Controllable and Reversible Soft Shorts within Solid-State Lithium-Ion Conductors for Potential Memristor Applications

Soft shorts are normally considered as the “invisible killers” of lithium-ion batteries because they are unpredictable, uncontrollable, and irreversible. In this work, a flexible and effective strategy based on femtosecond laser etching is proposed to construct usable soft shorts within solid-state lithium-ion conductors via microstructure design and electric field modulation. In the Li 6.5 La 3 Zr 1.5 Ta 0.5 O 12 model system, the composition of the ionic and electronic transport can be effectively modulated by the assembly pressure. The underlying mechanism governing the microstructure-induced soft shorts involves pressure-driven microcracks propagating along grain boundaries, enabling lithium metal to creep and form conductive filaments. Inspired by biological synapses, a model memristor is designed based on the microstructure-induced soft shorts and demonstrated with excellent controllability and stability. These findings open potential opportunities for the development of next-generation neuromorphic devices.