| Abstract Scope |
While a large portion of research focuses on developing sustainable chemistries for all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), we argue that a second, hidden, bottleneck to these systems is the high temperature sintering process required by the ceramic components of ASSBs. We first expound on this point for a spectrum of solid-state chemistries to describe the severity and ubiquity of this problem. Second, we describe how low temperature sintering techniques can address this problem. In particular, we present recent applications of the cold sintering process to lithium and sodium ASSBs. In doing so, the sintering temperatures of numerous solid-state battery materials are reduced from ≥1200°C to ≤400°C, while retaining high conductivity and electrochemical activity. At these lower temperatures, it becomes possible to co-process active electrode materials (e.g. Li4Ti5O12, LiFePO4, Na3V2(PO4)3) with conductive additives (e.g. carbon, Na3Zr2Si2PO12, Li7La3Zr2O12), without decomposition. The conductive ceramic composites are then assembled into batteries and characterized. |