Chloride electrolytes for solid state lithium ion batteries and methods therefor
Described herein are devices and methods for generating new, lower-cost chloride solid electrolytes useful for lithium ion batteries. The devices replace higher cost, difficult to acquire elements such as Sc with less expensive, readily available elements such as Mg and Zr to form a highly conductive spinel structure. These materials may have a high ionic conductivity on the order of 0.23 mS/cm.
1 . A device comprising:
a solid electrolyte defined by the formula Li 2-z Mg 1-2z/3 Zr z Cl 4 ;
wherein z is selected from the range of 0.01 to 0.66.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein z is about 0.4.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte comprises a phase having a spinel structure.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the phase having a spinel structure is present in an amount greater than or equal to 80% of the mass of the solid electrolyte.
5 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the phase having a spinel structure is present in an amount greater than or equal to 95% of the mass of the solid electrolyte.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte has an ionic conductivity greater than or equal to 0.05 mS/cm.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises:
an anode; and
a cathode;
wherein the solid electrolyte is positioned between the anode and cathode.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the device is a lithium ion battery.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the solid electrolyte is a catholyte in an all solid state lithium ion battery.
10 . A method comprising:
providing a plurality of compounds comprising LiCl, MgCl 2 , and ZrCl 4 ; and
milling the plurality of compounds to form a solid electrolyte defined by the formula Li 2-z Mg 1-2z/3 Zr z Cl 4 ;
wherein z is selected from the range of 0.01 to 0.66.
11 . The method of claim 10 , The device of claim 1 , wherein z is about 0.4.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the solid electrolyte comprises a phase having a spinel structure.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the phase having a spinel structure is present in an amount greater than or equal to 80% of the mass of the solid electrolyte.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the phase having a spinel structure is present in an amount greater than or equal to 95% of the mass of the solid electrolyte.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the solid electrolyte has an ionic conductivity greater than or equal to 0.05 mS/cm.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of milling is ball milling.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of ball milling is performed for about 10 min at about 500 rpm for about 50 cycles.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the solid electrolyte is a catholyte in an all solid state lithium ion battery.