Moving Beyond Heat and Beat

Abstract

The synthesis of solid electrolytes is often described as the mixing of simple precursors (e.g. Li2CO3, La2O3, etc.), followed by extensive heating and regrinding to yield a single phase solid ion conductor. In this presentation we move beyond the traditional "heat and beat" approach to synthesis to a more nuanced approach more analogous to classic organic synthesis with the controlled and stepwise addition of reagents. We will show this approach produces a 500 fold increase in grain boundary conductivity of perovskite solid electrolytes and the complete synthesis of others in under 15 minutes and 200oC lower reaction temperatures. Through control of reaction energetics reaction selectivity can be enhanced offering unique opportunities to facilitate the properties of solid ion conductors.