Preface
The electrochemistry of solids is a relatively young field that only really caught
on in the 1950s. Its particularity resides in the multidisciplinary nature of its
content, which associates electrochemistry, solid-state chemistry (organic and
inorganic), and physical chemistry. The principal goal is to synthesize and
characterize materials susceptible for use in devices that exploit their electrochemical properties. The materials studied are either electrolytes or electrode
materials, which are two major families of materials.
2 The electrolytes discussed are solid oxide or halide solutions in the crystalline state [(ZrO 2 ) 1−x (Y 2 O 3 ) x , β alumina, (SrCl 2 ) 1−x (KCl) x, …], or glassy
state (SiO 2 -K 2 O, LiI, Li 4 P 2 S 7, ...) and organic-polymer-salt complexes
(POE-LiTFSI). In this work, we mainly study the structural characteristics
(i.e., phases, crystalline structure) and the ionic transport properties (i.e.,
electrical conductivity, transport modes, ionic domain). The experimental
results are analyzed by considering the properties under study as a function
of temperature, of the nature and concentration of structural defects (vacancies, interstitials, impurities, dopants) present in the phase, and of the
chemical potential of the basic constituents of the phase. An example of the
latter is oxygen in the case of solid oxide electrolytes; in this case, Brouwer
diagrams are frequently used. Finally, note that, in most solid electrolytes,
the conductivity derives only from one ionic species.
2 Electrode materials are made of metals (Li, Na, Ag, Pt, …) as well as oxides (La 1−x Sr x MnO 3−δ , FePO 4 , WO 3 , …), composites (Ni-YSZ), or sulfides (TiS 2 , MoS 2 , …). Research in this field focuses primarily on determining the electrical conductivity and identifying and studying the kinetics
of the electrode reactions and the durability of the electrode-electrolyte
interface. As is the case with aqueous solutions, the results are interpreted
by relying on the polarization due to adsorption-desorption, to diffusion
and migration of electroactive species, and to charge transfer.
VII
The electrochemistry of solids is a relatively young field that only really caught
on in the 1950s. Its particularity resides in the multidisciplinary nature of its
content, which associates electrochemistry, solid-state chemistry (organic and
inorganic), and physical chemistry. The principal goal is to synthesize and
characterize materials susceptible for use in devices that exploit their electrochemical properties. The materials studied are either electrolytes or electrode
materials, which are two major families of materials.
2 The electrolytes discussed are solid oxide or halide solutions in the crystalline state [(ZrO 2 ) 1−x (Y 2 O 3 ) x , β alumina, (SrCl 2 ) 1−x (KCl) x, …], or glassy
state (SiO 2 -K 2 O, LiI, Li 4 P 2 S 7, ...) and organic-polymer-salt complexes
(POE-LiTFSI). In this work, we mainly study the structural characteristics
(i.e., phases, crystalline structure) and the ionic transport properties (i.e.,
electrical conductivity, transport modes, ionic domain). The experimental
results are analyzed by considering the properties under study as a function
of temperature, of the nature and concentration of structural defects (vacancies, interstitials, impurities, dopants) present in the phase, and of the
chemical potential of the basic constituents of the phase. An example of the
latter is oxygen in the case of solid oxide electrolytes; in this case, Brouwer
diagrams are frequently used. Finally, note that, in most solid electrolytes,
the conductivity derives only from one ionic species.
2 Electrode materials are made of metals (Li, Na, Ag, Pt, …) as well as oxides (La 1−x Sr x MnO 3−δ , FePO 4 , WO 3 , …), composites (Ni-YSZ), or sulfides (TiS 2 , MoS 2 , …). Research in this field focuses primarily on determining the electrical conductivity and identifying and studying the kinetics
of the electrode reactions and the durability of the electrode-electrolyte
interface. As is the case with aqueous solutions, the results are interpreted
by relying on the polarization due to adsorption-desorption, to diffusion
and migration of electroactive species, and to charge transfer.
VII