Pulsed Laser Deposition and Characterization of Ceramic Battery Thin Film Bi-Layers: Interfacing a Solid State Electrolyte, Lithium Lanthanum Zirconate, with a High Voltage Cathode, Lithium Manganese Oxide

Solid-state batteries have the potential to introduce higher energy densities and add improved safety into our power storage network. However, the electrochemical stability at the interface of a solid state electrolyte and a high voltage cathode remains an inhibitor of this technology. A precisely defined interface of phase pure constituents is needed in order to investigate this interfacial stability. Here, using pulsed laser deposition, we created such an interface by the formation of a thin film bilayer, a solid state electrolyte interfaced with a high voltage cathode. Tantalum doped Lithium Lanthanum Zirconate & Lithium Manganese Oxide bilayers were deposited onto Magnesium Oxide substrates. The resulting thin film bilayer was analyzed using X-ray Diffraction, Raman Spectroscopy, and Cross-Sectional Scanning Electron Microscopy. Here we show the capability to grow densified phase pure thin film bilayers of a solid state electrolyte and a high voltage cathode by pulsed laser deposition. This capability opens avenues towards the interfacial investigation of a precisely defined solid state electrolyte and high voltage cathode.