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Title: Evidence for a Solid-Electrolyte Inductive Effect in the Superionic Conductor Li10Ge1–xSnxP2S12

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c10735· OSTI ID:1816470

Strategies to enhance ionic conductivities in solid electrolytes typically focus on the effects of modifying their crystal structures or of tuning mobile-ion stoichiometries. A less-explored approach is to modulate the chemical bonding interactions within a material to promote fast lithium-ion diffusion. Recently, the idea of a solid-electrolyte inductive effect has been proposed, whereby changes in bonding within the solid-electrolyte host framework modify the potential energy landscape for the mobile ions, resulting in an enhanced ionic conductivity. Direct evidence for a solid-electrolyte inductive effect, however, is lacking—in part because of the challenge of quantifying changes in local bonding interactions within a solid-electrolyte host framework. Here, we consider the evidence for a solid-electrolyte inductive effect in the archetypal superionic lithium-ion conductor Li10Ge1–xSnxP2S12. Substituting Ge for Sn weakens the {Ge,Sn}–S bonding interactions and increases the charge density associated with the S2– ions. This charge redistribution modifies the Li+ substructure causing Li+ ions to bind more strongly to the host framework S2– anions, which in turn modulates the Li+ ion potential energy surface, increasing local barriers for Li+ ion diffusion. Each of these effects is consistent with the predictions of the solid-electrolyte inductive effect model. Density functional theory calculations predict that this inductive effect occurs even in the absence of changes to the host framework geometry due to Ge → Sn substitution. These results provide direct evidence in support of a measurable solid–electrolyte inductive effect and demonstrate its application as a practical strategy for tuning ionic conductivities in superionic lithium-ion conductors.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1816470
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 142, Issue 50; ISSN 0002-7863
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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