Breakthrough in Solid-State Batteries: Researchers Quantify Interfacial Ion Transport

Strategic Insights -

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made significant progress in the development of solid-state batteries, a crucial step towards increasing the energy storage capacity of electric vehicles and other devices. By designing a new composite model system, researchers have quantified the interfacial ion transport in polymer/ceramic composite electrolytes, a critical component in solid-state batteries. This breakthrough has the potential to enhance the conductivity and performance of solid-state batteries.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have fabricated a three-dimensional LiAlLaZrTaO self-supported porous skeleton as fillers in a composite electrolyte, which enhances interphase conductivity by 33-fold compared to the bulk composite electrolyte.
  • The interphase exhibits a room-temperature conductivity of 2.5 mS cm, making it a promising candidate for solid-state batteries.
  • The researchers attribute the enhancement of interphase conductivity to Lewis acid-base interactions that increase initiator concentration at the interphase, producing short-chain interfacial poly(1,3-dioxolane) with enlarged free volume for rapid Li-ion conduction.
  • By coating the LiAlLaZrTaO skeleton with a stronger Lewis base (LiPSCl), the researchers further optimized interphase conductivity to 12 mS cm.
  • This work establishes fundamental design principles for engineering high-conductivity interphases in polymer/ceramic composite electrolytes.
  • The research was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation.

Statistics:

  • 33-fold increase in interphase conductivity compared to the bulk composite electrolyte.
  • Room-temperature conductivity of 2.5 mS cm in the interphase.
  • Interphase conductivity enhanced to 12 mS cm by coating the LiAlLaZrTaO skeleton with a stronger Lewis base (LiPSCl).
  • Funding for the research included:

+ National Key Research and Development Program of China

+ National Natural Science Foundation of China

+ Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province

+ China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

Sources:

  • "Quantification and Optimization of Interfacial Ion Transport in Polymer/Ceramic Composite Electrolytes for Solid-State Batteries." Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025.
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences. NewsRx. Study Results from Chinese Academy of Sciences Update Understanding of Science (Quantification and Optimization of Interfacial Ion Transport in Polymer/Ceramic Composite Electrolytes for Solid-State Batteries). Chemicals & Chemistry. October 24, 2025; p 5282.