Li-ion transport at the LiFePO4/γ-Li3PO4 interface and its enhancement through surface nitrogen doping

Abstract

The all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are of particular interest because of their higher energy density and improved safety. However, the interfacial instability and resulting high interfacial resistance between the cathode and solid electrolyte (SE) have become the major challenges for the practical application of ASSBs. Herein, we report a stable LiFePO4 cathode/γ-Li3PO4 SE interface and systemically investigate the mechanism of Li-ion transport at the interface and the effects of surface nitrogen doping using first-principles calculations. It is found that delithiation at the LiFePO4/γ-Li3PO4 interface initially occurs at the topmost layer of the LiFePO4 cathode side, and hopping through the interface barrier is a rate-limiting step for Li mobility. Nitrogen doping leads to local structural distortion occurred at the interface, affecting the interfacial Li+ diffusion kinetics. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms in which the different N doping sites alter the Li diffusion barrier are analyzed. We find that, by a rational design, N doping could significantly enhance Li+ diffusion kinetics. Further analysis of the electronic structure of the interface system reveals that the Li3PO4 electrolyte is electrochemically stable against the LiFePO4 cathode in the N-doped interface. Our findings provide a microscopic understanding of the Li+ transport at solid–solid LiFePO4/γ-Li3PO4 interface and suggest that controlling synthesis condition can be critical for enhancing Li+ transport at the N-doped LiFePO4/γ-Li3PO4 interface in an ASSB.