Synthesis of Fluorine-Doped Lithium Argyrodite Solid Electrolytes for Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

Fluorine Chemistry in Rechargeable Batteries: Challenges, Progress, and Perspectives

The renewable energy industry demands rechargeable batteries that can be manufactured at low cost using abundant resources while offering high energy density, good safety, wide operating temperature windows, and long lifespans. Utilizing fluorine chemistry to redesign battery configurations/components is considered a critical strategy to fulfill these requirements due to the natural abundance, robust bond strength, and extraordinary electronegativity of fluorine and the high free energy of fluoride formation, which enables the fluorinated components with cost effectiveness, nonflammability, and intrinsic stability. In particular, fluorinated materials and electrode|electrolyte interphases have been demonstrated to significantly affect reaction reversibility/kinetics, safety, and temperature tolerance of rechargeable batteries. However, the underlining principles governing material design and the mechanistic insights of interphases at the atomic level have been largely overlooked. This review covers a wide range of topics from the exploration of fluorine-containing electrodes, fluorinated electrolyte constituents, and other fluorinated battery components for metal-ion shuttle batteries to constructing fluoride-ion batteries, dual-ion batteries, and other new chemistries. In doing so, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the structure-property interactions, the features of fluorinated interphases, and cutting-edge techniques for elucidating the role of fluorine chemistry in rechargeable batteries. Further, we present current challenges and promising strategies for employing fluorine chemistry, aiming to advance the electrochemical performance, wide temperature operation, and safety attributes of rechargeable batteries.

Unveiling Solid Electrolyte Interphase Formation at the Molecular Level: Computational Insights into Bare Li-Metal Anode and Li6PS5-xSexCl Argyrodite Solid Electrolyte

The development of high-energy-dense, sustainable all-solid-state batteries faces a major challenge in achieving compatibility between the anode and electrolyte. A promising solution lies in the use of highly ion-conductive solid electrolytes, such as those from the argyrodite family. Previous studies have shown that the ionic conductivity of the argyrodite Li6PS5Cl can be significantly enhanced by partially substituting S with Se. However, there remains a lack of fundamental knowledge regarding the effect of doping on the interfacial stability. In this study, we employ long-scale ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, which allowed us to gain unprecedented insights into the process of solid electrolyte interface (SEI) formation. The study focuses on the stage of nucleation of crystalline products, enabling us to investigate in silico the SEI formation process of Se-substituted Li6PS5Cl. Our results demonstrate that kinetic factors play a crucial role in this process. Importantly, we discovered that selective anionic substitution can accelerate the formation of a stable interface, thus potentially resolving anode-electrolyte compatibility issues.

Role of Interfaces in Solid-State Batteries

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are considered as one of the most promising candidates for the next-generation energy-storage technology, because they simultaneously exhibit high safety, high energy density, and wide operating temperature range. The replacement of liquid electrolytes with solid electrolytes produces numerous solid-solid interfaces within the SSBs. A thorough understanding on the roles of these interfaces is indispensable for the rational performance optimization. In this review, the interface issues in the SSBs, including internal buried interfaces within solid electrolytes and composite electrodes, and planar interfaces between electrodes and solid electrolyte separators or current collectors are discussed. The challenges and future directions on the investigation and optimization of these solid-solid interfaces for the production of the SSBs are also assessed.