Professor Andy Xueliang Sun's Advanced Materials for Clean Energy Group Professor Andy Xueliang Sun's Advanced Materials for Clean Energy Group Western University Engineering Logo

All-solid-state Batteries

All-solid-state batteries have been regarded as the most promising next-generation batteries for energy storage, especially for electrical vehicle applications. Due to the numerous efforts in the last decades, high energy solid-state battery systems have become available. However, there are still some challenges, such as interface instability, hindering the wide-spread of solid-state batteries. 
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In virtue of atomic/molecular layer deposition and synchrotron radiation techniques, we are dedicated to understanding the scientific problems in solid-state batteries, designing the interface between electrolytes and electrodes at the nanometer scale, and addressing the key challenges of solid-state batteries toward large-scale production. Generally, our research includes:

(1) synthesizing solid-state electrolytes focusing on halides ad sulfides;

(2) engineering the interface between electrolytes and electrodes;

(3) analyzing interface instability by advanced characterizations, such as HRTEM and synchrotron radiation techniques;

(4) fabricating solid-state battery prototypes for real application. 

Selected Publications

  1. Y. Zhao, K. Zheng, X. Sun, Addressing Interfacial Issues in Liquid-based and Solid-State Batteries by Atomic and Molecular Layer Deposition, Joule 2 (2018) 2583-2604. (review)
  2. X. Li, J. Liang, X. Yang, K. Adair, C. Wang, F. Zhao, X. Sun. Progress and Perspectives of Halide-based Lithium Conductors for All-Solid-State Batteries. Energy Environ. Sci., 2020. in press. (review)
  3. X. Li, J. Liang, N. Chen, J. Luo, K. Adair, C. Wang, M. Banis, T-K Sham, L. Zhang, S. Zhao, S. Lu, H. Huang, R. Li, X. Sun, Water‐Mediated Synthesis of a Superionic Halide Solid Electrolyte. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2019, 58，1-7.http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201909805.  (Highlighted by Energist)
  4. X. Li, J. Liang, J. Luo, C. Wang, X. Li, Q. Sun, R. Li, L. Zhang, R. Yang, S. Lu, H. Huang, X. Sun, High-Performance Li-SeSx All-Solid-State Lithium Battery, Adv. Mater, 2019, 1808100. (Highlighted by Nanoer, Materials Views)
  5. J. Liang, X. Li, Y. Zhao, L. Goncharova, G. Wang, K. Adair, C. Wang, R. Li, Y. Zhu, Y. Qian, L. Zhang, R. Yang, S.g Lu, X. Sun, In-Situ Li3PS4 Solid-State Electrolyte Protection Layers for Superior Long Life and High Rate Li-Metal Anodes. Adv. Mater. 2018, 30,1804684.
  6. Y. Sun, Y. Zhao, J. Wang, J. Liang, C. Wang, Q. Sun， X. Lin， K. Adair, J. Luo D. Wang R. Li M. Cai T‐K Sham, X. Sun, Novel Organic “Polyurea” Thin Film for Ultra-Long-life Lithium Metal Anode via Molecular Layer Deposition. Adv. Mater. 2018,1806541,DOI: 10.1002/adma.201806541
  7. X. Li, J. Liang, X. Yang, K. Adair, C. Wang, F. Zhao, X. Sun. Progress and Perspectives of Halide-based Lithium Conductors for All-Solid-State Batteries. Energy Environ. Sci. 2020. in press. (review) 
  8. X. Li, J. Liang, X. Li, C. Wang, J. Luo, R. Li, X. Sun, High-performance all-solid-state Li–Se batteries induced by sulfide electrolytes, Energy Environ. Sci., 2018, 11,2828-2832. DOI: 10.1039/C8EE01621F.
  9. H. Huo, X. Sun. Design of a mixed conductive garnet/Li interface for dendrite-free solid lithium metal batteries. Energy Environ. Sci.,2019,accepted.
