The structure of LiPON and NaPON glass

Lithium (LiPO3) and sodium (NaPO3) metaphosphate glasses show improved ionic conductivity when some of the oxygen in the phosphate tetrahedron is replaced by nitrogen. As such they are potential solid state electrolytes in battery applications. The goal of this rapid access proposal is to determine the structure of these glasses using neutron diffraction to evaluate the changes in structure that occur as nitrogen replaces oxygen. There are significant changes in the structure of these LiPON and NaPON glasses as nitrogen is added, there are apparently different types of nitrogen present and mixtures of phosphate chains and clusters and different degrees of distortion of the phosphate polyhedra, these strongly influence the dynamics of the glass and the ionic conductivity. The proposed neutron experiment will provide insight into the topology of these technologically interesting glasses.