°C) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
a Some data are inconsistent with those in the literature, which is mainly caused by the calculation according to our formula standard for the convenience of comparison and uniformity. b “ND” means no valid data can be obtained from the literature. c We selected the data with cycling performance (>10 cycles) for the comparison and excluded the data with only rate performance and without cycling performance. | |||||||
SSE with thin-film deposition methods | |||||||
Tan et al.113 | Li7P3S11 | ∼0.7 | ∼50 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
Kang et al.114 | Li6PS5Cl | 1.54 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ND |
Kim et al.115 | Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5 | 2 | 40–70 | 146 | 0.1C | 100 | 30 |
Wei et al.116 | Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 | 0.653 | ∼15 | 150.2 | 0.5C | 269 | 25 |
Kang et al.117 | Li6PS5Cl | 0.55 | 66 | 119.1 | 0.1C | 120 | 60 |
Zhang et al.118 | Li5.4PS4.4Cl1.6 | 8.4 | 30 | 135.3 | 0.05C | 150 | 60 |
Reinacher et al.119 | Li6BaLa2Ta2O12 | 1.7 × 10−3 | 2 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
SSE with chemical vapor depostion | |||||||
Loho et al.121 | Li7La3Zr2O12 | 4.2 × 10−3 | ∼1 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
Li et al.122 | Li6PS5Cl | 5.1 | ∼60 | 107 | 1C | 800 | ND |
Yang et al.123 | F-NBR-g-VEC | 0.4 | ND | 130 | 0.5C | 300 | 30 |
SSE with atomic layer deposition | |||||||
Li et al.125 | Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 | 0.1 | ND | 156 | 0.2C | 50 | 25 |
Wang et al.126 | Lithium silicate | 5.72 × 10−6 | 0.049 | ND | ND | ND | ND |
Jin Su et al.127 | MgPON | 1.2 × 10−3 | ND | ND | ND | ND | ND |
Fig. 5 Schematic examples of thin-film deposition methods: (a) cross-section SEM image of composite electrolyte film fabricated with 95 wt% Li7P3S11 and 5 wt% SEBS. This film underwent lithium plating and stripping over 100 cycles at 20 h per cycle.113 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 103, Copyright 2019 American Chemical Society. (b) 2D LPSCl SE and SEM images of rGO template and 2D LPSCl SE at different tilted angles.114 (c) Fabrication of sulfide SE membranes for ASLBs through the infiltration of electrospun porous PI nanowires with solution-processable Li6PS5[Cl,Br].115 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 105, Copyright 2020 American Chemical Society. (d) Preparation of solid composite electrolyte membranes.116 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 116, Copyright 2020 American Chemical Society. (e) Cycle performance of ASSB cells assembled with SE pellet or SE membrane and fabrication of SE membrane with nylon net membrane.117 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 117, Copyright 2023 American Chemical Society. (f) The fabrication of ultrathin SE membrane.118 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 118, Copyright 2021 American Chemical Society. |
Kang et al. employed a scalable and cost-effective liquid-phase process to fabricate a 2D structured argyrodite LPSCl SE using ACN as the solvent and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as the template to overcome the restricted surface applicability of active materials and a constrained conductive network within composite electrodes due to the spatial confinement of SE particles.114 The favorable ion percolation resulting from the high aspect ratio of the SE particles led to a threefold enhancement in the effective ion conductivity within the composite electrode (1.54 mS cm−1) (Fig. 5(b)). Kim et al. successfully developed thin, flexible, and highly conductive single-ion conducting SE membranes that exhibited exceptional thermal stability for application in ASSBs by employing an innovative technique of infiltrating solution-processable Li6PS5[Cl,Br] into electrospun porous PI nanowire scaffolds.115 The LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2/graphite ASSBs with 40 μm thick Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5-infiltrated PI membranes demonstrated a promising performance at 30 °C, boasting a specific capacity of 146 mA h g−1, and showcased remarkable thermal stability with minimal degradation even at elevated temperatures of up to 180 °C. Although the energy and power densities demonstrated may not yet compete with cutting-edge LIB technologies, these proof-of-concept results provide valuable insights into the developmental principles of SEs, particularly regarding the practical scalability of ASSB manufacturing (Fig. 5(c)).
