The Impact of Intergrain Phases on the Ionic Conductivity of the LAGP Solid Electrolyte Material Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering.

LiAlGe(PO) (LAGP) is a promising oxide solid electrolyte for all-solid-state batteries due to its excellent air stability, acceptable electrochemical stability window, and cost-effective precursor materials. However, further improvement in the ionic conductivity performance of oxide solid-state electrolytes is hindered by the presence of grain boundaries and their associated morphologies and composition. These key factors thus represent a major obstacle to the improved design of modern oxide based solid-state electrolytes.

liquid transmission electron microscopy reveals self-assembly-driven nucleation in radiolytic synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles in organic media.

We have investigated the early stages of the formation of iron oxide nanoparticles from iron stearate precursors in the presence of sodium stearate in an organic solvent by liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (IL-TEM). Before nucleation, we have evidenced the spontaneous formation of vesicular assemblies made of iron polycation-based precursors sandwiched between stearate layers. Nucleation of iron oxide nanoparticles occurs within the walls of the vesicles, which subsequently collapse upon the consumption of the iron precursors and the growth of the nanoparticles.

In Situ Liquid Electrochemical TEM Investigation of LiMn Ni O Thin Film Cathode for Micro-Battery Applications.

Micro-batteries are attractive miniaturized energy devices for new Internet of Things applications, but the lack of understanding of their degradation process during cycling hinders improving their performance. Here focused ion beam (FIB)-lamella from LiMn Ni O (LMNO) thin-film cathode is in situ cycled in a liquid electrolyte inside an electrochemical transmission electron microscope (TEM) holder to analyze structural and morphology changes upon (de)lithiation processes. A high-quality electrical connection between the platinum (Pt) current collector of FIB-lamella and the microchip's Pt working electrode is established, as confirmed by local two-probe conductivity measurements.

Under Pressure: Mechanochemical Effects on Structure and Ion Conduction in the Sodium-Ion Solid Electrolyte NaPS.

Fast-ion conductors are critical to the development of solid-state batteries. The effects of mechanochemical synthesis that lead to increased ionic conductivity in an archetypical sodium-ion conductor NaPS are not fully understood. We present here a comprehensive analysis based on diffraction (Bragg and pair distribution function), spectroscopy (impedance, Raman, NMR and INS), and simulations aimed at elucidating the synthesis-property relationships in NaPS.