Abstract
Understanding the electrochemical and mechanical behavior of solid electrolytes beyond their electrochemical stability window is crucial for enabling high energy density all-solid-state batteries. Accordingly, this work systematically studies a model working electrode of Li(3)PS(4), ball milled with vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF). Operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy can identify and quantify the potential-dependent redox byproducts, their reversibility, and electrical properties, while operando cell pressure measurements correlate these with volume changes and mechanical instability. The study examines voltages up to 5.0 V and down to -0.05 V versus Li/Li(+), mimicking cathode and anode cycling. It demonstrates that within the 2.4-5.0 V region, Li(3)PS(4) oxidation byproducts are primarily polysulfides composed of bridging sulfurs (P-S-S-P) between PS(4) (3-) units, free of elemental sulfur (S(0)), and electrically conductive. The Li(3)PS(4) oxidation process occurs at 2.8 V during first charge and ends at 3.4 V, with volume shrinkage at the VGCF interface. During reduction (2.4 to -0.05 V), polysulfides convert reversibly to Li(3)PS(4) between 1.9 and 1.7 V, then to Li(2)S and Li(n)P (0 ≤ n ≤ 3) between 1.9 and 0.6 V, causing volume expansion and the transition to an electrically insulating interphase. Below 0.6 V, Li(2)O formation dominates without further evolution of Li(2)S or Li(n)P.