Energy is the Objective, Material is the Fundamental, and Nanotechnology is the Approach

This Special Section on Energy,Materials,and Nanotechnology(EMN),Journal of Electronic Science and Technology(JEST),presents a broad range of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research into cutting-edge scientific concepts towards materials synthesis,characterization,and novel technology developments.Climate change and environmental degradation partly stem from the global energy crisis we faced with today and have

From protonation & Li-rich contamination to grain-boundary segregation: Evaluations of solvent-free vs. wet routes on preparing Li_(7)La_(3)Zr_(2)O_(12) solid electrolyte

Garnet-type Li_(7)La_(3)Zr_(2)O_(12)(LLZO) has been recognized as a candidate solid electrolyte for high-safety Lianode based solid-state batteries because of its electro-chemical stability against Li-metal and high ionic conductivity. Solvent(e.g., isopropanol(IPA)) has been commonly applied for preparing LLZO powders and ceramics. However, the deterioration of the proton-exchange between LLZO and IPA/absorbed moisture during the mixing and tailoring route has aroused less attention. In this study, a solvent-free dry milling route was developed for preparing the LLZO powders and ceramics. For orthogonal four categories of samples prepared using solvent-free and IPA-assisted routes in the mixing and tailoring processes, the critical evaluation was conducted on the crystallinity, surficial morphology, and contamination of ascalcinated and as-tailored particles, the cross-sectional microstructure of green and sintered pellets,the morphology and electro-chemical properties of grain boundaries in ceramics, as well as the interfacial resistance and performance of Li anode based symmetric batteries. The wet route introduced Li-rich contaminations(e.g., Li OH·H)_(2)O and Li)_(2)CO)_(3)) onto the surfaces of LLZO particles and Li-Ta-O segregations at the adjacent and triangular grain boundaries. The LLZO solid electrolytes prepared through dry mixing in combination with the dry tailoring route without the use of any solvent were found to the optimal performance. The fundamental material properties in the whole LLZO preparation process were found, which are of guiding significance to the development of LLZO powder and ceramic production craft.