Solid-state lithium–metal batteries (LMB) hold great promise for next-generation energy storage owing to their high energy density and improved safety. However, low ionic conductivity and poor interfacial stability hinder their practical application. Wei et al. proposed an ultrathin solid composite electrolyte to address these challenges. It had Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 as the SSE with high ionic conductivity, polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) as a binder, and lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (LiTFSI) and succinonitrile to provide enhanced ionic transport properties.116 The composite electrolyte was fabricated as an ultrathin film that exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, including high ionic conductivity, low interfacial resistance, and good cycling stability, thereby enabling efficient lithium-ion conduction and improved interfacial stability. When incorporated into solid-state LMBs, the composite electrolyte enables high-performance and long-lasting battery operation (Fig. 5(d)). Kang et al. created an ultrathin SE membrane that can be reduced to a thickness of 31 μm without significant thermal shrinkage at 140 °C.117 The membrane exhibited excellent mechanical properties, including a tensile strength of 19.6 MPa. Argyrodite sulfide SE, LPSCl with an ionic conductivity of 1.7 mS cm−1 in pellet form, nonpolar solvent, toluene, and a nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) binder were used to produce SE slurries that were applied to a nylon net template using the conventional doctor blade coating technique. Notably, the integrated SE membrane within an anode-supported battery showcased remarkable ionic conductivity (0.55 mS cm−1) and areal conductance (84 mS cm−2), significantly improving energy densities at the cell level. It measured 127.9 W h kgcell−1 gravimetrically and 140.7 W h Lcell−1 volumetrically, representing impressive 7.6-fold and 5.7-fold increases, respectively, compared with conventional SE pellet cells (Fig. 5(e)).
Zhang et al. successfully constructed a 30 μm sulfide SE membrane that exhibited an exceptionally high room temperature conductivity (8.4 mS cm−1) using a sulfide SE powder composed of Li5.4PS4.4Cl1.6 (99.8 wt%) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powder (0.2 wt%).118 Through cell testing involving an NCM cathode and the incorporation of an Al2O3 interlayer between the SE membrane and lithium, they observed a discharge specific capacity of 135.3 mA h g−1 (equivalent to 1.4 mA h cm−2), with an impressive capacity retention rate of 80.2% over 150 cycles. This performance was achieved while maintaining an average coulombic efficiency exceeding 99.5% (Fig. 5(f)). Reinacher et al. reported the growth of lithium-ion conductive Li6BaLa2Ta2O12 garnet-type thin films using pulsed laser deposition.119 The Li6BaLa2Ta2O12 compound was synthesized as a target material via high-temperature solid-state reactions. To compensate for the lithium loss during film growth, bulk target materials composed of Li6BaLa2Ta2O12 and a 5 mol% excess of Li2O were employed. Thin films were grown on MgO (100) substrates by eliminating bulk target materials. The bulk material exhibited electrical conductivity of up to σ = 5.0 × 10−5 S cm−1 at 25 °C. In contrast, the Li6BaLa2Ta2O12 garnet-type films displayed a lower conductivity of σ = 2 × 10−6 S cm−1 at 25 °C, which is comparable to the ionic conductivity of LiPON (approximately σ = 2 × 10−6 S cm−1 at the same temperature). The activation energies for the bulk and thin film samples were 0.44 and 0.42 eV, respectively.
Fig. 6 Schematic examples of the CVD process in: (a) key techniques for energy storage applications.120 (b) Secondary electron micrographs of LLZO thin films deposited at 973 K and 40% O2 on Si.121 (c) Formation of a LiI protective layer on the surface of Li metal and electrochemical analysis of SEM, Cross-sectional SEM, XRD, and XPS.122 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 122, Copyright 2022 American Chemical Society. (d) Comprehensive characterization of the F-NBR-g-VEC electrolyte and NBR-g-VEC membranes.123 |
Li et al. utilized CVD to synthesize lithium-ion conductive LiI to enhance the interfacial stability between a sulfide-based SE (e.g., LPSCl) and lithium metal for lithium dendrite growth suppression.122 The resultant LiI layer exhibited satisfactory ion conductivity and an elevated interfacial energy, as corroborated by density functional theory calculations. In LiI@Li/LPSCl/NCM cells, notably higher discharge capacities of 200 and 107 mA h g−1 were achieved at current densities of 0.1 and 1.0C, respectively, surpassing those of Li/LPSCl/NCM cells. Moreover, even after 100 cycles, a discharge capacity of 161 mA h g−1 with 84.8% capacity retention was maintained. This can be attributed to the effective hindrance of the reactions between the electrolyte and lithium metal by the protective LiI layer. The pronounced interfacial energy of LiI, which functions as a lithium-ion conductor, not only prevents the growth of lithium protrusions but also facilitates lithium-ion transport (Fig. 6(c)).
