Combined Experimental and Computational Study of Ce-Doped La3Zr2Li7O12 Garnet Solid-State Electrolyte

Li-containing garnet materials have been attracting considerable interest as potential solid-state electrolytes for Li ion batteries. In such Ln3M2LixO12 (Ln = lanthanide, alkaline earth; M = Zr, Hf, Sn, Nb, Ta, Sb, Bi, Te), the best Li ion conductivity is observed for Li contents, x, just below the maximum 7.0. The decrease in conductivity for x = 7.0 systems is related to Li ordering (cell changes from cubic to tetragonal) to prevent too short Li–Li interactions. In this work, we report a combined experimental and modeling study of Ce4+ doping in La3Zr2Li7O12. We show for the first time that Ce4+ can be doped onto the Zr4+ site in this material. This doping strategy results in a reduction in the tetragonal distortion as well as a lowering of the temperature of the tetragonal–cubic phase transition, attributed to the increase in cell size reducing Li–Li interaction strain. Coupled with these changes, the conductivity shows a significant (1.5 orders of magnitude) improvement. Furthermore, the Ce doping also reduces the interfacial resistance (388 Ω cm2 for Li7La3Z1.75Ce0.25O12) in contact with Li metal, giving additional potential benefits to this doping strategy. The long-term cycling stability of a Li//garnet//Li symmetric cell over 190 h has been demonstrated.