Atomic Layer Deposited Lithium Silicates as Solid-State Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Batteries

Development of solid-state electrolyte (SSE) thin films is a key toward the fabrication of all -solid-state batteries (ASSBs). However, it is challenging for conventional deposition techniques to deposit uniform and conformal SSE thin films in a well-controlled fashion. In this study, atomic layer deposition (ALD) was used to fabricate lithium silicate thin films as a potential SSE for ASSBs. Lithium silicates thin films were deposited by combining ALD Li2O and SiO2 subcycles using lithium tert-butoxide, tetraethylorthosilane, and H2O as precursors. Uniform and self-limiting growth was achieved at temperatures between 225 and 300 degrees C. X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis disclosed that the as-deposited lithium silicates were composed of SiO4 tetrahedron structure and lithium oxide as the network modifier. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the chemical states of Li in the thin films were the same with that in standard lithium silicate. With one to one subcycle of Li2O and SiO2 the thin films had a composition close to Li4SiO4 whereas one more subcycle of Li2O delivered a higher lithium content. The lithium silicate thin film prepared at 250 degrees C exhibited an ionic conductivity of 1.45X10(-6) S cm(-1) at 373 K. The high ionic conductivity of lithium silicate was due to the higher lithium concentration and lower activation energy.