Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Li+ conductivities”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2006

Composite Solid Electrolyte Containing Li+- Conducting Fibers

Improved composite solid polymer electrolytes (CSPEs) are being developed for use in lithium-ion power cells. The matrix components of these composites, like those of some prior CSPEs, are high-molecular-weight dielectric polymers [generally based on polyethylene oxide (PEO)]. The filler components of these composites are continuous, highly-Li(+)-conductive, inorganic fibers. PEO-based polymers alone would be suitable for use as solid electrolytes, were it not for the fact that their room-temperature Li(+)-ion conductivities lie in the range between 10(exp -6) and 10(exp -8) S/cm, too low for practical applications. In a prior approach to formulating a CSPE, one utilizes nonconductive nanoscale inorganic filler particles to increase the interfacial stability of the conductive phase. The filler particles also trap some electrolyte impurities. The achievable increase in conductivity is limited by the nonconductive nature of the filler particles.

Appleby, A. John↗
DOE OSTI2025

Scale-Up of Novel Li-Conducting Halide Solid State Battery Electrolyte

LBNL and project partner Saint Gobain (SG) demonstrated scalable processing of halide-based solid state batteries. SG’s innovative halide-based SSE utilized in this project is inherently scalable: it can be compressed into a dense electrolyte sheet at room temperature under moderate pressure, can be processed in dry air, and does not present any safety issues during processing or end use. The halide material forms the dense electrolyte layer, and is dispersed in the thick cathode to form a highly conductive path for Li ions. The halide also comes in contact with various environments and other materials (solvents, binders, processing equipment, etc.) throughout the battery manufacturing process, and must be stable in contact with cathode and anode materials during operation.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mechanism of Contrasting Ionic Conductivities in Li 2 ZrCl 6 via I and Br Substitution

Understanding the complex structural and chemical factors that influence ionic conduction mechanisms is paramount for developing advanced inorganic superionic conductors in all‐solid‐state batteries, particularly halide solid electrolytes with excellent electrochemical oxidative stability and mechanical sinterability. Herein, contrasting ionic conduction behaviors in I − and Br − substituted Li 2 ZrCl 6 are revealed by combining experimental structural analyses and theoretical calculations. The inter‐slab distance along the c ‐axis, which varies with the anion substitution and M2‐M3 site disorder, is a key factor for opening the ab ‐plane conduction and facilitating the overall Li + conduction. Increased M3 site occupancy generally leads to contracted inter‐slab distance. The substantial increase in Li + conductivity upon I substitution (from 0.40 to 0.91 mS cm −1 ) originates from a sufficiently expanded lattice volume owing to its large ionic radii (I − = 2.20 Å), particularly inter‐slab distance that facilitates the ab intra‐plane Li + conduction, which also benefits from decreased M2‐M3 disorder. In contrast, Br (Br − = 1.96 Å) substitution results in insufficiently expanded Li + channels, which, exacerbated by increased M2‐M3 disorder, leads to degradation in Li + conductivity. Implementing I − substituted Li 2 ZrCl 6 resulted in superior electrochemical performance in LiCoO 2 ||Li‐In cells compared to those with an unsubstituted catholyte.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Come for predictions, stay for complexity: synthesis and experimental probing of ionic conductivity in Li 9 B 19 S 33

Lithium thioborates, despite their potential cost-effectiveness and low density, have received considerably less attention as solid electrolytes compared to their thiophosphate counterparts. A primary obstacle to their widespread investigation has been the inherent challenge in synthesizing single-phase materials. Computational studies have predicted several lithium thioborate phases exhibiting high ionic conductivity, with Li 9 B 19 S 33 notably predicted to reach 80 mS cm −1 . However, experimental validation of these theoretical predictions remains absent. This work addresses this gap by detailing a successful synthesis of the previously elusive Li 9 B 19 S 33 phase, facilitated by in situ temperature dependent powder X-ray diffraction. Our findings reveal the peritectic nature of phase formation, necessitating an excess of boron sulfide in the reaction mixture. We further present a comprehensive structural characterization of Li 9 B 19 S 33 utilizing spectroscopic techniques like NMR, FT-IR, and diffuse reflectance and report on its ionic conductivity. Solid-state 6 Li NMR line narrowing experiments revealed an ion mobility activation energy of 0.26 eV whereas activation energies derived from impedance spectroscopy measurements were significantly higher, resulting in lower than theoretically predicted ionic conductivity.

