Li-stuffed garnet electrolytes: structure, ionic conductivity, chemical stability, interface, and applications

Abstract

Current lithium-ion batteries have been widely used in portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, and peak power demand. However, the organic liquid electrolytes used in the lithium-ion battery are flammable and not stable in contact with elemental lithium and at a higher voltage. To eliminate the safety and instability issues, solid-state (ceramic) electrolytes have attracted enormous interest worldwide, owing to their thermal and high voltage stability. Among all the solid-state electrolytes known today, the Li-stuffed garnet is one of the most promising electrolytes due to its physical and chemical properties such as high total Li-ion conductivity at room temperature, chemical stability with elemental lithium and high voltage lithium cathodes, and high electrochemical stability window (6 V vs. Li+/Li). In this short review, we provide an overview of Li-stuffed garnet electrolytes with a focus on their structure, ionic conductivity, transport mechanism, chemical stability, and battery applications.