Superionic lithium transport has been a major breakthrough in the field of energy storage, and a recent study published in Science has shed light on a novel approach to achieving this phenomenon. The research, conducted by a team of scientists led by Guopeng Han, Andrij Vasylennko, Luke M. Daniels, Chris M. Collins, and Matthew J. Rosseinsky, explores the concept of superionic lithium transport via multiple coordination environments defined by two-anion packing.
The traditional approach to solid electrolyte design has been centered around structures with single coordination geometries. However, the study introduces a new perspective by focusing on the use of two anions to build a pathway for three-dimensional superionic lithium ion conductivity. The team designed electrolytes based on a Li7Si2S7I chemistry, which exhibits ion arrangements similar to those in intermetallic systems.
This innovative approach led to the creation of a pure lithium ion conductor, Li7Si2S7I, characterized by an ordering of sulphide and iodide that combines elements of hexagonal and cubic close-packing, similar to the structure of NiZr. The resulting diverse network of lithium positions with distinct geometries and anion coordination chemistries offers low barriers to transport, opening up a large structural space for high cation conductivity.
The study’s findings have significant implications for the development of advanced energy storage materials. By exploiting the greater structural diversity of binary intermetallics, the research has paved the way for a new class of solid electrolytes with enhanced lithium ion conductivity. This breakthrough could potentially contribute to the advancement of battery technology and the realization of high-performance energy storage systems.
For more details on this groundbreaking research, the full article is available in Science, providing comprehensive insights into the materials and methods, supplementary text, figures, tables, and references related to the study.
