A Rapid Synthesis of Amorphous LiTaOCl₄ Solid Electrolytes Through a Two‐Step Reaction Pathway for High‐Rate and Long‐Cycling Lithium Batteries

Abstract

A simplified process to prepare solid electrolytes (SEs) that fulfill long cyclability, fast‐charging performance, and wide‐temperature feasibility in all‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) is important. Here, amorphous LiTaOCl4 (aLTOC) SE is synthesized within only four hours via a two‐step reaction by high‐energy ball milling method, which exhibits high ionic conductivity and excellent interfacial compatibility. A bilayer SE based on aLTOC and sulfide along with corresponding ASSLBs, are constructed. Furthermore, slight evolution of the unusual microstructure in the chloride/sulfur interfacial region is observed and analyzed. Density functional theory calculations show that S tends to displace O sites in TaO2Cl4 octahedra instead of Cl sites. As a result of the enhanced interfacial stability and reduced formation of ionically insulating phases, the assembled ASSLBs achieve superior rate performance and cyclability in a wide temperature range. Notably, the ASSLBs show capacity retention of 84.4% and 77.6% after 2000 and 1000 cycles at current density of 10C at 30 and 60 °C, respectively. Importantly, even under −20 °C, the cell works stably over 1600 cycles with capacity retention of 76.3% at 0.5C. The work pave the way for the massive production of high‐performance amorphous chloride electrolytes and the realization of fast‐charging ASSLBs with long cycle life.