New Li+-ion conductors, Li4 – 2xTi1 –xSxO4, based on the Li4TiO4 structure
Abstract
In the system Li4TiO4–Li2SO4, a wide range of solid solutions, Li4 – 2xSxTi1 –xO4(0 < x < 0.2) with Li4TiO4 structure is formed. The ionic conductivity increases with x and exhibits a maximum (bulk) value of 8.30 × 10–6 S cm–1at 27 °C with an activation energy of 0.51 eV for x= 0.2. The enhancement in conductivity is associated with an increase in concentration of lithium-ion vacancies, created via the mechanism 2Li++ Ti4+⇌ S6+, but is attributable specifically to a decrease in activation energy for conduction. This is the first report of high Li+-ion conductivity in the Li4TiO4structural family.