Deep hydration of an Li_7-3xLa₃Zr₂M^III_xO₁₂ solid-state electrolyte material: a case study on Al- and Ga-stabilized...

Single crystals of an Li-stuffed, Al- and Ga-stabilized garnet-type solid-state electrolyte material, Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO), have been analysed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction to determine the pristine structural state immediately after synthesis via ceramic sintering techniques. Hydrothermal treatment at 150 °C for 28 d induces a phase transition in the Al-stabilized compound from the commonly observed cubic Ia-3d structure to the acentric I-43d subtype. Li^I ions at the interstitial octahedrally (4 + 2-fold) coordinated 48e site are most easily extracted and Al^III ions order onto the tetrahedral 12a site. Deep hydration induces a distinct depletion of Li^I at this site, while the second tetrahedral site, 12b, suffers only minor Li^I loss. Charge balance is maintained by the incorporation of H^I, which is bonded to an O atom. Hydration of Ga-stabilized LLZO induces similar effects, with complete depletion of Li^I at the 48e site. The Li^I/H^I exchange not only leads to a distinct increase in the unit-cell size, but also alters some bonding topology, which is discussed here.