Tradeoff between the Ion Exchange-Induced Residual Stress and Ion Transport in Solid Electrolytes

Rapid filament growth of lithium is limiting the commercialization of solid-state lithium metal anode batteries. Recent work demonstrated that lithium filaments grow into pre-existing or nascent cracks in the solid electrolyte, suggesting that increasing the fracture toughness of the solid electrolytes will inhibit filament penetration. It has been suggested that introducing residual compressive stresses at the surface of the solid electrolyte can provide this additional fracture toughness. One of the ways to induce these residual compressive stresses is by exchanging lithium ions (Li+) with larger isovalent ions such as potassium (K+). On the other hand, incorporation of too much potassium can alter the lithium-ion diffusion pathway and lower the diffusivity, thus limiting the performance of the solid-state electrolyte. Using multiscale modeling methods, we optimize this tradeoff and predict that exchanging 3.4% potassium ions up to a depth twice the grain sizes in Li7La3Zr2O12 solid electrolyte can induce a maximum residual compressive stress of around 1.1 GPa, corresponding to an increase in fracture strength by ∼8 times, while lowering the diffusivity in the ion-exchanged region by a factor of 5 at room temperature. The reduction of lithium diffusivity is due to K+-induced stress and (mainly) blockage of lithium ion pathways in the shallow ion-exchanged layer.