• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.176-183
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• 2018

In this study, a $Li_2ZrO_3$ coated $Li[Ni_{0.8}Co_{0.15}Al_{0.05}]O_2$ (NCA) cathode was applied to an all-solid-state cell employing a sulfide-based solid electrolyte. Sulfide-based solid electrolytes are preferable for all-solid-state cells because of their high ionic conductivity and good softness and elasticity. However, sulfides are very reactive with oxide cathodes, and this reduces the stability of the cathode/electrolyte interface of all-solid-state cells. $Li_2ZrO_3$ is expected to be a suitable coating material for the cathode because it can suppress the undesirable reactions at the cathode/sulfide electrolyte interface because of its good stability and high ionic conductivity. Cells employing $Li_2ZrO_3$ coated NCA showed superior capacity to those employing pristine NCA. Analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy confirmed that the $Li_2ZrO_3$ coating layer suppresses the propagation of S and P into the cathode and the reaction between the cathode and the sulfide solid electrolyte. These results show that $Li_2ZrO_3$ coating is promising for reducing undesirable side reactions at the cathode/electrolyte interface of all-solid-state-cells.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.126-136
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• 2021

The electrochemical performance of all-solid-state cells (ASSCs) based on sulfide electrolytes is critically affected by the undesirable interfacial reactions between oxide cathodes and sulfide electrolytes because of the high reactivity of sulfide electrolytes. Based on the concept that the interfacial reactions are highly dependent on the type of sulfide electrolyte, the electrochemical properties of the ASSCs prepared using three types of sulfide electrolytes were observed and compared. The Li2MoO4-LiI coating layer was also introduced to suppress the interfacial reactions. The cells using argyrodite electrolyte exhibited a higher capacity and Coulombic efficiency than the cells using 75Li2S-22P2S5-3Li2SO4 and Li7P3S11 electrolytes, indicating that the argyrodite electrolyte is less reactive with cathodes than other electrolytes. Moreover, the introduction of Li2MoO4-LiI coating on the cathode surface significantly enhanced the electrochemical performance of ASSCs because of the protection of coating layer. Pulverization of argyrodite electrolyte is also effective in increasing the capacity of cells because the smaller size of electrolyte particles improved the contact stability between the cathode and the sulfide electrolyte. The cyclic performance of cells was also enhanced by pulverized electrolyte, which is also associated with improved contact stability at the cathode/electrolyte. These results show that the introduction of Li2MoO4-LiI coating and the use of pulverized sulfide electrolyte can exhibit a synergic effect of suppressed interfacial reaction by the coating layer and improved contact stability owing to the small particle size of electrolyte.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.411-420
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• 2020

Undesirable interfacial reactions between the cathode and sulfide electrolyte deteriorate the electrochemical performance of all-solid-state cells based on sulfides, presenting a major challenge. Surface modification of cathodes using stable materials has been used as a method for reducing interfacial reactions. In this work, a precursor-based surface modification method using Zr and Mo was applied to a LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ cathode to enhance the interfacial stability between the cathode and sulfide electrolyte. The source ions (Zr and Mo) coated on the precursor-surface diffused into the structure during the heating process, and influenced the structural parameters. This indicated that the coating ions acted as dopants. They also formed a homogenous coating layer, which are expected to be layers of Li-Zr-O or Li-Mo-O, on the surface of the cathode. The composite electrodes containing the surface-modified LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ powders exhibited enhanced electrochemical properties. The impedance value of the cells and the formation of undesirable reaction products on the electrodes were also decreased due to surface modification. These results indicate that the precursor-based surface modification using Zr and Mo is an effective method for suppressing side reactions at the cathode/sulfide electrolyte interface.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.413-418
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• 2018

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSBs) using inorganic sulfide-based solid electrolytes are considered prospective alternatives to existing liquid electrolyte-based batteries owing to benefits such as non-flammability. However, it is difficult to form a favorable solid-solid interface among electrode constituents because all the constituents are solid particles. It is important to form an effective electron conduction network in composite cathode while increasing utilization of active materials and not blocking the lithium ion path, resulting in excellent cell performance. In this study, a mixture of fibrous VGCF and spherical nano-sized Super P was used to improve rate performance by fabricating valid conduction paths in composite cathodes. Then, composite cathodes of ASSBs containing 70% and 80% active materials ($LiNi_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}O_2$) were prepared by a solution-based process to achieve uniform dispersion of the electrode components in the slurry. We investigated the influence of binary carbon additives in the cathode of all-solid-state batteries to improve rate performance by constructing an effective electron conduction network.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.13 no.spc1
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• pp.110-113
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• 2012

