Executive Summary : | With the expanding market of vehicles based on electricity, there is increase in the demand for electrochemical energy production and storage devices. Electrochemical energy storage devices can replace the traditional fuels (fossil fuel) and remarkably lower the emission of gases responsible for the greenhouse problem. Among the many electrochemical energy storage systems, Li-ion batteries have been studied widely because of their light weight, low-self discharge rate, long cycle life and high energy density. Although, Li-ion batteries are best among many electrochemical energy storage systems, still facing challenges such as safety problems, under performance at high temperature and insufficient energy density. Currently Li-ion batteries are produced by using organic solvents as electrolytes along with inorganic salts (Eg. LiPF6 in organic carbonates), they may cause fire and explosion when vehicles colloid or batteries are overcharged. Another problem associated with the current batteries is, use of organic electrolyte limits the use of Lithium metal (problem of uncontrollable dendrite formation) as anode which shows better energy density when compare to currently used graphite anode batteries. Since, current Li-batteries barely meet the market needs, all solid-state batteries gaining attention of researchers around the world and also battery production industry. Solid state batteries are produced by using solid state electrolyte (SSE). Solid state electrolytes can offer advantages such as (1) Safety-SSEs are nonvolatile and nonflamable (2) Elevated thermal stability of SSEs makes them to use in the wide temperature range, specially at high temperatures (3) Wide electrochemical widow (4) Better Youg’s modules prevents the penetration of dendrite, this property can help to prolong the life of high energy density Li-metal batteries. Hence, high performing SSEs are required for the production of high energy density Li-batteries. In this project PI aims to synthesize new solid-state electrolytes (Eg. Garnet and perovskite type oxides, NASICON and other polycationic framework materials) by using methods such as hydrothermal, solvothermal, sol-gel and high temperature ceramic routes. The synthesized materials are characterized by PXRD (to understand the structure), SEM (for surface morphology), EDX (to determine the composition). |