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April 29, 2026Batteries & Supercaps2 citationsOpen Access

Origins of Li 2 S‐Rich Layer Formation at Li 6 PS 5 Cl|Li Interface: Insights from First‐Principles Simulations

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SNSanthanamoorthi NachimuthuHCHao‐Wen ChangYLYun‐Fang Luo

Key Points

  • This research aims to uncover the mechanisms behind the formation of Li2S-rich layers at lithium sulfide interfaces in all-solid-state batteries.
  • Employs density functional theory (DFT) calculations to model the interface structure and reactions.
  • Conducts ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations to analyze charge–transfer and reduction pathways.
  • Performs coordination number and radial distribution function (RDF) analyses to assess the formation of lithium sulfide.
  • Simulations identify a localized reduction process at the LPSC|Li interface leading to layer-dependent decomposition of PS4 tetrahedra.
  • Li2S primarily forms from S coordinated in Li6S units, with partially reduced LixS intermediates arising from S released from PS4 units.
  • Bader charge analysis indicates that electron transfer is confined within the top Li-metal layers, driving P-S bond cleavage.

Abstract

All‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) using sulfide electrolytes such as Li 6 PS 5 Cl (LPSC) offer high ionic conductivity and high safety, yet their performance remains limited by reductive instability at the Li‐metal interface. Here, density functional theory (DFT) calculations combined with ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations are used to investigate, with atomistic resolution, the reduction pathways, charge–transfer processes, and structural rearrangements at the thermodynamically preferred LPSC(111)|Li(100) interface. The simulations reveal a strongly localized interfacial reduction process in which PS 4 tetrahedra undergo rapid, layer‐dependent decomposition at the Li‐contacting surface, proceeding through sequential PS bond cleavage to form PS 3 , PS 2 , PS, intermediates, followed by formation of isolated P and S species. Coordination number and radial distribution function (RDF) analyses show that Li 2 S forms primarily from sulfur (S) initially coordinated in Li 6 S units, whereas S released from PS 4 units stabilizes mainly as partially reduced Li x S intermediates. Bader charge analysis further demonstrates that electron transfer is confined within the top Li‐metal layers and the bottom region of the LPSC slab, driving PS bond cleavage and restructuring of the local sulfide environments. Collectively, these results provide an atomistic‐level mechanistic understanding of Li 2 S‐rich interphase formation at LPSC|Li interfaces, offering quantitative guidance for designing electronically blocking interlayers that can mitigate thiophosphate reduction in next‐generation ASSLBs.

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Cite This Study

Nachimuthu et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69f1a033edf4b46824806dc3https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.202600008
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