News Release

Discovery of promising electrolyte for all-solid-state batteries

Solid electrolyte composed of nanoparticles embedded in an amorphous matrix shows high conductivity, formability, and electrochemical stability

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Osaka Metropolitan University

Solid sodium-ion conducting chloride electrolyte

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Osaka Metropolitan University researchers discovered this solid electrolyte, Na2.25TaCl4.75O1.25, which has the potential to be a suitable material for all-solid-state batteries.

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Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University

Often overlooked, rechargeable batteries play an important part in contemporary life, powering small devices like smartphones to larger ones like electric vehicles. The keys to creating sustainable rechargeable batteries include having them hold their charge longer, giving them a longer life with more charging cycles, and making them safer. Which is why there is so much promise in all-solid-state batteries.

The problem so far is discovering which solid electrolytes offer such potential advantages.

In a step toward that goal, an Osaka Metropolitan University research group led by Assistant Professor Kota Motohashi, Associate Professor Atsushi Sakuda, and Professor Akitoshi Hayashi of the Graduate School of Engineering has developed an electrolyte with high conductivity, formability, and electrochemical stability.

The group achieved high conductivity at room temperature by adding Ta2O5 (tantalum pentoxide) to the previously developed solid electrolyte NaTaCl6, a combination of tantalum chloride and sodium chloride.

The discovered solid electrolyte, Na2.25TaCl4.75O1.25, also has a higher electrochemical stability than conventional chlorides and superior mechanical properties.

“The results of this research are expected to make a significant contribution to the development of composite solid electrolytes, in addition to the glass and crystal solid electrolytes that have been developed to date,” Professor Motohashi suggested. “We will now be focusing on elucidating the ionic conduction mechanism of composite solid electrolytes and further developing materials.”

The findings were published in Chemistry of Materials.

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About OMU 

Established in Osaka as one of the largest public universities in Japan, Osaka Metropolitan University is committed to shaping the future of society through “Convergence of Knowledge” and the promotion of world-class research. For more research news, visit https://www.omu.ac.jp/en/ and follow us on social media: X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.


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