Yang et al. developed an elastic rubber-derived electrolyte through the electrophilic addition of NBR and a vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC) monomer in combination with LiTFSI. Subsequently, a fluorine-rich monomer, perfluorooctyl acrylate, was introduced onto the NBR-g-VEC electrolyte surface via vapor-phase fluorination, resulting in the creation of a lithiophilic elastic electrolyte, termed the F-NBR-g-VEC electrolyte. The LiF film formed through CVD established a chemical connection between the electrolyte and lithium anode in LMBs, ensuring dynamic contact maintenance during operation. This facilitates rapid and stable lithium ion movement across the interface, encouraging uniform lithium deposition and suppressing side reactions between the electrolyte components and lithium metal. The novel LMB incorporating this electrolyte demonstrated an exceedingly long cycling lifespan of 2500 h along with a high critical current density of 1.1 mA cm−2. In symmetric lithium cells, outstanding stability was maintained for over 300 cycles throughout the entire cell system (Fig. 6(d)).123
Fig. 7 Schematic examples of the ALD technique in: (a) a naturally functionalized substrate surface or treated for functionalization, in which precursor A reacts with the surface in pulses; excess precursor and by-products are purged with inert carrier gas; precursor B reacts with the surface in pulses; excess precursor and by-products are purged with inert carrier gas, and this cycle is repeated until reaching the desired material thickness.124 (b) Preparation of LATP modified with ZnO and deposition of ZnO onto the LATP.125 (c) LSO thin films plotted against ALD cycle number; growth per cycle of LSO at different deposition temperatures; SEM pictures of the cross section of LSO thin films on silicon at 225 °C (LSO225), 250 °C (LSO250), 275 °C (LSO275), and 300 °C (LSO300) after 500 ALD cycles. The scale bar is 100 nm.126 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 126, Copyright 2017 American Chemical Society. (d) Reaction steps in one cycle of ALD MgPON SSEs from TDMAP, N2 plasma, N2 + O2 plasma, Mg(EtCp)2, and H2O precursors. The central inset illustrates the proposed chemical structure of one ALD cycle deposition on the top surface of MgPON SSE films.127 |
Recently, notable instances of implementing ALD processes in the field of membranes have been reported. For instance, Li et al. coated a NASICON-type SE Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP) with ZnO to enhance its interfacial reactions; its bulk structure remained unchanged.125 The optimized cycle count for the ZnO-ALD coating on the LATP was 50 cycles, resulting in an amorphous characteristic of ZnO and a thin coating of 2.5 nm. The coated ZnO@LATP samples thus exhibited improved interfacial resistance and reduced lithium dendrite formation, leading to a gravimetric capacity of 156 mA h g−1 at 0.2C (Fig. 7(b)). In addition, Wang et al. employed ALD to fabricate thin films of lithium silicate, a promising SSE for ASSBs.126 The deposition process for lithium silicate involves sequential ALD cycles of Li2O and SiO2, with lithium tert-butoxide, tetraethylorthosilane, and H2O as precursor materials. This approach yielded a uniform and self-limiting growth pattern within the temperature range of 225 to 300 °C. Employing a one-to-one subcycle of Li2O and SiO2 led to thin films approximating Li4SiO4 in composition, whereas an additional subcycle of Li2O resulted in a higher lithium content. The fabricated lithium silicate thin film, synthesized at 250 °C, demonstrated an ionic conductivity of 1.45 × 10−6 S cm−1 at 373 K. This demonstrated its potential as an efficient ionic conductor at elevated temperatures (Fig. 7(c)).
Jin Su et al. employed a plasma-enhanced ALD system to fabricate magnesium phosphorus oxynitride (MgPON) thin films for magnesium ion-conducting SSEs. The double nitrogen plasma process can be regarded as a nitrogen doping strategy that utilizes radio frequency nitrogen plasma as a nitrogen precursor and proceeds twice in a pulsed manner.127 Using this approach, nitrogen-incorporated MgPON SSE thin films were synthesized at a low deposition temperature (125 °C). The ALD MgPON SSEs were successfully developed using this method, demonstrating an ionic conductivity of 0.36 and 1.2 μS cm−1 at 450 and 500 °C, respectively. This underscores the potential of the ALD-prepared MgPON SSEs as efficient ionic conductors at elevated temperatures (Fig. 7(d)).
