Microstructural impacts on ionic conductivity of oxide solid electrolytes from a combined atomistic-mesoscale approach

Heo, Tae Wook; Grieder, Andrew; Wang, Bo; Wood, Marissa; Hsu, Tim; Akhade, Sneha A.; Wan, Liwen F.; Chen, Long-Qing; Adelstein, Nicole; Wood, Brandon C.

doi:10.1038/s41524-021-00681-8

Title: Microstructural impacts on ionic conductivity of oxide solid electrolytes from a combined atomistic-mesoscale approach

Journal Article · 20 December 2021 · npj Computational Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41524-021-00681-8 · OSTI ID:1836858

; Grieder, Andrew;

;

; Hsu, Tim; Akhade, Sneha A.; Wan, Liwen F.; Chen, Long-Qing;

;

Abstract Although multiple oxide-based solid electrolyte materials with intrinsically high ionic conductivities have emerged, practical processing and synthesis routes introduce grain boundaries and other interfaces that can perturb primary conduction channels. To directly probe these effects, we demonstrate an efficient and general mesoscopic computational method capable of predicting effective ionic conductivity through a complex polycrystalline oxide-based solid electrolyte microstructure without relying on simplified equivalent circuit description. We parameterize the framework for Li _{7- x} La ₃ Zr ₂ O ₁₂ (LLZO) garnet solid electrolyte by combining synthetic microstructures from phase-field simulations with diffusivities from molecular dynamics simulations of ordered and disordered systems. Systematically designed simulations reveal an interdependence between atomistic and mesoscopic microstructural impacts on the effective ionic conductivity of polycrystalline LLZO, quantified by newly defined metrics that characterize the complex ionic transport mechanism. Our results provide fundamental understanding of the physical origins of the reported variability in ionic conductivities based on an extensive analysis of literature data, while simultaneously outlining practical design guidance for achieving desired ionic transport properties based on conditions for which sensitivity to microstructural features is highest. Additional implications of our results are discussed, including a possible connection between ion conduction behavior and dendrite formation.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Vehicle Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1836858

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL-807660; 214; PII: 681

Journal Information:: npj Computational Materials, Journal Name: npj Computational Materials Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 7; ISSN 2057-3960

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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25 ENERGY STORAGE
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Title: Microstructural impacts on ionic conductivity of oxide solid electrolytes from a combined atomistic-mesoscale approach

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