Synthesis of Sulfide Solid Electrolytes through the Liquid Phase: Optimization of the Preparation Conditions

All-solid-state lithium batteries using inorganic sulfide solid electrolytes have good safety properties and high rate capabilities as expected for a next-generation battery. Presently, conventional preparation methods such as mechanical milling and/or solid-phase synthesis need a long time to provide a small amount of the product, and they have difficult in supplying a sufficient amount to meet the demand. Hence, liquid-phase synthesis methods have been developed for large-scale synthesis. However, the ionic conductivity of sulfide solid electrolytes prepared via liquid-phase synthesis is typically lower than that prepared via solid-phase synthesis. In this study, we have controlled three factors: (1) shaking time, (2) annealing temperature, and (3) annealing time. The factors influencing lithium ionic conductivity of Li3PS4 prepared via liquid-phase synthesis were quantitatively evaluated using high-energy X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement coupled with pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. It was revealed from PDF analysis that the amount of Li2S that cannot be detected by Raman spectroscopy or XRD decreased the ionic conductivity. Furthermore, it was revealed that the ionic conductivity of Li3PS4 is dominated by other parameters, such as remaining solvent in the sample and high crystallinity of the sample.