Ref. | Cathode | Anode | SE (μm) | Capacity (mA h g−1) | C-Rate | Cyc. (th) | T (°C) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAM (wt%) | Carbon (wt%) | Other (wt%) | |||||||
a Some data are inconsistent with those in the literature, which is mainly caused by the calculation according to our formula standard for the convenience of comparison and uniformity. b “ND” means no valid data can be obtained from the literature. c We selected the data with cycling performance (>10 cycles) for the comparison and excluded the data with only rate performance and without cycling performance. | |||||||||
Electrode with dry fabrication | |||||||||
Hippauf et al.129 | NCM90 (84.9) | VG-CNF (1.9) | SSE(12.9) PTFE (0.3) | Graphite | Li6PS5Cl (150) | 184 | 0.7 mA cm−2 | 100 | 25 |
Zhang et al.130 -LIB | |||||||||
Yan et al.131 | NCM811 (79.4) | VGCF (3) | SSE(16.9) PTFE (0.7) | Si PTFE LiSH | Li6PS5Cl (650) | 123.6 | 1C | 5000 | 55 |
Ludwig et al.132-LIB | |||||||||
Electrode with wet-slurry fabrication | |||||||||
Oh et al.133 | NCM71515 (75) | Super C65 (1) | SSE(24.5) NBR(0.75) poly(1,4-butylene adipate)(0.75) LiTFSI (3) | Graphite SE NBR poly(1,4-butylene adipate) LiTFSI | Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5 NBR poly(1,4-butylene adipate) LiTFSI (∼600) | 160 | 0.1C | 145 | 30 |
Yamamoto et al.134 | NCM333 (80) | AB (2) | pulverized fine Li3PS4 glass(20) poly(propylene carbonate) (3) | Li–In | Li3PS4 glass (10) | 149 | 0.17C | 175 | 30 |
Kim et al.135 | NCM71515 (70) | Super C65 (1.5) | Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5(21) PvdF-HFP (2.5) | Graphite Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5 PvdF-HFP Super C65 | Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5 (150) | 160 | 0.5C | 200 | 30 |
Kwon et al.136 | NCM71515 (70) | Super C65 (1) | Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5(27.5) PvdF-HFP (1.5) | LTO Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5 NBR | Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5 (600) | 153 | 0.2C | 150 | 30 |
Electrode with infiltration fabrication | |||||||||
Kim et al.139 | LCO (97) | Super P (2) | SSE PVDF (1) | Graphite PVDF SSE | Li6PS5Cl-nonwoven (70) | 100 | 6C | 100 | 100 |
Kim et al.142 | NCM622 (96) | Super P (2) | SSE PVDF (2) | Li–In | Li6PS5Cl (800) | 140 | 0.1C | 30 | 30 |
Duchêne et al.144 | NaCrO2 (90) | Super P (5) | SSE PVDF (5) | Sn metal PVDF Super P | Na4(B12H12)(B10H10) (500) | 634 | 0.5C | 50 | 30 |
Song et al.141 | LCO (97) | Super C65 (2) | PVDF(1) | Li–In | Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5 (600) | 135 | 0.2C | 100 | 30 |
The utilization of polymeric binders in sheet-type cathodes can restrict the ionic conductivity and hinder appropriate electrical interaction with the electrode material. Hippauf et al. proposed a solvent-free dry film technique to address these challenges, in which slurry-based binders were substituted with fibrous PTFE binders.129 Remarkably, binder reduction levels reached as low as 0.1 wt%. They successfully produced a self-supporting NCM sheet featuring a substantial areal loading of 6.5 mA h cm−2, demonstrating a comparable rate performance to the binder-free electrode. Consequently, the solvent-free dry film technique enhanced the performance of sheet-type cathode electrodes and streamlined the battery manufacturing process, offering a promising and simplified strategy, as shown in Fig. 8(a).
