Synthesis of New Lithium Ionic Conductor Thio-LISICON—Lithium Silicon Sulfides System

The new lithium ionic conductors, thio-LISICON (LIthium SuperIonic CONductor), were found in the ternary Li2S–SiS2–Al2S3 and Li2S–SiS2–P2S5 systems. Their structures of new materials, Li4+xSi1−xAlxS4 and Li4−xSi1−xPxS4 were determined by X-ray Rietveld analysis, and the electric and electrochemical properties were studied by electronic conductivity, ac conductivity and cyclic voltammogram measurements. The structure of the host material, Li4SiS4 is related to the γ-Li3PO4-type structure, and when the Li+ interstitials or Li+ vacancies were created by the partial substitutions of Al3+ or P5+ for Si4+, large increases in conductivity occur. The solid solution member x=0.6 in Li4−xSi1−xPxS4 showed high conductivity of 6.4×10–4 S cm−1 at 27°C with negligible electronic conductivity. The new solid solution, Li4−xSi1−xPxS4, also has high electrochemical stability up to ∼5 V vs Li at room temperature. All-solid-state lithium cells were investigated using the Li3.4Si0.4P0.6S4 electrolyte, LiCoO2 cathode and In anode.