• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.105-112
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• 2022

For the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries, it is essential to develop a solid electrolyte that can be operable at room temperature, and it is necessary to manufacture all-solid-state batteries by adopting materials with high ionic conductivity. Therefore, in order to increase the ionic conductivity of the existing oxide-based solid, Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO) doped with heterogeneous elements was used as a filler material (Al and Nb-LLZO). An electrolyte with garnet-type inorganic filler doped was prepared. The binary metal element and the polymer mixture of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(propylene carbonate) (PEO/PPC) (1:1) are uniformly manufactured at a ratio of 1:2.4, The electrochemical performance was tested at room temperature and 60 ℃ to verify room temperature operability of the all-solid-state battery. The prepared composite electrolyte shows improved ionic conductivity derived from co-doping of the binary elements, and the PPC helps to improve the ionic conductivity, thereby increasing the capacity of all-solid-state batteries at room temperature as well as 60 ℃. It was confirmed that the capacity retention rate was improved.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.445-450
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• 2024

The expansion of lithium-ion battery usage beyond portable electronic devices to electric vehicles and energy storage systems is driven by their high energy density and favorable cycle characteristics. Enhancing the stability and performance of these batteries involves exploring solid electrolytes as alternatives to liquid ones. While sulfide-based solid electrolytes have received significant attention for commercialization, research on amorphous-phase glass solid electrolytes in oxide-based systems remains limited. Here, we investigate the glass transition temperatures and sintering behaviors by changing the molecular ratio of Li₂O/B₂O₃ in borate glass comprising Li₂O-B₂O₃-Al₂O₃ system. The glass transition temperature is decreasing as increasing the amount of Li₂O. When we sintered at 450℃, just above the glass transition temperature, the samples did not consolidate well, while the proper sintered samples could be obtained under the higher temperature. We successfully obtained the borate glass ceramics phases by melt-quenching method, and the sintering characteristics are investigated. Future studies could explore optimizing ion conductivity through refining processing conditions, adjusting the glass former-to-modifier ratio, and incorporating additional Li salt to enhance the ionic conductivity.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.282-290
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• 2020

In this article, we report the effect of blended cathode materials on the performance of all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASLBs) with oxide-based organic/inorganic hybrid electrolytes. LiFePO₄ material is good candidates as cathode material in PEO-based solid electrolytes because of their low operating potential of 3.4 V; however, LiFePO₄ suffers from low electric conductivity and low Li ion diffusion rate across the LiFePO₄/FePO₄ interface. Particularly, monoclinic Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ (LVP) is a well-known high-power-density cathode material due to its rapid ionic diffusion properties. Therefore, the structure, cycling stability, and rate performance of the blended LiFePO₄/Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ cathode material in ASLBs with oxidebased inorganic/organic-hybrid electrolytes are investigated by using powder X-ray diffraction analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller sorption experiments, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and galvanostatic measurements.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2024

In this study, the electrochemical properties of garnet-structured all-solid-state battery electrolytes (Li_6.4La₃Zr_1.4Ta_0.6O₁₂, hereafter LLZTO) were assessed by altering the calcination temperature, while maintaining a consistent sintering duration. Among the various heat treatment conditions employed for sample fabrication, the '700_1100' condition, denoting a calcination temperature of 700℃ and a sintering temperature of 1100℃, resulted in the most exceptional ionic conductivity of 4.89 × 10^-4 S/cm and a relative density of 88.72% for the LLZTO material. This is attributed to the low calcination temperature of 700℃, leading to reduced grain size and enhanced cohesiveness, thus resulting in a higher sintered density. In addition, a microstructure similar to the typical sintering characteristics observed in Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) methods was identified in the SEM analysis results under the '700_1100' condition. Consequently, the '700_1100' heat treatment condition was deemed to optimal choice for enhancing ionic conductivity.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.712-718
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• 2016

In this study, we investigate the effect of the$Li_3BO_3$ additive on the densification and ionic conductivity of garnet-type $Li_7La_3Zr_2O_{12}$ solid electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium batteries. We analyze their densification behavior with the addition of $Li_3BO_3$ in the range of 2-10 wt.% by dilatometer measurements and isothermal sintering. Dilatometry analysis reveals that the sintering of $Li_7La_3Zr_2O_{12}-Li_3BO_3$ composites is characterized by two stages, resulting in two peaks, which show a significant dependence on the $Li_3BO_3$ additive content, in the shrinkage rate curves. Sintered density and total ion conductivity of the system increases with increasing $Li_3BO_3$ content. After sintering at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 8 h, the $Li_7La_3Zr_2O_{12}-8$ wt.% $Li_3BO_3$ composite shows a total ionic conductivity of $1.61{\times}10^{-5}Scm^{-1}$, while that of the pure $Li_7La_3Zr_2O_{12}$ is only $5.98{\times}10^{-6}Scm^{-1}$.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.627-632
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• 2023