Fig. 8 Schematic examples of the dry fabrication process in: (a) dry premixing of NCM, carbon, SE, and PTFE binder followed by shearing force induced film formation.128 (b) Solvent-free graphite anode fabrication.129 (c) Mechanisms for Si, LiSi and LiSH46 anodes in ASSBs.130 (d) Dry Painted Battery Concept; Manufacturing system for electrodes fabricated through a dry particle painting process. It includes a 3D representation of a dry painted electrode before thermal activation; 3D representation of a dry painted electrode after hot rolling and thermal activation. The configuration of the hot roller and dry painted electrodes on aluminum foils is illustrated.131 |
Zhang et al. conducted a study utilizing a solvent-free dry mixing technique to harness the adhesive properties of PTFE and PVDF and create anode electrodes using carbon materials.130 The solvent-free electrodes demonstrated remarkable stability for both the hard and soft carbon anodes throughout the charge and discharge cycles. Even at a high loading of 10.7 mg cm−2, the solvent-free hard carbon electrode exhibited a cycling performance comparable to that of conventional slurry casting electrodes. Additionally, LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 displayed an impressive 90% capacity retention after 120 cycles at 1/3C (Fig. 8(b)). Yan et al. proposed a high-performance all-solid-state LIB with a stabilized lithium–silicon alloy anode embedded in a robust carbon matrix.131 By using hard carbon to stabilize the lithium–silicon alloy anode, effective suppression of lithium dendrite growth was achieved, addressing the challenges related to volume changes during lithium insertion and extraction cycles. The assembly of the ASSBs incorporated a LiSH46 anode and an LCO cathode using a dry electrode manufacturing process with a PTFE binder. These ASSBs exhibited the capability to endure 30000 cycles at a current density of 20C (14.64 mA cm−2) while maintaining an areal capacity of 0.7 mA h cm−2. Furthermore, the LiSH46 anode contributed to NMC811-based ASSBs achieving 5000 cycles with a loading of 5.86 mA h cm−2 and a current density of 5.86 mA cm−2. Impressively, a remarkably high discharge current density of 155.3 mA cm−2 was attained along with an NMC811 loading of 6 mA h cm−2. Ultimately, by utilizing the loading of a 20 mA h cm−2 NMC811|LiSH46 full cell, ASSBs with a cell-level energy density of 263 W h kg−1 and an areal capacity of 16.92 mA h cm−2 were successfully obtained. A dry electrode with a PTFE binder can be applied to both the anode and cathode, making it suitable for creating high-loading composite electrodes. Consequently, solid-state batteries employing dry composite electrodes have the potential to achieve high energy densities (Fig. 8(c)).
Instead of utilizing a solvent-reliant method, Ludwig et al. proposed a solvent-free dry powder painting technique, in which LCO and NMC electrodes were deposited using completely dry electrode particles onto a current collector via an electrostatic spraying system.132 This innovative dry painting approach is projected to reduce labor, capital equipment, and facility space requirements by approximately 15% in battery manufacturing. Moreover, by eliminating solvent-related steps, both the production time and associated costs were decreased. The bond strength of the electrode achieved a significant improvement, measuring 148.8 kPa compared with the slurry-cast electrode's 84.3 kPa. Electrochemical testing revealed that the new electrode outperformed the conventional slurry-treated electrode owing to variations in binder distribution (Fig. 8(d)).
Fig. 9 Schematic examples of the wet-slurry fabrication process in: (a) Microstructure of NCM composite electrodes fabricated using DPE-type binders like NA-LiTFSI, which provide undisturbed interfacial ionic transport pathways without suffering thermal degradation even when the electrode active materials of NCM undergo volumetric changes. (b) Reactivity with LPSX for (i) hydrocarbon solvents (e.g., o-xylene), (ii) Lewis-basic solvents with bulky hydrocarbons (e.g., BA), and (iii) Lewis-basic solvents with small hydrocarbons (e.g., EA). Notably Lewis-basic solvents with bulky hydrocarbons, such as BA, do not interact with LPSX due to the steric hindrance from the bulky benzyl group, and they can dissolve Li salts due to the polar acetate group.132 (c) Strategy for creating binder-free sheet-type ASSLBs.133 (d) Polymeric binders, NBR and PVdF-HFP, and discharge voltage profiles at 0 °C and 2 Mpa.134 (e) Electrochemo-mechanical effects within NCM electrodes using pristine and vulcanized BR upon cycling. Different responses against mechanical forces for the linear (pristine, left) and crosslinked (right) BR, and the resulting different degrees of degradation are illustrated.135 |
Yamamoto et al. presented a noteworthy approach involving binder-free sheet-type ASSBs to overcome the challenges caused by the use of binders in sulfide-based electrolytes.134 A volatile poly(propylene carbonate)-based binder and anisole enabled the fabrication of electrodes and SE sheets. This approach addresses the conflicting requirements by solvating the binder and maintaining the properties of the SE. The resulting full cell, consisting of a binder-free SE sheet and NCM cathode, achieved a cell-based energy density of 115 W h kg−1. This value was calculated from the initial discharge capacity (116 mA h g−1), average discharge voltage (3.51 V), and cell weight without the current collector (PE 16.38 mg, SE 10.93 mg, NE, 16.89 mg). This provided insights into cell performance and energy density enhancement while eliminating the drawbacks of binder usage in ASSBs (Fig. 9(c)).
