Water based synthesis of highly conductive Ga: XLi7-3 xLa3Hf2O12garnets with comparable critical current density to analogous GaxLi7-3 xLa3Zr2O12systems

Abstract

Next generation lithium ion batteries are envisaged as those which feature an all solid-state architecture. This will enable the higher energy density storage required to meet the demands of modern society, especially for the growing electric vehicle market. Solid state batteries have, however, proved troublesome to implement commercially due to the lack of a suitable solid-state electrolyte, which needs to be highly conductive, have a low interfacial resistance and a suitably wide electrochemical stability window. Garnet materials are potential contenders for these batteries, demonstrating many of the desired properties, although there remain challenges to overcome. Here we report a facile synthesis of Li7La3Hf2O12 and Ga/AlxLi7-3xLa3Hf2O12 garnets, with the synthesis of Ga0.2Li6.4La3Hf2O12 requiring only dissolution of precursors in water and heating to 700 °C. Ga0.2Li6.4La3Hf2O12 was shown to display a high room temperature conductivity (0.373 mS cm-1 at 28 °C). Moreover, in Li|garnet|Li cells, we observed a comparable critical current density compared to Ga0.2Lai6.4La3Zr2O12, despite a lower density and higher area specific resistance compared to literature values, suggesting Hf systems may be further engineered to deliver additional improvements for use in future solid state batteries. This journal is