Structure of lithium alumino-titano-phosphate Li2O-Al2O3-TiO2-P2O5 (LATP) glasses as possible electrolytes for lithium batteries

Li ion technology is the first choice for future battery technology, and a number of advances are being sought. Changing from liquid to solid electrolytes(1) improves safety and sustainability by removing organic volatiles. Introducing glass into the electrolyte lowers the working temperature which reduces energy expenditure and enables more applications. Lithium-based glass-ceramics have potential to be used as solid electrolytes.

This presentation will be about lithium alumino-titano-phosphate (LATP) glasses with potential for Li ion conductivity.(2,3) Interestingly, some LATP glasses have been reported with the analogous composition to “NASICON” materials for superionic conductivity of Na. On the other hand, knowledge of the LATP glasses is better assembled by understanding the effects of adding Al and/or Ti to the base lithium metaphosphate composition.

This talk will present initial work done has been on glass synthesis of LP, LAP, LTP and LATP compositions. This has been accompanied by molecular dynamics modelling with rigid ion potentials, and infrared and Raman spectroscopy to identify Qn units in the phosphate network. In addition, a comprehensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (1D and 2D, 27Al and 31P) is being used to get more details about the environment of network formers. This talk will present the background and initial results on LATP glass structures.