Solid electrolyte technology with rearrangeable bonds for metal and metal-ion batteries
In an embodiment, a metal or metal-ion battery cell, includes anode and cathode electrodes, a separator electrically separating the anode and the cathode, and a solid electrolyte ionically coupling the anode and the cathode, wherein the solid electrolyte comprises a material having one or more rearrangeable chalcogen-metal-hydrogen groups that are configured to transport at least one metal-ion or metal-ion mixture through the solid electrolyte, wherein the solid electrolyte exhibits a melting point below about 350° C. In an example, the solid electrolyte may be produced by mixing different dry metal-ion compositions together, arranging the mixture inside of a mold, and heating the mixture while arranged inside of the mold at least to a melting point (e.g., below about 350° C.) of the mixture so as to produce a material comprising one or more rearrangeable chalcogen-metal-hydrogen groups.
1. A solid electrolyte for a metal or metal-ion battery cell, comprising:
a material having one or more rearrangeable chalcogen-metal-hydrogen groups that are configured to transport at least one metal-ion or metal-ion mixture through the solid electrolyte,
wherein the solid electrolyte exhibits a melting point below about 350° C.
2. The solid electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the one or more rearrangeable chalcogen-metal-hydrogen groups are configured to be rearranged relative to one or more previous arrangements of the at least one metal-ion or metal ion mixture and at least one hydrogen of the respective one or more rearranged chalcogen-metal-hydrogen groups of the material to facilitate the transport of the at least one metal-ion or metal-ion mixture through the solid electrolyte.
3. The solid electrolyte of claim 2 , wherein the one or more rearrangeable chalcogen-metal-hydrogen groups are configured to be rearranged in accordance with a successive rotational sequence of arrangements of the at least one metal-ion or metal ion mixture, and the at least one hydrogen to facilitate the transport of the at least one metal-ion or metal-ion mixture through the solid electrolyte.
4. The solid electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the one or more rearrangeable chalcogen-metal-hydrogen groups comprise a chalcogen and the at least one metal-ion or metal-ion mixture.
5. The solid electrolyte of claim 4 , wherein the chalcogen comprises O, S, a mixture of O and S, a mixture of N, O and S, a mixture of group 5 elements, a mixture of group 3 elements, a mixture of chalcogens, or any combination thereof.
6. The solid electrolyte of claim 4 , wherein the metal-ion comprises Li, Na, K, Mg or Ca.
7. The solid electrolyte of claim 4 , wherein the metal-ion mixture comprises a mixture of the metal ion with one or more other ions.
8. The solid electrolyte of claim 7 , wherein the one or more other ions include Ba 2+ .
9. The solid electrolyte of claim 4 , wherein the metal-ion mixture comprises a mixture of the metal ion with a transition metal or transition metal mixture.
10. The solid electrolyte of claim 9 , wherein the transition metal or transition metal mixture comprises Al 3+ , Ta 3+ , Zr 4+ , Hf 4+ , or a combination thereof.
11. The solid electrolyte of claim 4 , wherein the metal-ion mixture comprises a mixture of the metal ion with a rare-earth or rare-earth-like metal or their mixtures.
12. The solid electrolyte of claim 11 , wherein the rare-earth or rare-earth-like metal is Sc 3+ , Y 3+ , or La 3+ .
13. The solid electrolyte of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte is configured to be introduced into the metal or metal-ion battery cell by melt-infiltration.
14. A method of synthesizing a solid electrolyte, comprising:
providing a first dry metal-ion composition comprising a chalcogen, a metal or metal mixture, and hydrogen;
providing a second dry metal-ion composition comprising a metal halide or a mixture of metal halides;
mixing the first and second dry metal-ion compositions together;
arranging the mixture inside of a mold; and
heating the mixture while arranged inside of the mold at least to a melting point of the mixture so as to produce a material comprising one or more rearrangeable chalcogen-metal-hydrogen groups that are configured to transport at least one metal-ion or metal-ion mixture through the material,
wherein the mixture exhibits a melting point below about 350° C.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the chalcogen comprises O, S, a mixture of O and S, a mixture of a given chalcogen with N, a mixture of the given chalcogen with P, or any combination thereof.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first dry metal-ion composition comprises LiOH, LiSH, LiNH, Bi(OH) 3 , or a combination thereof.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the mold comprises another material that is inert to the mixture.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the another material comprises graphite.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first dry metal-ion composition and/or the second dry metal-ion composition comprise Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, or Ba.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first dry metal-ion composition and/or the second dry metal-ion comprise a mixture of a respective metal ion with one or more other ions.
21. The method of claim 14 , wherein the mixture comprises a metal ion mixed with a transition metal or transition metal mixture.
22. The method of claim 14 , wherein the transition metal or transition metal mixture comprises Al 3+ , Ta 3+ , Zr 4+ , Hf 4+ , or a combination thereof.
23. The method of claim 14 , wherein the mixture comprises a metal ion mixed with a rare-earth metal.
24. The method of claim 14 , wherein the rare-earth metal is Sc, Y or La.
25. The method of claim 14 , wherein the metal halide or mixture of metal halides comprises Cl, F, Br, I or a mixture thereof.
26. The method of claim 14 , wherein the heating heats the mixture to at least about 350° C.