TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates, in general, to electrolyte
materials, and particularly, to an electrolyte material for solid state batteries.
BACKGROUND
5 [0002] Traditional lithium-ion batteries use flammable organic solvents
as liquid electrolytes, which may pose safety risks, such as thermal runaway
at high temperatures. Therefore, solid state batteries have attracted much
attention as an emerging energy storage technology.
[0003] The solid state batteries differ from the lithium ion batteries in a
10 sense that they use solid electrolytes instead of liquid electrolytes. The solid
electrolytes are nonflammable and electrochemically stable material that
consist of a solid matrix with relatively high ionic conductivity. Such
electrolytes and are typically composed of inorganic materials, polymer
materials, and composite materials. The composite materials may be
15 formed by combination of inorganic fillers with polymers. Examples of the
inorganic materials include ceramics, garnet-type oxides, and sulfides and
phosphates. Relative to traditional lithium-ion batteries, the solid state
batteries have various advantages, including better thermal stability, greater
durability, a higher energy density, a wide operating temperature range, and
20 prevention of dendrites formation.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with example implementations of the present
subject matter, an electrolyte material for a solid state battery includes a
precursor mixture formed of Lithium Chloride (LiCl) and Indium Chloride
25 (InCl3) in a ratio of about 2.7:1.1. The precursor mixture includes Lithium
Indium Chloride obtained by dry grinding followed by heating of Lithium
Chloride (LiCl) and Indium Chloride (InCl3) together. The heating is carried
out at a temperature of about 245 °C to 260 °C for a time period of about 3
hours to 7 hours. The particle size of Lithium Indium Chloride is in the range
30 of about 200 nanometers (nm) to about 650 nanometers. The Lithium
2
Indium Chloride is in a form of Li3-3xIn1+xCl6, where the value of ‘x’ is in a
range of about 0.05 to about 0.15.
[0005] In example implementation of the present subject matter, the
electrolyte material may be assembled together with a cathode in the solid
5 state battery to form a catholyte.
[0006] In another example implementation of the present subject matter,
the Lithium Chloride (LiCl) and Indium Chloride (InCl3) may be grinded in a
mill at about 500 rpm for about 25 hours. The mill may be a ball mill. The
ball mill may include balls of about 3 millimeters. The ball to material ratio in
10 the ball mill may be 30:1. The Lithium Indium Chloride may be in the form
of Li2.7In1.1Cl6. The density of the Lithium Indium Chloride may be about 2.97
g/cc. The Lithium Indium Chloride may have ionic conductivity of about 2.04
x 10-3 Scm-1 at 25 °C.
[0007] In yet another example implementation of the present subject
15 matter, a method for manufacturing an electrolyte material includes mixing
an amount of Lithium Chloride (LiCl) and Indium Chloride (InCl3) in a ratio
of about 2.7:1.1 to obtain a precursor mixture. The obtained precursor
mixture is subjected to a mechanical process to obtain a secondary mixture,
where the particle size of the secondary mixture is in the range of about 200
20 nanometers (nm) to about 650 nanometers. The secondary mixture is
heated at a temperature of about 245 °C to 260 °C for a time period of range
about 3 hours to 7 hours to obtain an amount of dry lithium indium chloridebased solid electrolyte material in form of Li3-3xIn1+xCl6, where the value of
‘x’ is in a range of about 0.05 to about 0.15.
25 [0008] In accordance with example implementations of the present
subject matter, the specific stoichiometry of Li3-3xIn1+xCl6 and the controlled
manufacturing process may result in an electrolyte material with improved
ionic conductivity.

I/We Claim:
1. An electrolyte material for a solid state battery, wherein the
electrolyte material comprising:
a precursor mixture (108) formed of Lithium Chloride (LiCl) and
5 Indium Chloride (InCl3) in a ratio of about 2.7:1.1,
wherein the precursor mixture (108) comprises Lithium Indium
Chloride obtained by dry grinding followed by heating of Lithium Chloride
(LiCl) and Indium Chloride (InCl3) together;
wherein the heating is to be carried out at a temperature of about
10 245°C to 260°C for a time period of about 3 hours to 7 hours;
wherein particle size of Lithium Indium Chloride is in the range of
about 200 nanometers (nm) to about 650 nanometers; and
wherein Lithium Indium Chloride is in a form of Li3-3xIn1+xCl6, wherein
value of ‘x’ is in a range of about 0.05 to about 0.15.
15
2. The electrolyte material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrolyte
material is assembled together with a cathode in the solid state battery to
form a catholyte.
20 3. The electrolyte material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Lithium
Chloride (LiCl) and Indium Chloride (InCl3) is grinded in a mill (100) at about
500 rpm for about 25 hours.
4. The electrolyte material as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mill (100)
25 is a ball mill.
5. The electrolyte material as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ball mill
comprises balls of about 3 millimeters.
30 6. The electrolyte material as claimed in claim 5, wherein ball to material
ratio in the ball mill is 30:1.
14
7. The electrolyte material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Lithium
Indium Chloride is in the form of Li2.7In1.1Cl6.
5 8. The electrolyte material as claimed in claim 1, wherein density of the
Lithium Indium Chloride is about 2.97 g/cc.
9. The electrolyte material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Lithium
Indium Chloride has ionic conductivity of about 2.04 x 10-3 Scm-1 at 25°C.
10
10. A method (200) for manufacturing an electrolyte material, the method
(200) comprising:
mixing (202) an amount of Lithium Chloride (LiCl) and Indium
Chloride (InCl3) in a ratio of about 2.7:1.1 to obtain a precursor mixture
15 (108);
subjecting (204) the obtained precursor mixture to a mechanical
process to obtain a secondary mixture, wherein particle size of the
secondary mixture is in the range of about 200 nanometers (nm) to about
650 nanometers; and
20 heating (206) the secondary mixture at a temperature of about 245
°C to 260 °C for a time period of range about 3 hours to 7 hours to obtain
an amount of dry lithium indium chloride-based solid electrolyte material in
form of Li3-3xIn1+xCl6, wherein value of ‘x’ is in a range of about 0.05 to about
0.15.