With further progress in improving lithium ion batteries, the focus of research has turned to alternative technologies (next-generation batteries), including all-solid-state-batteries (ASSB), since these systems have the potential to exceed current battery systems in terms of energy density as well as safety concerns.
For commercial use of ASSBs, it is crucial to use highly ionic conductive solid electrolytes while simultaneously ensuring proper interfacial contact and stability. During the last years, very promising sulfur-based candidates have been synthesized and investigated, showing ionic conductivities in the range of 10 mS cm-1 at room temperature.
Unfortunately, it is often neglected to ensure well-defined experimental conditions. Therefore, the resulting values might vary a lot, as it was demonstrated in a recently published joint study. It was shown in an inter-laboratory round-robin test that the resulting conductivity values for the same set of samples (two of those were (Li6PS5Cl = LPSCl) and (Li6PS5I = LPSI) strongly depended on the chosen experimental conditions, devices and procedures. Hence, it would be optimal to have a single device, which enables for a proper sample pre-treatment and which is furthermore able to run such electrochemical investigations under well-defined and (re-)adjusted pressure and temperature conditions (heating and cooling) in a fully automatic way, to ensure reproducible results.
Given this background, in this application note we want to focus on conductivity measurements of the two solid ion conductors mentioned above by use of our CompreDrive HC system.
To cite this application note, please use: “Huber et al., rhd instruments GmbH & Co. KG, Application Note: Determination of the pressure- and temperature-dependent ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes, December 2020”.