Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
07:20
Screening of Coatings for an All-Solid-State Battery Using In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy
Published on: January 20, 2023
Solid interface electrochemistry between LiCoO2 and solid-state electrolytes
Kangzhe Yu1, Lei Su1, Weijun Tuo1
1International Collaborative Laboratory of 2D Materials for Optoelectronics Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, China.
Science Advances
|August 14, 2026
Summary
A new stable interface for solid-state batteries using LiNbOCl4 enhances LiCoO2 durability. This breakthrough improves ion transport and cycling stability for high-voltage applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Solid-State Batteries
Background:
- Optimizing the cathode/solid electrolyte interphase (CSEI) is crucial for high-voltage durability in LiCoO2 (LCO) all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs).
- Current interfaces often exhibit instability, poor ion transport, and side reactions at high voltages (e.g., 4.6 V) with commercial LCO and Li6PS5Cl (LPSC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct a stable oxyhalide-derived CSEI for ASSBs.
- To identify key interfacial features for high-voltage operation of LCO cathodes.
- To elucidate the mechanism of interfacial stabilization.
Main Methods:
- In situ formation of a CSEI using LiNbOCl4 (LNOC) on LCO/LPSC interfaces.
- Characterization of interfacial properties, including energy barriers, ionic conductivity, and phase transitions.
- Electrochemical testing of ASSBs with the engineered interface.
Main Results:
- An in situ formed CSEI rich in Li-Cl/Nb-O/Nb-O-Cl species was established, lowering the interfacial energy barrier to 0.363 eV.
- The stabilized interface enhanced ionic conductivity, suppressed lattice oxygen activity, and improved Li+ transport.
- LCO|LNOC|LPSC|Li-In ASSBs demonstrated 95.8% capacity retention after 500 cycles at ~1.0 C-rate.
- Pouch cells achieved 90% initial Coulombic efficiency and stable cycling over 50 cycles.
Conclusions:
- The developed oxyhalide-derived CSEI significantly improves the high-voltage durability and cycling stability of LCO-based ASSBs.
- Stabilizing the interface by controlling its composition and properties is key to overcoming limitations in current ASSBs.
- This work provides a pathway for designing robust interfaces for next-generation high-energy-density solid-state batteries.
Related Concept Videos
02:48Ionic Bonding and Electron Transfer
Ions are atoms or molecules bearing an electrical charge. A cation (a positive ion) forms when a neutral atom loses one or more electrons from its valence shell, and an anion (a negative ion) forms when a neutral atom gains one or more electrons in its valence shell. Compounds composed of ions are called ionic compounds (or salts), and their constituent ions are held together by ionic bonds: electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged cations and anions.
04:02Weak Acid Solutions
Few compounds act as strong acids. A far greater number of compounds behave as weak acids and only partially react with water, leaving a large majority of dissolved molecules in their original form and generating a relatively small amount of hydronium ions. Weak acids are commonly encountered in nature, being the substances partly responsible for the tangy taste of citrus fruits, the stinging sensation of insect bites, and the unpleasant smells associated with body odor. A familiar example of a...
02:21Electrolyte and Nonelectrolyte Solutions
Substances that undergo either a physical or a chemical change in solution to yield ions that can conduct electricity are called electrolytes. If a substance yields ions in solution, that is, if the compound undergoes 100% dissociation, then the substance is a strong electrolyte. Complete dissociation is indicated by a single forward arrow. For example, water-soluble ionic compounds like sodium chloride dissociate into sodium cations and chloride anions in aqueous solution.
01:23Theory of Strong Electrolytes
The interionic forces of the strong electrolytes depend on the solvent's dielectric constant, which is the ability of a solvent to store electrical energy, based on its polarizability. and the solution's concentration. In high-dielectric solvents and in dilute solutions, weak electrostatic forces keep ions apart. However, in low-dielectric solvents or concentrated solutions, stronger interionic forces may cause ions to pair up as ionic doublets despite being fully ionized. The theory of strong...
02:55Solubility of Ionic Compounds
Solubility is the measure of the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved in a given quantity of solvent at a given temperature and pressure. Solubility is usually measured in molarity (M) or moles per liter (mol/L). A compound is termed soluble if it dissolves in water.
02:54Molecular and Ionic Solids
Crystalline solids are divided into four types: molecular, ionic, metallic, and covalent network based on the type of constituent units and their interparticle interactions.
Molecular Solids
Molecular crystalline solids, such as ice, sucrose (table sugar), and iodine, are solids that are composed of neutral molecules as their constituent units. These molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds, which...
Molecular Solids
Molecular crystalline solids, such as ice, sucrose (table sugar), and iodine, are solids that are composed of neutral molecules as their constituent units. These molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds, which...