Periodic Reporting for period 1 - 3D-PRESS (3D-PRintable glass-based Electrolytes for all-Solid-State lithium batteries)
Reporting period: 2020-03-02 to 2022-03-01
3D-PRESS represents a cutting edge multidisciplinary approach for the development of reliable and customizable all-solid state 3D ASSLB, especially interesting for micro-power applications such as for the Internet of Things (IoT). The project provided a new family of printable materials increasing the short list of available compositions, especially solid electrolytes, opening the door to the development of a new generation of fully printable all-solid state 3D batteries with complex architectures.
In 3D-PRESS we were able to print Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 (LAGP) with two different techniques: robocasting and stereolitography. The complex geometries obtained allowed an increase in the effective area of the electrolyte directly related to a decrease in the area specific resistance of the component. This will allow the production of the next generation of ASSLB with improved energy density. A peer-reviewed paper reporting the main outcomes of the project has been submitted and will soon be available.
The project was carried out by Gianfranco Sabato, who worked in the Nanoionics and Fuel Cells group at IREC since March 2020 until May 2022, thanks to an IF-MSCA-H2020 fellowship.
As following step, two different 3D printing techniques were considered: Robocasting and Stereolitography. The formulation of ceramic containing pastes were optimized for the two processes, as well as the printing parameters. With both the techniques it was possible to achieve complex LAGP structures with increased interfacial area with the electrodes. Finally the 3D-printed electrolytes were electrochemically characterized by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronopotentiometry (in symmetrical cells Li/LAGP/Li).
The use of 3D printing techniques allowed the fabrication of simple as well as complex architectures, with enhanced contact area with the electrodes. The inks and the printing processes were both optimized in order to reach an accuracy up to ≈100 µm. The printed structures demonstrated an excellent densification after the firing/sintering treatment, as a result of the optimization of the inks formulation, printing process and sintering conditions. Furthermore, ionic conductivity of 3D-printed LAGP electrolyte resulted to be 1.8 10-4 S cm-1 at room temperature, in accordance with the values measured on the same material processed with conventional methods. No detrimental reaction products or degradation phenomena were detected by chemical analyses after the sintering.
A peer-reviewed paper reporting the main outcomes of the project has been submitted and will soon be available. In addition, the collected results were presented in top international conferences on materials science and technology: such as EMRS spring meeting and ICACC22.
The results obtained in 3D-PRESS open the door to a complete new approach for the next generation full ceramic Lithium batteries. Allowing to overcome the limits and drawback related to the use of liquid electrolytes.