Fast lithium-ion conductivity in the 'empty-perovskite' n=2 Ruddlesden-Popper-type oxysulphide Y2Ti2S2O5
Open Access
- 21 March 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in Journal of Materials Chemistry A
- Vol. 9 (11), 7068-7084
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d0ta11358a
Abstract
Materials with Wadsley-Roth (W-R) crystallographic shear and bronze-type structures display fast lithium (Li)-ion diffusion and are of interest as anode materials for high-power Li-ion batteries. Here we use density-functional-theory calculations to investigate Y2Ti2S2O5, a Li-ion anode material that shares structural features with W-R phases. Y2Ti2S2O5 is a layered Ruddlesden-Popper-type oxysulphide displaying a reversible capacity of 128 mA h g(-1), with 60% capacity-retention at a charge rate of 20C in micrometer-sized electrode particles. The crystal structure contains an empty central layer of corner-sharing [TiO5S] octahedra, equivalent to a (infinity x infinity x 2) block of the ReO3-like units that form Wadsley-Roth type phases. Intercalated Li+ ions on this plane occupy distorted 'rectangular-planar' sites, and display 2D mobility with single-ion hopping barriers of 64 meV under dilute conditions. The insertion geometry of Li+ is highly frustrated, giving rise to a smooth potential energy surface for Li-hopping and exceptionally low activation barriers. The [TiO5S] units do not experience major distortions or correlated rotations during discharge, due to framework rigidity provided by [Y2S2](2+) rocksalt slabs, meaning the rectangular-planar-like geometry of Li+ is retained across all states of charge. A tetragonal to orthorhombic to tetragonal phase change occurs upon lithiation, with a stable Li+ ordering at x = 1.0 in LixY2Ti2S2O5. Li+-Li+ repulsion has a significant effect on the cation ordering at all Li intercalation levels. Na+ hopping barriers are >1.7 eV, while Mg2+ ions can move with barriers of similar to 607 meV, illustrating the how diffusion behaviour varies for ions of different size and charge within W-R-type frameworks. The exceptionally low activation barriers for Li-hopping and well-defined, rigid 2D diffusion plane makes Y2Ti2S2O5 a valuable model system within which to understand Li+ behaviour in high-rate electrode materials, such as the related Wadsley-Roth phases.Funding Information
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L000202, EP/P020194, EP/R023662/1, EP/R029431)
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