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Li phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON) is one of a very few solid electrolytes that have demonstrated high stability against Li metal and extended cyclability with high Coulombic efficiency for all solid-state batteries (ASSBs). However, theoretical calculations show that LiPON reacts with Li metal. Here, we utilize in situ electron microscopy to observe the dynamic evolutions at the LiPON-Li interface upon contacting and under biasing. We reveal that a thin interface layer (∼60 nm) develops at the LiPON-Li interface upon contact. This layer is composed of conductive binary compounds that show a unique spatial distribution that warrants an electrochemical stability of the interface, serving as an effective passivation layer. Our results explicate the excellent cyclability of LiPON and reconcile the existing debates regarding the stability of the LiPON-Li interface, demonstrating that, though glassy solid electrolytes may not have a perfect initial electrochemical window with Li metal, they may excel in future applications for ASSBs.

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASLBs) are promising for the next generation energy storage system with critical safety. Among various candidates, thiophosphate-based electrolytes have shown great promise because of their high ionic conductivity. However, the narrow operation voltage and poor compatibility with high voltage cathode materials impede their application in the development of high energy ASLBs. In this work, we studied the failure mechanism of Li

Li phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON) is one of a very few solid electrolytes that have demonstrated high stability against Li metal and extended cyclability with high Coulombic efficiency for all solid-state batteries (ASSBs). However, theoretical calculations show that LiPON reacts with Li metal. Here, we utilize

The thermodynamic stability of materials can depend on particle size due to the competition between surface and bulk energy. In this Letter, we show that, while sodium peroxide (Na2O2) is the stable bulk phase of Na in an oxygen environment at standard conditions, sodium superoxide (NaO2) is considerably more stable at the nanoscale. As a consequence, the superoxide requires a much lower nucleation energy than the peroxide, explaining why it can be observed as the discharge product in some Na–O2 batteries. As the superoxide can be recharged (decomposed) at much lower overpotentials than the peroxide, these findings are important to create highly reversible Na–O2 batteries. We derive the specific electrochemical conditions to nucleate and retain Na-superoxides and comment on the importance of considering the nanophase thermodynamics when optimizing an electrochemical system.