From High-Entropy Solid Electrolytes to Batteries

Solid-state batteries represent a promising next-generation energy storage technology, with the prospect of delivering higher energy densities and exhibiting better safety characteristics than conventional liquid-electrolyte-based batteries, but are currently limited by short cycle life, among others because of electro-chemo-mechanical degradation. Especially superionic lithium thiophosphate solid electrolytes are being considered for use in bulk-type solid-state batteries. Nonetheless, many of the solid electrolytes reported in the literature tend to lack in room-temperature ionic conductivity and stability; thus, the continuous search for materials with improved properties. High-entropy conductors may offer a potential solution by enabling tailorable properties through compositional design. However, the correlation between configurational entropy and ion mobility is largely unexplored.<br/>In this presentation, I will show recent findings on the effect that configurational entropy has on charge transport in chemically complex lithium thiophosphates for solid-state battery applications. In addition, I will demonstrate that performance improvements of high-entropy hexacyanoferrate cathodes are mainly due to suppression of phase transitions and gas evolution during cycling.