Oppong, Richeal A. [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (Un↗
NASA NTRS2008

Chemical Passivation of Li(exp +)-Conducting Solid Electrolytes

Plates of a solid electrolyte that exhibits high conductivity for positive lithium ions can now be passivated to prevent them from reacting with metallic lithium. Such passivation could enable the construction and operation of high-performance, long-life lithium-based rechargeable electrochemical cells containing metallic lithium anodes. The advantage of this approach, in comparison with a possible alternative approach utilizing lithium-ion graphitic anodes, is that metallic lithium anodes could afford significantly greater energy-storage densities. A major impediment to the development of such cells has been the fact that the available solid electrolytes having the requisite high Li(exp +)-ion conductivity are too highly chemically reactive with metallic lithium to be useful, while those solid electrolytes that do not react excessively with metallic lithium have conductivities too low to be useful. The present passivation method exploits the best features of both extremes of the solid-electrolyte spectrum. The basic idea is to coat a higher-conductivity, higher-reactivity solid electrolyte with a lower-conductivity, lower-reactivity solid electrolyte. One can then safely deposit metallic lithium in contact with the lower-reactivity solid electrolyte without incurring the undesired chemical reactions. The thickness of the lower-reactivity electrolyte must be great enough to afford the desired passivation but not so great as to contribute excessively to the electrical resistance of the cell. The feasibility of this method was demonstrated in experiments on plates of a commercial high-performance solid Li(exp +)- conducting electrolyte. Lithium phosphorous oxynitride (LiPON) was the solid electrolyte used for passivation. LiPON-coated solid-electrolyte plates were found to support electrochemical plating and stripping of Li metal. The electrical resistance contributed by the LiPON layers were found to be small relative to overall cell impedances.

West, William↗
DOE OSTI2025

Critical role of polymer-ceramic ion exchange for high conductivity composite electrolytes

Polymer-ceramic composites offer a path to enhance the transport and mechanical properties of solid electrolytes. However, an in-depth understanding of the extent and role of ion transport along and across polymer-ceramic interfaces in these systems is lacking. We have recently shown that Li-conducting Li 0.11 Na 0.24 K 0.02 La 0.43 TiO 2.82 (LMTO) nanorods can be prepared by a molten flux method, and the addition of 30–50 weight (wt.)% LMTO to a bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide-vinyl ethylene carbonate-based single-ion conducting (SIC) polymer electrolyte leads to a two-fold enhancement in Li-ion conductivity, from 1.4 to 3.0 × 10 −5 S/cm at 30 °C. In the present study, we use NMR methods to identify the Li-ion transport pathways and determine the timescale of chemical exchange between the SIC polymer and LMTO ceramic components. Tracer exchange NMR indicates preferential transport through the polymer or polymer-interfacial regions, and exchange spectroscopy (EXSY) and a new isotope exchange method reveal negligible Li exchange between the SIC polymer and LMTO ceramic up to several days. Here, LMTO nanorods act as a passive filler. Our results further highlight that significant (e.g., 10- or 100-fold) conductivity enhancements in composite electrolytes can only be achieved 1) with ionically-conductive fillers, and 2) when both the ceramic and polymer components actively participate in long-range transport. For this, fast interfacial ion exchange is needed. In conclusion, this leads us to introduce a critical interfacial ion exchange time to evaluate whether a filler actively contributes to conduction in a composite electrolyte, and screen for promising polymer-ceramic pairings to accelerate the development of high conductivity solid electrolytes.

