Journal Article

IMPULSE-2025-00128

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Measuring the buried interphase between solid electrolytes and lithium metal using neutrons

Westover, A. ; Cannavó, A. ; Gilles, R.MLZ* ; Ceccio, G. ; Lavrentiev, V. ; Browning, K. L. ; Vacik, J. ; Browning, J. ; Paul, N.

2025
RSC London ˜[u.a.]œ

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1039/D5TA05758B

Abstract: Interfaces are the key to next-generation high-energy batteries including solid-state Li metal batteries. In solid-state batteries, the buried nature of solid–solid electrolyte–electrode interfaces makes studying them difficult. Neutrons have significant potential to non-destructively probe these buried solid–solid interfaces. This work presents a comparative study using both neutron depth profiling (NDP) and neutron reflectometry (NR) to study a model lithium metal–lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON) solid electrolyte system. In the NDP data, no distinct interphase is observed at the interface. NR shows a difference between electrodeposited, and vapor deposited LiPON–Li interfaces but finds both are gradient interphases that are less than 30 nm thick. Additional simulations of the LiPON–Li2O–Li system demonstrate that NDP has an excellent resolution in the 50 nm–1 μm regime while NR has an ideal resolution from 0.1–200 nm with different sample requirements. Together NDP and NR can provide a complementary understanding of interfaces between Li metal and solid electrolytes across relevant length scales.

Keyword(s): Energy (1st) ; Industrial Application (2nd) ; Materials Science (2nd)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. ADVMAT (ADVMAT)
2. DEVA (DEVA)

Experiment(s):

1. Measurement at external facility

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Engineering, Computing and Technology ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 10 ; JCR ; National-Konsortium ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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