Scale Up of The Synthesis and Processing of Halide-Based Solid Electrolytes for Li Metal Batteries

Rare-earth alkali halides (REAHs) have been shown to have high ionic conductivity and are promising electrolytes for all solid state lithium batteries. Li3InCl6 and Li3YCl6 have been shown to adopt a layered structure with reported ionic conductvitys approaching 2 mS/cm2. A significant advantage these materials have over other solid electrolytes, such as garnets, is their low synthesis and processing cost. As an example, we will describe how Li3InCl6 and Li3YCl6 can be synthesized from concentrated aqueous solution through controlled dehydration. We probed the reactions by combining in situ neutron diffraction, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and <i>in situ</i> impedance spectroscopy. This presentation provides a pathway for the direct synthesis and processing of REAHs from concentrated aqueous solutions and we will discuss making thin membranes through dehydration and other casting methods.<br/><br/>The US Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Vehicles Technologies Office provided funding for this work.