Structure-property relationships in the ionic conductor NaTi2(PS4)3

Basic data for this project

Description

Superionic conductors are materials that provide fast ion conduction similar to liquid electrolytes, and are currently investigated for the use in solid-state batteries. The usage of a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte is thought to provide more safety as solids are much less prone to flammability. However, there is still need for novel ionic conductors and a more in-depth understanding of ionic transport in solids is necessary. The proposal is based on a novel ionic conductor of sodium ions in the solid state, NaTi2(PS4)3, in which the underlying reasons for the ionic conductivity are yet unknown. The hypothesis of this proposal is that structural changes can be induced in this material to gain a better fundamental understanding of the ionic transport, while leading to a material with higher ionic conductivities.