Plasma Synthesis of Spherical Crystalline and Amorphous Electrolyte Nanopowders for Solid-State Batteries

AS Westover and AK Kercher and M Kornbluth and M Naguib and MJ Palmer and DA Cullen and NJ Dudney, ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, 12, 11570-11578 (2020).

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b20812

Here, we demonstrate the theory-guided plasma synthesis of high purity nanocrystalline Li3.5Si0.5P0.5O4 and fully amorphous Li2.7Si0.7P0.3O3.17N0.22. The synthesis involves the injection of single or mixed phase precursors directly into a plasma torch. As the material exits the plasma torch, it is quenched into spherical nanocrystalline or amorphous nanopowders. This process has virtually zero Li loss and allows for the inclusion of N, which is not accessible with traditional synthesis methods. We further demonstrate the ability to sinter the crystalline nanopowder into a dense electrolyte membrane at 800 degrees C, well below the traditional 1000 degrees C required for a conventional Li3.5Si0.5P0.5O4 powder.

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