Solution processing approaches for solid electrolytes and electrode materials

Solution processing methods have been used to prepare a solid electrolyte, copper-doped bismuth vanadate, and several different lithium transition metal oxide cathode materials. Dense thin films of the bismuth vanadate were prepared by pyrolysis of metal organic precursors deposited on various oxide substrates. A high degree of crystal orientation was obtained using single crystal MgO substrates. The Pechini process was used to prepare powders of the different materials and a variety of results were obtained. The bismuth vanadate exhibited a second phase of BiVO4 while LiNiO2 and the LiCoxNi1-xO2 solid solution require further efforts at obtaining the proper phase and stoichiometry. The LiCoO2 system formed readily and exhibited good electrochemical performance.