The reactivity of sulfide SEs with polar solvents can limit the range of suitable slurry-processing solvents and, consequently, restrict the scope of polymer binder utilization. To address this problem, Kim et al. proposed a slurry fabrication approach using co-solvents and lithium salts to introduce Li+-conductive dry-polymer-electrolyte-based binders into all-solid-state lithium batteries.135 Specifically, DBM and HB synergistically dissolved NBR and LiTFSI while effectively controlling the polymer dispersion within the slurry protocol. The resulting pellet-type NCM/Gr full cells fabricated with PVDF-HFP electrodes demonstrated an initial discharge capacity of 160 mA h gNCM−1 at 0.2C. Notably, these cells showed excellent capacity retention (93.2%) even after 200 cycles. Furthermore, pouch-type NCM/Gr all-solid-state lithium batteries assembled without externally applied pressure exhibited a first-cycle discharge capacity of 169 mA h gNCM−1 at 0.1C, matching the results observed in pellet-type cells (Fig. 9(d)).
Typically, laboratory-scale pellet-type all-solid-state cells are manufactured with or without polymeric binders. These cells are often evaluated under impractically high external pressures. Kwon et al. introduced a scalable approach involving the in situ crosslinking of BR using elemental sulfur (vulcanization) during the wet-slurry fabrication of sheet-type electrodes utilizing sulfide SEs.136 Customized NCM electrodes with vulcanized BR exhibited superior performance compared with those with original BR, even at a low pressure of 2 MPa (first discharge capacities of 165 and 151 mA h g−1, respectively). Notably, NCM/LTO pouch-type full cells, tested without pressure, displayed significant performance enhancement using vulcanized BR (165 vs. 150 mA h g−1 and 153 vs. 121 mA h g−1 at 0.05C and 0.2C, respectively). This protocol demonstrates its feasibility and potential for improving cell performance without unrealistically high pressure, as shown in Fig. 9(e).
An LPSCl solution with EtOH as a base was used to infiltrate sheet-type conventional porous LIB electrodes. These electrodes consist of an active material with PVDF as the binder and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone as the solvent. Composite electrodes were fabricated using a sequential process involving drying and subsequent heat treatment. The LPSCl-infiltrated LCO and Gr electrodes achieved high reversible capacities of 141 mA h g−1 and 364 mA h g−1, respectively, at 0.1C and 30 °C (Fig. 10(a)).139 By controlling the temperature of the SE solution during the infiltration process, we observed high discharge capacities even in electrodes with a high loading level (approximately 17 mg cm−2). This demonstrates the potential for achieving a high energy density through the infiltration process (Fig. 10(b)).142 Moreover, the potential of the infiltration process is not limited to the cathode in LIB systems. This approach can also be effectively extended to Si anodes.140 Also, this infiltration process can be adapted for applications in Na-ion batteries utilizing closo-borate-based electrolytes, particularly Na4(B12H12)(B10H10) (Fig. 10(c)).143
Fig. 10 (a) Schematic of a scalable electrode fabricated by infiltrating traditional LIB electrodes with solution-processable SEs and the charge–discharge profile.138 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 138, Copyright 2017 American Chemical Society. (b) Cross-sectional field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images of NCM622-based composite electrodes infiltrated with LPSCl, along with their respective energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) elemental maps, were obtained. The cathode electrodes were prepared by the SE infiltration process at varying temperatures at room and high (45 °C) temperatures. The loading value of the electrodes was ∼17.92 mg cm−2. Following the cross-sectional cutting the electrodes using a focused ion beam (FIB), the homogeneous distributions of SE elements (representatively