Battery, Solid electrolyte↗
DOE OSTI2024

Vitreous solid electrolyte sheets of Li ion conducting sulfur-based glass and associated structures, cells and methods

A lithium ion-conductive solid electrolyte including a freestanding inorganic vitreous sheet of sulfide-based lithium ion conducting glass is capable of high performance in a lithium metal battery by providing a high degree of lithium ion conductivity while being highly resistant to the initiation and/or propagation of lithium dendrites. Such an electrolyte is also itself manufacturable, and readily adaptable for battery cell and cell component manufacture, in a cost-effective, scalable manner.

Visco, Steven J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Machine-Learning-Guided Insights into Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Conductivity: Are Amorphous Lithium Fluorophosphates the Key?

Despite decades of study, the identity of the dominant Li + -conducting phase within the inorganic SEI of Li-ion batteries remains unresolved. While the mosaic model describes LiF/Li 2 O/Li 2 CO 3 nanocrystallites within a disordered matrix, these crystalline phases inherently offer limited ionic conductivity. Growing evidence suggests that interfaces, grain boundaries, and amorphous phases may instead host the primary fast-ion pathways. Using diffusion-based generative structure prediction and machine-learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs), we investigate lithium difluorophosphate (LiPO 2 F 2 ), a key mixed-anion decomposition product of phosphorus- and fluorine-containing electrolytes. We identify a stable crystalline polymorph and demonstrate that the amorphous counterpart is conductive, with projected room-temperature σ ≈ 0.18 mS cm –1 and E a ≈ 0.40 eV. Here, this enhancement stems from structural disorder flattening the Li site-energy landscape and a low formation energy for Li-interstitial defects, which supplies additional mobile carriers. We propose amorphous mixed-anion Li-P-O-F phases as a promising conducting medium in the SEI, offering a specific target for engineering improved battery interfaces.

Zhong, Peichen [University of California, Berkeley↗
DOE OSTI2025

Improved interfacial li-ion transport in composite polymer electrolytes via surface modification of LLZO

Composite polymer electrolytes that incorporate ceramic fillers in a polymer matrix offer mechanical strength and flexibility as solid electrolytes for lithium metal batteries. However, fast Li + transport between polymer and Li + -conductive filler phases is not a simple achievement due to high barriers for Li + exchange across the interphase. This study demonstrates how modification of Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO) nanofiller surfaces with silane chemistries influences Li + transport at local and global electrolyte scales. Anhydrous reactions covalently link amine-functionalized silanes [(3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES)] to LLZO nanoparticles, which protects LLZO in air. APTES functionalization lowers the poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)-LLZO interphase resistance to half that of unmodified LLZO and increases effective Li + transference number, while insulating Al 2 O 3 completely blocks ion exchange and lowers transference number and conductivity in PEO-lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI)-LLZO composites. Modeling an inner resistive interphase between LLZO and PEO surrounded by an outer conductive interphase explains non-linear conductivity trends. Solid-state 7 Li & 6 Li nuclear magnetic resonance shows Li + only exchanges between PEO-LiTFSI and some LLZO interphase, with no appreciable Li + transport through bulk LLZO. Surface functionalization is a promising path toward lowering the polymer-ceramic interphase resistance. This work demonstrates that local changes in Li + transport affect macroscopic performance, highlighting the intricate relationships between all interfaces in inherently heterogeneous composite polymer electrolytes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Modified Sand’s Time Incorporating Li-Ion Transport Across the SEI: Basis for Understanding Li Dendrite Formation and Li-Metal Battery Electrolyte Selection

Abstract Understanding the initiation of lithium dendrites remains elusive, largely due to the intricate role of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) which forms on the Li surface during electrodeposition. Many studies have utilized the classical Sand’s equation to estimate the onset time when lithium dendrites begin to form. The Sand’s equation provides the time when the cation (Li+) concentration at the electrode-electrolyte interface approaches zero under diffusion-limited conditions in galvanostatic Li electrodeposition. However, recent experimental studies have revealed that the observed lithium dendrite onset time deviates considerably from the Sand’s time. Here, we show that this deviation from classical theory is likely due to the transport of Li+ ions through the SEI - a transport limitation that is much more dominant in controlling dendrite formation. We develop a ‘modified’ Sand's equation, incorporating the SEI layer and the diffusional transport across it to predict Li dendrite onset times. To validate this approach, we conducted Li electrodeposition experiments at various current densities using two distinct organic electrolytes. Analysis of the results demonstrates that the modified Sand's equation provides a more accurate prediction of dendrite onset times, highlighting the importance of incorporating SEI into transport models of Li plating in next-generation rechargeable Li-metal batteries.

