Ionic conduction of glasses and their potential applications

Abstract

Materials with high ionic conductivity are attracting a great deal of attention because they are indispensable for improving the performance of batteries, sensors, and capacitors. Solid electrolytes, in particular, have a potential to compensate for the shortcomings of liquid electrolytes, and are the subject of intense research and development worldwide. One of the big characteristics of glass is its high formability. Here we are focusing on glass-electrolytes. Differences between “superionic conductive glasses” and “ordinary glasses”, as well as the mixed alkali effect will be overviewed. In addition, glasses can retain large residual stress inside that can reach the order of several GPa depending on the cooling conditions. These residual stresses also affect ionic conductivity. Recent results on the application of glass formability and softening fluidity to the formation of interfaces in all-solid-state batteries, and to ion emission from sharpened glasses are reviewed.