sulfur ions) were analysed and the homogeneous distribution of SE within the electrodes was confirmed when infiltrated at 45 °C.141 (c) Schematic of the fabrication of NaCrO2 electrodes infiltrated with the Na4(B12H12)(B10H10) SE by solution processing. Images of the electrodes prepared by slurry coating and their corresponding schematic cross-sectional images before and after infiltration. PVDF are excluded for simplicity. A cross-sectional SEM image of the densified Na4(B12H12)(B10H10)–NaCrO2 infiltrated electrode is also shown.143 (d) Schematic of the infiltration of slurry cast LiCoO2 electrodes with LPGeSI-EtOH solutions.140 Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. 130, Copyright 2020 American Chemical Society. |
Song et al. successfully developed iodine-based lithium argyrodites with LPSI, LPGeSI, and LPSnSI compositions and high Li+-ion conductivity through solution processing.141 Among them, Li6.5P0.5Ge0.5S5I exhibited the highest Li+-ion conductivity of 0.54 mS cm−1 at 30 °C. In addition, they demonstrated the excellent electrochemical performance of LiCoO2 electrodes infiltrated with LPGeSI, showing promising potential for practical applications (Fig. 10(d)).
The mentioned promising technologies are expected to contribute to the future commercialization of ASSB electrodes. Utilizing the existing equipment from LIB roll-to-roll processes offers economic advantages. The simplified process facilitates close contact between the electrode material and the SE, resulting in excellent electrochemical performance with a relatively small amount of SE. However, challenges remain, including performance degradation caused by solvent-related side reactions and the need for process optimization to ensure uniform infiltration. These factors should be considered for optimal results.
Pan et al. reviewed ASSLSBs and outlined five prerequisite conditions for SSEs in ASSLSBs: (1) favorable ionic conductivity of SSEs exceeding 10−4 S cm−1 with low electron conductivity, (2) good lithium-ion transference number, (3) good chemical and electrochemical stabilities when paired with lithium metal anodes and sulfur cathodes, (4) low interfacial resistance, and (5) eco-friendliness and nontoxicity when in contact with both cathodes and anodes.154Fig. 12 shows radar charts displaying the performance of various types of SSEs for ASSLSBs. SSEs can be categorized into three groups: (1) sulfides, (2) oxides, and (3) polymers.
Fig. 12 Comparison of the performance of SSEs with oxide, sulfide, and polymer systems. Reprinted with permission from ref. 153. Copyright 2020 American Chemical Society. |
Sulfide SSEs for ASSLSBs have good ionic conductivity (∼10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature) and are mechanically soft compared with oxide-system SSEs. However, the instability of sulfide-system SSEs against lithium dendrite growth during cycling remains a challenge for the commercialization of ASSLSBs. To address this, Wan et al. synthesized lithophilic and lithiophobic interlayers between Li10GeP2S12 (LGPS) and lithium metal (Fig. 13(a)–(c)).155 Through this approach, they effectively suppressed lithium dendrite growth during cycling by forming a bifunctional LixMg/LiF/polymer lithiophilic/lithiophobic SE interface between the lithium metal anode and LGPS, resulting in the improved cyclability of ASSLSBs (discharge capacity of 400.6 mA h g−1 at the 120th cycle). Yi et al. reported the synthesis of a Li10SnP2S12 SSE through high-energy ball milling and heat treatment (Fig. 13(d)–(f)).156 It exhibits a high ionic conductivity of 3.2 × 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature. S-C-Li10SnP2S12 was used as the cathode and lithium–indium foil as the anode to assemble an electrochemical cell. The S-C-Li10SnP2S12/Li10SnP2S12 SSE/Li–In cell showed a discharge capacity of 1601.7 mA h g−1 at the 1st cycle. After the 50th cycle, the cell delivered a discharge capacity of 1180.3 mA h g−1 with a superior coulombic efficiency of approximately 100% for 50 cycles.
