Computational Investigation of a NASICON-Type Solid Electrolyte Material LiGe2(PO4)3

Phosphate-based electrolyte materials are of great interest in the field of Li-ion batteries due to their rigid structural integrity. LiGe2(PO4)3 is a NASICON-type phosphate material with high thermal and electrochemical stability. Computational simulation techniques were employed to study the defects, diffusion, and dopant properties of LiGe2(PO4)3. Furthermore, the reaction energies for the formation of LiGe2(PO4)3 and the incorporation energies for the insertion of additional Li into this material were calculated. The calculations revealed that the Li Frenkel is the lowest-energy defect. The second most favorable defect is the Ge-P anti-site defect cluster. A low Li migration energy of 0.44 eV implies high Li ionic conductivity. The most favorable isovalent dopants on the Li and Ge sites are Na and Si, respectively. The formation of Li interstitials and oxygen vacancies can be facilitated through the doping of Ga on the Ge site. The doping of Ga slightly enhances the Li ionic conductivity. Li incorporation (up to four Li) is thermodynamically feasible.