Review of recent progress in sintering of solid-state batteries:Application and modelling

The increasing demand for advanced energy storage solutions has fuelled an increasing need for cutting-edge technologies that can provide high battery capacity, safety, and environmental sustainability. This comprehensive review article embarks on an exploration of the latest advances in solid-state batteries, offering a panoramic view of their evolution. Another pivotal aspect of this review is an in-depth analysis of recent advancements in battery materials sintering techniques, with a particular focus on cold sintering and flash sintering. By delving into the fundamental principles of sintering, we illustrate the substantial potential of these innovative methods in shaping the future of energy storage technologies. These techniques are instrumental in streamlining the manufacturing process of solid-state batteries, making them more efficient and sustainable. Additionally, the review extends its scope to encompass the modelling of these sintering processes, emphasising their helpful role in the sintering of solid-state batteries. Furthermore, the article ventures into the modelling of solid-state batteries, introducing the powerful tool of machine learning to enhance the understanding and optimisation of these advanced energy storage systems. This synergy between modelling and machine learning promises to expedite the development of robust and cost-effective solid-state batteries

Effect of Chemical Composition on Microstructure and Hydrophobic Properties of SiO2-TiO2@PDMS Coating

We report a simple and practical approach for the easy production of superhydrophobic coatings based on TiO2-SiO2@PDMS. In this study, we used tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) as a precursor for the sol-gel synthesis of SiO2 and TiO2, respectively. Afterward, the surface of nanoparticles was modified by 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) before being combined with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The hydrophobic property of coatings was evaluated by static contact angle measurements. The phase composition and structural evolution of the coatings were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. It was shown that changing the weight ratio of the solution composition of the coating can affect the hydrophobicity of the surface. The best sample has shown a superhydrophobic property with a 153˚ contact angle which contained (75%TiO2-25%SiO2) and PDMS at a weight ratio of 1:1. Moreover, the results showed that the superhydrophobic coating retains its hydrophobic properties up to a temperature of 450 ˚C, and at higher temperatures, it converts to a super hydrophilic with a water contact angle close to 0 ˚. The SiO2-TiO2@PDMS coating degrades methylene blue by about 55% and was shown to be capable of photocatalytically decomposing organic pollutants

Enhanced densification and ionic conductivity of LLZO by flash sintering

Flash sintering arouses the interest since high-density ceramics can be obtained at shorter dwell times and lower temperatures than conventional sintering. In this study, the cubic garnet Li6.25Al0.25La3Zr2O12 (Al-LLZO) was successfully synthesised by the solid-state method. The powders were uniaxially pressed and were subjected to flash sintering at 850°C in a tube furnace under a DC bias using various current densities. It is evidenced that control of the flash electric current is a crucial factor for densification of Al-LLZO. The sample sintered in 50 V cm−1 and 200 mA mm−2 showed a cubic LLZO, 94 ± 0.4% relative density, 0.37 mS cm−1 total ionic conductivity and 0.32 eV activation energy. In addition, it was demonstrated that increasing the current density had a considerable impact on the relative density. This outstanding ionic conductivity might be due to the lower lithium loss and higher density as a result of flash sintering method applied.</p