Powder Aerosol Deposition as a Method to Produce Garnet‐Type Solid Ceramic Electrolytes: A Study on Electrochemical Film Properties and Industrial Applications
Tobias Nazarenus, Yanyan Sun, Jörg Exner, Jarosław Kita, Ralf Moos
Abstract
Cyclable lithium batteries with a lithium metal anode are of great interest for future mobile and stationary applications due to their high potential energy density. To suppress lithium dendrite formation and growth, solid electrolytes (all‐solid‐state‐batteries) are an alternative for liquid electrolytes. Compared with all other solid electrolytes, the ceramic lithium garnet solid electrolyte Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO) features a high thermal, electrochemical, and chemical stability. Due to its nonflammable nature, it is beneficial for battery cell safety. Despite major research efforts, an industrially applicable process route to produce the ceramic solid electrolyte has not been identified yet. Herein, film fabrication at room temperature of Al 0.2 Li 6.025 La 3 Zr 1.625 Ta 0.375 O 12 (ALLZTO) via powder aerosol deposition (PAD) on a scalable apparatus is investigated. In addition to the description of synthesis and process conditions regarding industrial scalability, the sprayed 30 μm‐thick PAD films are examined optically and electrochemically in half cells and symmetrical cells with lithium metal electrodes. By categorizing the process data and the electrochemical results compared with common reported production methods, a statement about the suitability for the industrial production of ceramic solid electrolytes using PAD is provided.