Ma, Yuanman (ORCID:0000000200444811)↗
NASA NTRS2004

Chemical stability enhancement of lithium conducting solid electrolyte plates using sputtered LiPON thin film

Sputter deposition of LiPON films directly onto high Li+ conductivity solid electrolyte plates has been investigated as a means to minimize the reactivity of the plates to metallic Li. The LiPON films were shown to effectively passivate the plates in contact with metallic Li, in contrast to unpassivated plates that reacted immediately in contact with Li metal.

LiPON lithium metals electrolyte plates↗
DOE OSTI2025

Novel Zwitterionic Polyurethane-in-Salt Electrolytes with High Ion Conductivity, Elasticity, and Adhesion for High-Performance Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

This study presents a novel polymer-in-salt (PIS) zwitterionic polyurethane-based solid polymer electrolyte (zPU-SPE) that offers high ionic conductivity, strong interaction with electrodes, and excellent mechanical and electrochemical stabilities, making it promising for high-performance all solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). The zPU-SPE exhibits remarkable lithium-ion (Li+) conductivity (3.7 × 10⁻⁴ S cm−1 at 25 °C), enabled by exceptionally high salt loading of up to 90 wt.% (12.6 molar ratio of Li salt to polymer unit) without phase separation. It addresses the limitations of conventional SPEs by combining high ionic conductivity with a Li+ transference number of 0.44, achieved through the incorporation of zwitterionic groups that enhance ion dissociation and transport. The high surface energy (338.4 J m−2) and elasticity ensure excellent adhesion to Li anodes, reducing interfacial resistance and ensuring uniform Li+ flux. When tested in Li||zPU||LiFePO₄ and Li||zPU||S/C cells, the zPU-SPE demonstrated remarkable cycling stability, retaining 76% capacity after 2000 cycles with the LiFePO4 cathode, and achieving 84% capacity retention after 300 cycles with the S/C cathode. Molecular simulations and a range of experimental characterizations confirm the superior structural organization of the zPU matrix, contributing to its outstanding electrochemical performance. The findings strongly suggest that zPU-SPE is a promising candidate for next-generation ASSLBs.

