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ISU researchers have developed a compound to replace the liquid electrolyte that is used in lithium ion batteries with a safer solid matrix for use in a sodium ion battery alternative.

Lithium ion batteries have become ubiquitous in our society, powering almost all cell phones, laptops, and electric and hybrid cars. The high power density and low weight has made these batteries attractive despite questionable stability. When these batteries fail, the results can be spectacular, including highly publicized catastrophic failures that result in fire. A safer more stable battery, that is capable of similar performance to current lithium ion battery technology, is therefore desirable. One solution for increasing stability is to replace the liquid electrolyte with a solid medium. Two commonly studied solid electrolyte types are all-oxide or all-sulfide. Typically, all-oxide solid electrolytes are poor conductors, however they can be very stable. In contrast, all-sulfide electrolytes are highly conductive but chemically unstable and therefore expensive to manufacture. ISU researchers have developed a family of compounds to be used as a solid electrolyte for sodium batteries that utilizes a mixture of oxides and sulfides, doped with nitrogen, that combines the advantages of the all-oxide and all-sulfide alternatives. The resulting compounds provide a safe and high performing solid matrix.

• High conductivity

• Stable

• Low cost of production

Batteries, energy storage