Fabrication of Sub-Micrometer-Thick Solid Electrolyte Membranes of β-Li3PS4 via Tiled Assembly of Nanoscale, Plate-Like Building Blocks

Solid electrolytes represent a critical component in future batteries that provide higher energy and power densities than the current lithium-ion batteries. The potential of using ultrathin films is among the best merits of solid electrolytes for considerably reducing the weight and volume of each battery unit, thereby significantly enhancing the energy density. However, it is challenging to fabricate ultrathin membranes of solid electrolytes using the conventional techniques. Here, a new strategy is reported for fabricating sub-micrometer-thick membranes of beta-Li3PS4 solid electrolytes via tiled assembly of shape-controlled, nanoscale building blocks. This strategy relies on facile, low-cost, solution-based chemistry to create membranes with tunable thicknesses. The ultrathin membranes of beta-Li3PS4 show desirable ionic conductivity and necessary compatibility with metallic lithium anodes. The results of this study also highlight a viable strategy for creating ultrathin, dense solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivities for the next-generation energy storage and conversion systems.