Phys.org January 14, 2022
In solid electrolytes the ionic conductivity is often markedly degraded by the fact that the ions get blocked at the crystallite grains boundaries. An international team of researchers (Spain, Germany, USA – MIT, Japan) has shown how light can be used to lower the barrier height that ions encounter at grain boundaries and enhance the flow of the ions by orders of magnitude by optimizing the system. They demonstrated the effect of light on the movement of oxygen ions through solid electrolyte composed of ceria and gadolinium. According to the researchers the process can be applied to other ceramics systems that conduct different elements. The work could boost the performance of thin lithium battery electrolytes by increasing charging rates. Light can also be finely focused, allowing control of the flow of ions spatially at very precise specified locations…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
General grain boundary characteristics and the impact of UV illumination. Credit: Nature Materials (2022)