Plastic crystalline lithium salt with solid-state ionic conductivity and high lithium transport number

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Solid-State Chemistry

Background:

• Solid-state electrolytes are crucial for advanced battery technologies.
• Developing electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and stability is essential.
• Borate-based lithium salts offer potential for solid-state applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the plastic crystallinity of the novel lithium salt [LiB(OCH(2)CH(2)OCH(3))(4)] (1).
• To evaluate the solid-state ionic conductivity of this borate salt.
• To explore the effect of an additive, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), on the electrolyte's performance.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of the lithium borate salt [LiB(OCH(2)CH(2)OCH(3))(4)] (1).
• Measurement of solid-state ionic conductivity using electrochemical techniques.
• Analysis of the influence of LiTFSI addition on ionic conductivity and lithium transport.

Main Results:

• The lithium salt [LiB(OCH(2)CH(2)OCH(3))(4)] (1) exhibits plastic crystallinity.
• The addition of small amounts of LiTFSI dramatically increased the ionic conductivity of the borate electrolyte.
• Enhanced lithium transport numbers were observed with the LiTFSI additive.

Conclusions:

• The plastic crystalline borate salt [LiB(OCH(2)CH(2)OCH(3))(4)] (1) is a promising material for solid-state electrolytes.
• LiTFSI acts as an effective additive to significantly improve ionic conductivity and lithium transport.
• This combination offers a pathway towards high-performance solid-state lithium batteries.