Modular PS-Based Frameworks for Superionic Conduction of Monovalent and Multivalent Ions.

Next-generation batteries based on more sustainable working ions could offer improved performance, safety, and capacity over lithium-ion batteries while also decreasing the cost. Development of next-generation battery technology using "beyond-Li" mobile ions, especially multivalent ions, is limited due to a lack of understanding of solid state conduction of these ions. Here, we introduce ligand-coordinated ions in PS-based (M = Mn, Cd) solid host crystals to simultaneously increase the size of the interlayer spacing, through which the ions can migrate, and screen the charge-dense ions.

Water Vapor Induced Superionic Conductivity in ZnPS.

Next-generation batteries based on sustainable multivalent working ions, such as Mg, Ca, or Zn, have the potential to improve the performance, safety, and capacity of current battery systems. Development of such multivalent ion batteries is hindered by a lack of understanding of multivalent ionics in solids, which is crucial for many aspects of battery operation. For instance, multivalent ionic transport was assumed to be correlated with electronic transport; however, we have previously shown that Zn can conduct in electronically insulating ZnPS with a low activation energy of 350 meV, albeit with low ionic conductivity.