Water solvated glass/amorphous solid ionic conductors

Abstract

The disclosure provides a water-solvated glass/amorphous solid that is an ionic conductor-an electronic insulator, and a dielectric as well as electrochemical devices and processes that use this material, such as batteries, including rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, capacitors, electrolysis cells, and electronic devices. The electrochemical devices and products use a combination of ionic and electronic conduction as well as internal electric dipoles.

1 . A method of forming a dried, water-solvated glass/amorphous solid, the method comprising transforming a crystalline sodium-ion (Na + ) or lithium-ion (Li + ) electronic insulator or its constituent precursors comprising at least one Na +  or Li +  bonded to oxygen (O), hydroxide (OH), and/or to at least one halide and at least less than one mole percent glass-forming additive into a water-solvated glass/amorphous Na +  or Li +  ion-conducting solid by adding water in an amount less than two mole percent and heating to at least 230° C. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the crystalline, electronic insulator or its constituent precursors comprise a material with the general formula A 3-x H x OX, wherein 0≤x≤1, A is the at least one alkali metal, and X is the at least one halide. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the glass-forming additive comprising at least one of an oxide, a hydroxide, and/or a sulfide. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the glass-forming additive comprises at least one of Ba(OH) 2 , Sr(OH) 2 , Ca(OH) 2 , Mg(OH) 2 , Al(OH) 3 , BaO, SrO, CaO, MgO, B 2 O 3 , Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , S and/or Li 2 S. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the glass-forming additive comprises at least two of an oxide, a hydroxide, and/or a sulfide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the glass-forming additive comprises at least two of Ba(OH) 2 , Sr(OH) 2 , Ca(OH) 2 , Mg(OH) 2 , Al(OH) 3 , or BaO, SrO, CaO, MgO, Al, B 2 O 3 , Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , S and/or Li 2 S. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the glass-forming additive adjusts the glass transition temperature T g  of the water-solvated glass/amorphous solid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one halide comprises chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br) and/or iodine (I). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one halide exits the water-solvated glass/amorphous solid as a hydrogen halide gas. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydroxide reacts to form H 2 O that exits the water-solvated glass/amorphous solid as gaseous H 2 O. 
     
     
         13 - 20 . (canceled)