Synthesis and characterization of LAGP-glass-ceramics-based composite solid polymer electrolyte for solid-state Li-ion battery application

Abstract Solid State Electrolytes (SSEs) are the future alternatives of the present conventional liquid electrolytes in terms of safety, high temperature stability and also good electrochemical performance. Glass (G), based on Lithium Aluminium Germanium Phosphate (LAGP) was prepared and converted into glass-ceramics (GC) by optimized heating schedule. The crystalline LAGP has Na Super Ionic CONductor (NASICON) type unit cell where the lithium ions hop between two different positions providing long range ionic motion. To improve the inter-electrode surface resistance and cell performance, Composite Solid Electrolyte (CSE) was prepared with poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexaflurophoaphate) (P(VDF-HFP)), 20wt% LAGP, Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) and 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-imide (EMITFSI). X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the formation of the NASICON phase in LAGP GC and the amorphous nature of the CSE. NMR studies confirm formation of the Ge/AlO6 octahedra and PO4 tetrahedra inside the crystal. 7Li NMR also confirmed two different Lithium sites in LAGP crystal. The ionic conductivity values of CSE and LAGP GC are (4.49±0.31) × 10−3Scm−1 and (2.70±0.04) × 10−4Scm−1, respectively. The thermal stability of the prepared CSE is tested upto 315°C without any degradation. Two cells (Cell-I & Cell-II) were fabricated using the LAGP GC and CSE respectively. Cell-II shows the specific discharge capacity of 151mAhg−1 at 50th cycle which is higher as compared to Cell-I (129mAhg−1) when tested at the C-rate of 0.05C.