Fig. 13 (a) Illustration of lithiophilic–lithiophobic SSE, (b) cyclability for 120 cycles, and (c) rate-performance at various C-rate conditions.154 Reprinted with permission from ref. 154. Copyright 2021 American Chemical Society. (d) Structure of ASSLSBs with Li10SnP2S12 SSE, (e) crystal structure of Li10SnP2S12, (f) cyclability with coulombic efficiency of the test cell for 50 cycles.156 Reprinted with permission from ref. 156. Copyright 2019 American Chemical Society. (g) Schematic illumination of UV cured ASSLSBs, and (h) folding test of pouch type cell for 25 cycles.157 Reproduced with permission of John Wiley and Sons. |
Oxide SSEs have also been widely studied because of their strong mechanical and chemical stabilities in air, making them suitable for commercializing ASSLSBs. Pervez et al. successfully suppressed lithium dendrite growth during cycling and reduced the interface resistance between the lithium metal anode and the SSE using an LLZO SSE, resulting in improved cyclability.157 Kim et al. synthesized a polymer-based SSE for ASSLSBs using UV curing.158 The UV polymer-based ASSLSBs exhibited good flexibility and a long lifespan, as shown in Fig. 13(g). In addition, they assembled bipolar stack cells for high-voltage ASSLSBs with favorable thermal stability and foldability (Fig. 13(h)). Hybrid SSEs have also been developed using a combination of inorganic and polymeric materials to enhance the electrochemical performance of ASSLSBs. Li et al. reported a thio-LiSICON/polymer (Li3.25Ge0.25P0.75S4/PEO) composite electrolyte that reduced internal resistance between the SSE and electrodes.159 This composite electrolyte resulted in excellent charge and discharge performances, with discharge capacities of 1183 mA h g−1 and 719 mA h g−1 at 0.2 C-rate and 0.5 C-rate, respectively.
Fig. 14 Illustration of (a) solid-state sodium batteries and (b) flexible solid-state sodium batteries. Reprinted with permission from ref. 164. Copyright 2021 American Chemical Society. (c) ASSSIBs prepared with ultrathin graphene layer-NASICON. (d) Na stripping/plating cycling performances with (e) graphene layer-NASICON and (f) conventional NASICON and their surface morphologies. Reprinted with permission from ref. 165. Copyright 2019 American Chemical Society. |
Matios et al. synthesized ASSSIBs using an ultrathin graphene layer and NASICON (G-NASICON) to enhance the interfacial contact between the Na metal anode and the SSE, resulting in Na plating/stripping cycling stability (Fig. 14(c) and (d)).166 In addition, Na dendrite growth was suppressed using a G-NASICON ceramic separator, as shown in Fig. 14(e) and (f). Flexible ASSSIBs were reported by Zhao et al. in 2022 using a flexible carbon cloth and polymer-based SSEs. The flexible ASSSIBs exhibited excellent cyclability with good discharge capacity (1.4 mA h g−1 for 2000 cycles) and capacity retention (77% at 5 C-rate rate). Remarkably, the flexible ASSSIBs pouch cell continued to operate after the cutting test.167
Fig. 15 (a) Various shapes of Mg dendrite growth patterns,170 reprinted with permission from ref. 170. Copyright 2022 American Chemical Society. (b) Schematic illustration of crosslinked polymer based SSE by in situ cross-linking reaction, cycle performance at (c) room temperature and (d) −20 °C.171 Reproduced with permission of John Wiley and Sons. (e) Illustration of ASSMIBs with SSE synthesized using PEO with aqueous-based electrolyte and (f) its cyclability for 900 cycles.172 |
In addition to the factors mentioned in this review, several other considerations must be addressed for the practical application of next-generation batteries in EVs. Many recent studies have focused on showcasing battery performance at high temperatures and maintaining the contact area under high-pressure conditions. However, for practical applications, ASSBs must demonstrate excellent performance at room temperature and low operating pressures, particularly in pouch-cell-type configurations, rather than just in high-pressure press cell types. This poses a significant challenge that requires further research and improvement. Furthermore, advancements in anode technology are essential to ensure the successful commercialization of solid-state batteries. Lithium metal is a leading candidate for ASSB anodes, and research on lithium-free anodes is actively ongoing.174,175 Additionally, research on low-reactivity silicon anodes is in progress, with studies reporting on their exceptional performance using additive-free, electrolyte-free, and void-free silicon wafer electrodes.176
Overall, this comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and industry professionals seeking guidance and solutions for the commercialization of ASSBs. By covering a wide range of topics, from challenges to strategies and alternative applications, this review offers important insights and directions for advancing the field and realizing the full potential of ASSBs.
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