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Picture of the month - March 2021

Here you can find alternating insights into our research group. Enlarged versions of all published pictures can be found here.

 
 
Solid-state batteries have been researched and characterized with greater intensity in recent years due to their better properties compared to lithium-ion batteries, such as higher safety or broader operating temperature and comparable ionic conductivities. To compensate for the higher density of solid electrolytes, using lithium metal as anode material is necessary to obtain good gravimetric and volumetric energy densities. However, lithium metal is very reactive. If electronically conductive products are formed during the reaction of the solid electrolyte with lithium, this electrolyte cannot be in direct contact with lithium, otherwise short circuits may occur.      

In order to investigate the reaction products of the halide solid electrolyte Li3InCl6 with lithium, lithium is applied to the electrolyte by sputter deposition. In situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to investigate the resulting decomposition products. It was found that Li3InCl6 decomposes into In2O3 and indium metal, among others. Since indium metal is electronically conductive, the electrolyte will decompose until either Li3InCl6 or the lithium is depleted, thus the electrolyte cannot be used in direct contact with lithium. (Picture submitted by Luise Riegger)