Ge-S and Li-Ge-S powders were synthesized via solution-based process in order to employ chalcogenide-based solid electrolyte for use in Li secondary batteries. GeCl4 and thioacetamide in combination result in Ge-S powders of which major crystalline phase becomes GeS2 where the tetragonal and orthorhombic phases coexist after heat treatment. A chemical treatment using NaOH brings about the reduction of chlorine in the powders obtained. However, the heat treatment at 300 ℃ is more effective in minimizing the chlorine content. When lithium chloride is used as the precursor of Li ions, the LiCl powders are agglomerated with an inhomogeneous distribution. When Li2S is used, the Li-Ge-S powders are distributed more uniformly and the orthorhombic GeS2 phase dominates in the powders.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.574-582
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• 2022

A lithium-ion battery exhibits high energy density but has many limitations due to safety issues. Currently, as a solution for this, research on solid state batteries is attracting attention and is actively being conducted. Among the solid electrolytes, sulfide-based solid electrolytes are receiving much attention with high ion conductivity, but there is a limit to commercialization due to the relatively high price of lithium sulfide, which is a precursor material. This study focused on the possibility of relatively inexpensive and light lithium hydride and conducted an experiment on it. In order to analyze the characteristics of LiAlH₄, ion conductivity and thermal stability were measured, and a composites mixed with PVDF, a representative polymer electrolyte, was synthesized to confirm a change in characteristics. And metallurgical changes in the material were performed through XRD, SEM, and BET analysis, and ion conductivity and thermal stability were measured by EIS and LFA methods. As a result, Li₃AlH₆ having ion conductivity higher than LiAlH₄ is formed by the synthesis of composite materials, and thus ion conductivity is slightly improved, but thermal stability is rapidly degraded due to structural irregularity.

• 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 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.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2005

Proton conducting solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membranes have been used in many energy technological applications such as water electolysis, fuel cells, redox-flow battery, and other electrochemical devices. The availability of stable membranes with good electrochemical characteristics as proton conductivity at high temperatures above 80 $^{\circ}C$ and low cost are very important for its applications. However, the presently available perfluorinated ionomers are not applicable because of high manufacturing cost and high temperature use to the decrease in the proton conductivity and mechanical strength. In order to make up for the weak points, the block copolymer (BPSf) of polysulfone and poly (phenylene sulfide sulfone) were synthesized and sulfonated. The electrolyte membranes were prepared with phosphotungstic acid (HPA)/sulfonated BPSf via solution blending. This study would be desirable to investigate the interaction between the HPA and sulfonated polysulfone. The results showed that the characteristics of SPSf/HPA blend membrane was a better than Nafion at high temperature, 100 $^{\circ}C$. These membranes proved to have a high proton conductivity, $6.29{\times}10-2$ S/cm, a water content, 23.9%, and a ion exchange capacity, 1.97 meq./g dry membrane. Moreover, some of the membranes kept their high thermal and mechanical stability.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.95-104
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• 2022

The development of non-flammable all-solid-state batteries (ASSLBs) has become a hot topic due to the known drawbacks of commercial lithium-ion batteries. As the possibility of applying sulfide solid electrolytes (SSEs) for electric vehicle batteries increases, efforts for the low-cost mass-production are actively underway. Until now, most studies have used high-energy mechanical milling, which is easy to control composition and impurities and can reduce the process time. Through this, various SSEs that exceed the Li⁺ conductivity of liquid electrolytes have been reported, and expectations for the realization of ASSLBs are growing. However, the high-energy mechanical milling method has disadvantages in obtaining the same physical properties when mass-produced, and in controlling the particle size or shape, so that physical properties deteriorate during the full process. On the other hand, wet chemical synthesis technology, which has advantages in mass production and low price, is still in the initial exploration stage. In this technology, SSEs are mainly manufactured through producing a particle-type, solution-type, or mixed-type precursor, but a clear understanding of the reaction mechanism hasn't been made yet. In this review, wet chemical synthesis technologies for SSEs are summarized regarding the reaction mechanism between the raw materials in the solvent.