  10. F. Zhao, J. Liang, C. Yu, Q. Sun, X. Li, K. Adair, C. Wang, Y. Zhao, S. Zhang, W. Li, S. Deng, R. Li, Y. Huang, H. Huang, L. Zhang, S; Zhao, S; Lu, X. Sun. A Versatile Sn-Substituted Argyrodite Sulfide Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Li Metal Batteries. Adv. Energy Mater. 2020. 1903422.
  11. J.Liang, X. Li, X. Sun. An Air Stable and Dendrite-Free Li Anode for Highly Stable All-solid-state Sulfide-based Li Batteries. Adv. Energy Mater., 2019, 1902125.  (Highlighted by Wei Suan Yun Ping Tai)
  12. H. Huo, Y. Chen, J. Luo, X. Yang, X. Guo, X. Sun. Rational Design of Hierarchical "Ceramic-in-Polymer" and "Polymer-in-Ceramic" Electrolytes for Dendrite-Free Solid-State Batteries. Adv. Energy Mater.,2019, 1804004.doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201804004.
  13. J. Liang, N. Chen, X. Li, X. Li, K. Adair, J. Li, C. Wang, C. Yu, M. Banis, L. Zhang, S. Zhao, S. Lu, H. Huang, R. Li, Y. Huang, X. Sun, Li10Ge(P1-xSbx)2S12 Lithium-Ion Conductors with Enhanced Atmospheric Stability, Chem. Mater. 2020.doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.9b04764.
  14. C. Wang, K. Adair, J. Liang, X.Li, Y. Sun, X. Li, J. Wang, Q. Sun, F. Zhao, X. Lin, R. Li, H. Huang, L. Zhang, R. Yang, S. Lu, X. Sun, Solid-State Plastic Crystal Electrolytes: Effective Protection Interlayers for Sulfide-based All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries. Adv. Funct. Mater.,2019, 1900392. (Highlighted by Yanzhichengli)
  15. X. Li, Z. Ren, M.Banis, S. Deng, Y.Zhao, Q. Sun. C. Wang, X. Yang, W. Li. J. Liang, X. Li, Y. Sun, K. Adair, R. Li, Y. Hu, T-K. Sham, H. Huang, L. Zhang, S, Lu, J. Luo, X. Sun, Unravelling the Chemistry and Microstructure Evolution of a Cathodic Interface in Sulfide-Based All-Solid-State Li-Ion Batteries; ACS Energy Letters, 2019, 4, 2480−2488. （Highlighted by Wei Suan Yun Ping Tai）
  16. C. Wang, Y. Zhao, Q. Sun, X. Li, Y. Liu, J. Liang, X. Li, X. Lin, R. Li, K. Adair, L. Zhang, R. Yang, S. Lu, X. Sun. Stabilizing interface between Li10SnP2S12 and Li metal by molecular layer deposition. Nano Energy.2018. 53, 168–174.
  17. H. Huo, X. Li, Y. Chen, J. Liang, S. Deng, X. Gao, K. Davis, R. Li, X. Guo, Y. Shen, C. Nan, X. Sun, Bifunctional Composite Separator with a Solid-state-battery Strategy for Dendrite-free Lithium Metal Batteries, Energy Storage Materials, 2019, DOI:10.1016/j.ensm.2019.12.022.
  18. C. Wang, Q. Sun, Y. Liu, Y. Zhao, X. Li, X. Lin, M. Banis, M. Li, W. Li, K. Adair, D. Wang, J. Liang, R. Li, L. Zhang, R. Yang, S. Lu, X. Sun. Boosting the performance of lithium batteries with solid-liquid hybrid electrolytes: Interfacial properties and effects of liquid electrolytes. Nano Energy.48 (2018) 35-43.
  19. H. Huo, Y. Chen, N. Zhao, X. Lin, J. Luo, X. Yang, Y. Liu, X. Guo, X. Sun. In-situ formed Li2CO3-free garnet/Li interface by rapid acid treatment for dendrite-free solid-state batteries. Nano Energy, 2019, 61, 119-125.
  20. Y. Liu, Q. Sun, Y. Zhao, B. Wang, P. Kaghazchi, K. Adair, R. Li, C. Zhang, J. Liu, L. Kuo, Y. Hu, T-K Sham, L. Zhang, R. Yang, S. Lu, X. Song, X. Sun. Stabilizing the interface of NASICON solid electrolyte against Li metal with atomic layer deposition. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. (2018), 10 (17), 14641–14648. 
  21. J. Liang, Q. Sun, Y. Zhao, Y. Sun, C. Wang, W. Li, M. Li, D. Wang, X. Li, Y. Liu, K. Adair, R. Li, L. Zhang, R. Yang, S. Lu, H. Huan, X. Sun, Stabilization of all-solid-state Li–S batteries with a polymer-ceramic sandwich electrolyte by atomic layer deposition. J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018,6, 23712-23719. (2018 Journal of Materials Chemistry A HOT Papers).