Enhanced Ionic Conductivity and Moisture Stability of Zr-Based Halide Solid Electrolytes via Ta5+ Doping for All-Solid-State Batteries

Recently developed halide solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) have become promising alternatives for the next generation inorganic SSEs, primarily due to their comparatively favorable ionic conductivity, desirable deformability, and economic feasibility. Nevertheless, their practical application is still limited by inadequate ionic transport capability and poor moisture stability in the ambient environment. Herein, a simple yet effective Ta 5+ doping strategy is proposed to simultaneously improve the ionic conductivity and moisture stability of Li 2 ZrCl 6 (LZC). Specifically, the optimized Ta 5+ -doping SSEs, Li 2–x Zr 1–x Ta x Cl 6 (x = 0.3, denoted as LZT0.3C), exhibit an improved ionic conductivity of 1.31 mS cm −1 at room temperature (RT). Notably, LZT0.3C retains its structural integrity and high ionic conductivity even after exposure to 10% relative humidity. When implemented in ASSLBs with LiCoO 2 or single-crystalline LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 cathodes, LZT0.3C delivers significantly improved long-term cycling stability. The combination of high ionic conductivity and enhanced moisture stability renders this halide SSE a scalable and cost-effective candidate for future energy storage systems.