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in various applications, including electric vehicles and portable electronics, due to their high energy density and long cycle life. The performance of lithium-ion batteries can be improved by using solid electrolytes, in terms of higher safety, stability, and energy density. Li_1.5Al_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ (LATP) is a promising solid electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium batteries due to its high ionic conductivity and excellent stability. However, the ionic conductivity of LATP needs to be improved for commercializing all-solid-state lithium battery systems. In this study, we investigate the microstructures and ionic conductivities of LATP by incorporating B₂O₃ glass ceramics. The smaller grain size and narrow size distribution were obtained after the introduction of B₂O₃ in LATP, which is attributed to the B₂O₃ glass on grain boundaries of LATP. Moreover, higher ionic conductivity can be obtained after B₂O₃ incorporation, where the optimal composition is 0.1 wt% B₂O₃ incorporated LATP and the ionic conductivity reaches 8.8×10^-5 S/cm, more than 3 times higher value than pristine LATP. More research could be followed for having higher ionic conductivity and density by optimizing the processing conditions. This facile approach for establishing higher ionic conductivity in LATP solid electrolytes could accelerate the commercialization of all-solid-state lithium batteries.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.429-434
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• 2022

There is ongoing research to develop lithium ion batteries as sustainable energy sources. Because of safety problems, solid state batteries, where electrolytes are replaced with solids, are attracting attention. Sulfide electrolytes, with a high ion conductivity of 10^-3 S/cm or more, have the highest potential performance, but the price of the main materials is high. This study investigated lithium hydride materials, which offer economic advantages and low density. To analyze the change in ion conductivity in polymer electrolyte composites, PVDF, a representative polymer substance was used at a certain mass ratio. XRD, SEM, and BET were performed for metallurgical analyses of the materials, and ion conductivity was calculated through the EIS method. In addition, thermal conductivity was measured to analyze thermal stability, which is a major parameter of lithium ion batteries. As a result, the ion conductivity of LiH was found to be 10^-6 S/cm, and the ion conductivity further decreased as the PVDF ratio increased when the composite was formed.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.485-491
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• 2022

Lithium lanthanum titanium oxide (LLTO) is a promising ceramic electrolyte because of its high ionic conductivity at room temperature, low electrical conductivity, and outstanding physical properties. Several routes for the synthesis of bulk LLTO are known, in particular, solid-state synthesis and sol-gel method. However, the extremely low ionic conductivity of LLTO at grain boundaries is one of the major problems for practical applications. To diminish the grain boundary effect, the structure of LLTO is tuned to nanoscale morphology with structures of different dimensionalities (0D spheres, and 1D tubes and wires); this strategy has great potential to enhance the ion conduction by intensifying Li diffusion and minimizing the grain boundary resistance. Therefore, in this work, 0D spherical LLTO is synthesized using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP). The USP method primarily yields spherical particles from the droplets generated by ultrasonic waves passed through several heating zones. LLTO is synthesized using USP, and the effects of each precursor and their mechanisms as well as synthesis parameters are analyzed and discussed to optimize the synthesis. The phase structure of the obtained materials is analyzed using X-ray diffraction, and their morphology and particle size are analyzed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.243-248
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• 2018

All solid state thin film batteries with two types of cell structure, Pt / $LiCoO_2$ / LiPON / Cu and Pt / $LiCoO_2$ / LiPON / $LiCoO_2$ / Cu, are prepared and their electrochemical performances are investigated to evaluate the effect of $LiCoO_2$ interlayer at the interface of LiPON / Cu. The crystallinity of the deposited $LiCoO_2$ thin films is confirmed by XRD and Raman analysis. The crystalline $LiCoO_2$ cathode thin film is obtained and $LiCoO_2$ as the interlayer appears to be amorphous. The surface morphology of Cu current collector after cycling of the batteries is observed by AFM. The presence of a 10 nm-thick layer of $LiCoO_2$ at the interface of LiPON / Cu enhances the interfacial adhesion and reduces the interfacial resistance. As a result, Li plating / stripping at the interface of LiPON / Cu during charge/discharge reaction takes place more uniformly on Cu current collector, while without the interlayer of $LiCoO_2$ at the interface of LiPON / Cu, the Li plating / stripping is localized on current collector. The thin film batteries with the interlayer of $LiCoO_2$ at the interface of LiPON / Cu exhibits enhanced initial coulombic efficiency, reversible capacity and cycling stability. The thickness of the anode current collector Cu also appears to be crucial for electrochemical performances of all solid state thin film batteries.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.407-415
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• 2022

Surface coating of cathodes is an essential process for all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) based on sulfide electrolytes as it efficiently suppresses interfacial reactions between oxide cathodes and sulfide electrolytes. Based on computational calculations, Li₃PO₄ has been suggested as a promising coating material because of its higher stability with sulfides and its optimal ionic conductivity. However, it has hardly been applied to the coating of ASSBs due to the absence of a suitable coating process, including the selection of source material that is compatible with ASSBs. In this study, polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and (NH₄)₂HPO₄ were used as source materials for preparing a Li₃PO₄ coating for ASSBs, and the properties of the coating layer and coated cathodes were compared. The Li₃PO₄ layer fabricated using the (NH₄)₂HPO₄ source was rough and inhomogeneous, which is not suitable for the protection of the cathodes. Moreover, the water-based coating solution with the (NH₄)₂HPO₄ source can deteriorate the electrochemical performance of high-Ni cathodes that are vulnerable to water. In contrast, when an alcohol-based solvent was used, the PPA source enabled the formation of a thin and homogeneous coating layer on the cathode surface. As a consequence, the ASSBs containing the Li₃PO₄-coated cathode prepared by the PPA source exhibited significantly enhanced discharge and rate capabilities compared to ASSBs containing a pristine cathode or Li₃PO₄-coated cathode prepared by the (NH₄)₂HPO₄ source.