Wang, Kun↗
NASA NTRS2008

NASA Tech Briefs, June 2008

Topics covered include: Charge-Control Unit for Testing Lithium-Ion Cells; Measuring Positions of Objects Using Two or More Cameras; Lidar System for Airborne Measurement of Clouds and Aerosols; Radiation-Insensitive Inverse Majority Gates; Reduced-Order Kalman Filtering for Processing Relative Measurements; Spaceborne Processor Array; Instrumentation System Diagnoses a Thermocouple; Chromatic Modulator for a High-Resolution CCD or APS; Commercial Product Activation Using RFID; Cup Cylindrical Waveguide Antenna; Aerobraking Maneuver (ABM) Report Generator; ABM Drag_Pass Report Generator; Transformation of OODT CAS to Perform Larger Tasks; Visualization Component of Vehicle Health Decision Support System; Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Uplink Analysis Tool; Problem Reporting System; G-Guidance Interface Design for Small Body Mission Simulation; DSN Scheduling Engine; Replacement Sequence of Events Generator; Force-Control Algorithm for Surface Sampling; Tool for Merging Proposals Into DSN Schedules; Micromachined Slits for Imaging Spectrometers; Fabricating Nanodots Using Lift-Off of a Nanopore Template; Making Complex Electrically Conductive Patterns on Cloth; Special Polymer/Carbon Composite Films for Detecting SO2; Nickel-Based Superalloy Resists Embrittlement by Hydrogen; Chemical Passivation of Li+-Conducting Solid Electrolytes; Organic/Inorganic Polymeric Composites for Heat-Transfer Reduction; Composite Cathodes for Dual-Rate Li-Ion Batteries; Improved Descent-Rate Limiting Mechanism; Alignment-Insensitive Lower-Cost Telescope Architecture; Micro-Resistojet for Small Satellites; Using Piezoelectric Devices to Transmit Power through Walls; Miniature Latching Valve; Apparatus for Sampling Surface Contamination; Novel Species of Non-Spore-Forming Bacteria; Chamber for Aerosol Deposition of Bioparticles; Hyperspectral Sun Photometer for Atmospheric Characterization and Vicarious Calibrations; Dynamic Stability and Gravitational Balancing of Multiple Extended Bodies; Simulation of Stochastic Processes by Coupled ODE-PDE; Cluster Inter-Spacecraft Communications; Genetic Algorithm Optimizes Q-LAW Control Parameters; Low-Impact Mating System for Docking Spacecraft; Non-Destructive Evaluation of Materials via Ultraviolet Spectroscopy; Gold-on-Polymer-Based Sensing Films for Detection of Organic and Inorganic Analytes in the Air; and Quantum-Inspired Maximizer.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2026

Interface-induced fast Li+ transport in mixed ionic–electronic conductors

Interfacial instability between lithium metal and solid-state electrolytes limits the performance of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLBs), leading to parasitic reactions, non-uniform Li+ flux, and dendrite growth. Here, we develop a composite interlayer composed of the anti-perovskite Li2OHCl0.75Br0.25 (AP) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to enhance both interfacial stability and ionic transport. The AP–CNT interlayer exhibits enhanced Li+ conductivity arising from interfacial electron transfer from AP to CNTs, which generates a built-in electric field that facilitates Li+ migration. Lithium symmetric cells incorporating this interlayer achieve a high critical current density of 2.4 mA cm−2 at 55 °C. This design integrates chemical robustness with coupled ion–electron transport, offering a generalizable strategy for safe, dendrite-free, and high-performance ASSLBs.

He, Chenche↗
DOE OSTI2026

Tuning Anion Composition and Mobility to Balance Ionic Conductivity and Cation Selectivity in Solid Polymer Electrolytes

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) offer a promising route toward safe and high-performance electrochemical energy storage, yet a fundamental challenge in SPEs involves improving ionic conductivity while maintaining selective cation transport. The hurdle exists because ion transport is typically coupled closely to polymer segmental dynamics. Herein, a glassy single-ion-conducting polymer, poly[lithium sulfonyl(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide methacrylate] (PLiMTFSI), in which the anions were tethered to the polymer, was blended with a flexible polymer, poly(oligo-oxyethylene methyl ether methacrylate) (POEM), and a series of small-molecule lithium salts, in which the anions were untethered [lithium bis(trifluoromethane­sulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiTf), or lithium perchlorate (LiClO 4 )]. The impact of salt anion volume and tethered-to-untethered anion ratio on the ion conduction behavior and thermal properties of blend electrolytes was investigated. In some cases, conductivity could be enhanced through this ternary blend approach. For example, a POEM-based polymer blend containing a bulky salt anion (TFSI⁻) and an equimolar mixture of PLiMTFSI and LiTFSI exhibited a Li + conductivity (4.8×10 -4 S/cm) an order of magnitude higher than that of a comparable POEM / LiTFSI system (6.3×10 -5 S/cm) at 100 °C. This enhancement was attributed to a more than ninefold increase in lithium transference number (0.66 in the ternary blend vs. 0.07 in POEM / LiTFSI). Overall, this study highlights the potential for tuning anion composition and mobility to achieve relatively high ionic conductivities and maintain selective cation transport in SPEs, offering a pathway to enable batteries that tolerate elevated temperatures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