Compliant Yet Brittle Mechanical Behavior of Li₂S–P₂S₅ Lithium-Ion-Conducting Solid Electrolyte

Abstract

Young's modulus, hardness, and fracture toughness are measured by instrumented nanoindentation for an amorphous Li₂S–P₂S₅ Li-ion solid electrolyte. Although low elastic modulus suggests accommodation of significant chemomechanical strain, low fracture toughness can facilitate brittle crack formation in such materials.