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An Atomistic Study of Reactivity in Solid-State Electrolyte Interphase Formation for Li/Li7P3S11

Journal Article · · The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [3]
  1. University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  3. University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Lithium metal batteries offer superior volumetric and gravimetric specific capacities compared to those based on traditional graphite anodes. Although Lithium metal batteries offer superior volumetric and gravimetric specific capacities compared to those based on traditional graphite anodes. Although advancements in solid-state electrolytes address safety concerns, challenges remain, particularly regarding interphase formation in lithium metal anodes. This work presents a computational framework based on high-throughput first-principles density functional theory and machine-learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs) including automated iterative, active learning to enable robust computational exploration of interphase formation between lithium metal anodes and an inorganic solid-state electrolyte. As a demonstration, we apply the framework to a Li/Li7P3S11 interface and find that it accurately identifies the experimentally observed, thermodynamically stable interphase products as well as their overall spatial arrangement within a heterogeneous, amorphous layered structure, with Li2S domains of nanocrystallinity. Our simulations show two stages, a fast and slow diffusion reaction regime, that corroborate the relative phase formation rate of LixP, Li2S, and Li3P. Using the Onsager transport theory, we capture time-dependent ionic diffusion within the reacting interface, including cross-correlation effects. We found that cross-correlation effects between Li–P and P–S ionic motion significantly influence P-ion diffusion, making it highly sensitive to the local environment and potentially leading to “kinetic trapping” of Li–P phases. The passivation of the interface is shown as the ionic fluxes all approach zero, effectively halting interphase growth.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
2998199
Journal Information:
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Journal Name: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C Journal Issue: 36 Vol. 129; ISSN 1932-7455; ISSN 1932-7447
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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