Ultrafast crystallization of high-entropy NaSICON superionic conductor for all-solid-state batteries

• Grant number: 23/18168-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Ana Candida Martins Rodrigues
• Grantee: João Vitor Campos
• Supervisor: Vincenzo M. Sglavo
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Universitá degli Studi di Trento, Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/06509-9 - Ionic conductor glass-ceramics sintering with concurrent crystallisation using flash sintering, BP.PD

Abstract

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage due to their high energy density, enhanced safety, and potential for fast charging. This research project aims at developing and characterizing glass-ceramic materials as potential electrolytes and electrodes for SSBs. The study explores new compositions based on high-entropy oxide (HEO) of the NaSICON-structured materials group, prepared with innovative methods based on the glass-ceramics route. Three different crystallization methods will be considered, namely, Conventional Crystallization (CC), Flash Crystallization (FC) and Ultra-fast High-temperature Crystallization (UHC), to tailor the crystalline (micro)structure of the glass-ceramics and maximize their ionic conductivity. The resulting materials will be extensively characterized in density, crystallinity, crystalline and residual amorphous phases, microstructure and electrical properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), impedance spectroscopy (IS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dilatometry, Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) will be fundamentally used for the characterization. The obtained results will provide insights into the effect of composition and crystallization procedure on the properties of glass-ceramics for SSBs application. This research will contribute to developing advanced materials for high-performance SSBs, thus accelerating the progress toward a sustainable and efficient energy storage solution.