Electrical Properties of NASICON-type Structured Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ Solid Electrolyte Prepared by 1,2-Propylene glycol-assisted Sol-gel Method

Lithium-ion conductor Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ with an ultrapure NASICON-type phase is syn-thesized by a 1,2-propylene glycol (1,2-PG)-assisted sol-gel method and characterized by differential thermal analysis-thermo gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning elec-tron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronoamperometry test.Due to the use of 1,2-PG, a homogeneous and light yellow transparent precursor solu-tion is obtained without the precipitation of Ti⁴⁺ and Al³⁺ with PO₄^3-. Well crystallizedLi_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ can be prepared at much lower temperatures from 850 oC to 950 oC within a shorter synthesis time compared with that prepared at a temperature above 1000 oC by a conventional solid-state reaction method. The lithium ionic conductivity of the sintered pellets is up to 0.3 mS/cm at 50 oC with an activation energy as low as 36.6 kJ/mol for the specimen pre-sintered at 700 oC and sintered at 850 oC. The high conductivity, good chemi-cal stability and easy fabrication of the Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ provide a promising candidate as solid electrolyte for all-solid-state Li-ion rechargeable batteries.