Mechanistic insights into superionic thioarsenate argyrodite solid electrolytes via machine learning interatomic potentials

Abstract

The lithium argyrodite sulfide solid electrolyte Li6PS5Cl has attracted considerable interest for all-solid-state batteries owing to its high ionic conductivity, which can be further enhanced through ionic substitution. Although a variety of substitutions have been investigated, thioarsenate argyrodites remain comparatively underexplored. Here, we systematically investigate the phase stability and Li-ion conduction mechanisms in superionic Br-incorporated thioarsenate argyrodites using first-principles calculations and molecular dynamics simulations based on machine learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs). Systematic variation of S/Br site inversion reveals that an optimal degree of anion disorder significantly enhances inter-cage connectivity and facilitates long-range Li-ion diffusion. Configurational entropy serves as an effective quantitative descriptor of anion disorder, exhibiting a strong correlation with ionic conductivity. While greater anion disorder induced by site inversion and higher Br content enhances ionic conductivity up to 50 mS cm-1, it simultaneously reduces structural stability. This trade-off results in an optimal window in which a moderate level of disorder yields conductivities exceeding 20 mS cm-1 while maintaining synthetic feasibility. This work highlights the reliability and efficiency of MLIPs for elucidating ion-transport mechanisms and accelerating the design of novel superionic argyrodites.