Jet-Printable, Low-Melting-Temperature Ga-xSn Eutectic Composites: Application in All-Solid-State Batteries

Materials (Basel). 2024 Feb 21;17(5):995. doi: 10.3390/ma17050995.

Abstract

Low-melting-point Ga-xSn eutectic composites and natural silicate mineral powders were used as the electrode and solid-state electrolyte, respectively, in all-solid-state batteries for green energy storage systems. The influences of the Sn content in the Ga-xSn composite electrode on the electrochemical performance of the batteries were evaluated, and liquid composites with a Sn concentration of up to 30 wt.% demonstrated suitability for electrode fabrication through dip coating. Sodium-enriched silicate was synthesized to serve as the solid-state electrolyte membrane because of the abundance of water molecules in its interlayer structure, enabling ion exchange. The battery capacity increased with the Sn content of the Ga-xSn anode. The formation of intermetallic compounds and oxides (CuGa2, Ga2O3, Cu6Sn5, and SnO2) resulted in a high charge-discharge capacity and stability. The Ga-Sn composite electrode for all-solid-state batteries exhibits a satisfiable capacity and stability and shows potential for jet-printed electrode applications.

Keywords: Ga–Sn composite; all-solid-state battery; intermetallic compounds; jet printing; natural silicate mineral.