LLZO solid electrolyte fabrication explained: A tutorial

Lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) is a promising solid electrolyte for Li-ion batteries due to the garnet’s high ionic conductivity and chemical/electrochemical stability. The purpose of this work is to provide researchers with an introduction and instructional guide to the process of creating a functional LLZO pellet with ionic conductivities in the magnitude of ~0.5–1 mS/cm and be able to cycle Li-metal electrodes. Various articles were reviewed to determine the optimal parameters for LLZO synthesis and pellet fabrication. Common methods for determining the quality of the pellet post-production are also discussed. Beyond disseminating the available published literature, we report the necessary steps for fabricating reproducible LLZO pellets, including details often neglected or emitted in literature. This tutorial is intended to act as a guide to reproducibly manufacture LLZO pellets, to identify common mistakes when testing LLZO pellets, and promote more rapid advancement in the solid electrolyte field by minimizing the startup time necessary for garnet research.