Tape-casted liquid-tight lithium-conductive membranes for advanced lithium batteries

Advanced lithium batteries, including Li–air, Li–sulfur and high-voltage Li-ion systems, attract constantly increasing attention worldwide. Each of these systems have unique problems, yet development of solid electrolyte membrane capable of separating anode and cathode, while being penetrable only for Li+, is crucial for all of them. In this paper, we suggest a new recipe combining glass crystallization and tape-casting techniques for thin lithium-conductive membranes preparation. We show that the powders prepared by grinding glass–ceramics and containing residual traces of glassy phase are beneficial ceramic fillers for tape casting. Such fillers enhance sintering and support the preparation of denser membranes. Taking DTA, dilatometry and SEM data into account, we have optimized the sintering procedure enabling fabrication of liquid-tight 10–100-µm-thin membranes with ionic conductivity reaching 0.22 mS cm−1 at 25 °C. Therefore, we consider such permeable membranes as a viable option for Li+ ions separator between anode and cathode of advanced lithium batteries.