AI-Driven Rational Design of Solid-State Electrolytes
TL;DR
This work critically discusses the synergy between first-principles density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics simulations, and advanced AI algorithms including supervised and unsupervised learning (SL, UL), graph neural networks (GNNs), and Machine Learning Interatomic Potentials (MLIP) that collectively enable accurate prediction of ionic conductivity, elucidation of ion transport mechanisms, and high-throughput screening of vast chemical spaces.
Abstract
The solid-state electrolytes (SSE) are gaining tremendous attention in designing rechargeable batteries with remarkable energy density and safety features for next-generation energy storage device applications. The rational design of SSE with promising ionic conductivity, higher electrochemical stability windows, and stable electrode-electrolyte interfaces remain a formidable challenge, traditionally hindered by trial-and-error experimentation and computationally expensive theoretical simulations. Here, we systematically review the recent breakthroughs in the artificial intelligence (AI)-driven design of SSE, spanning electrochemical stability and ionic conductivity domains, with a particular focus on how machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) are fundamentally transforming the discovery and optimization landscape. We critically discuss the synergy between first-principles density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and advanced AI algorithms including supervised and unsupervised learning (SL, UL), graph neural networks (GNNs), and Machine Learning Interatomic Potentials (MLIP) that collectively enable accurate prediction of ionic conductivity, elucidation of ion transport mechanisms, and high-throughput screening (HTS) of vast chemical spaces. Emphasis is placed on descriptor engineering that bridges atomic-level structural features (e.g., lattice parameters, activation energies, defect chemistry) with macroscopic electrochemical performance, as well as the emerging paradigm of closed-loop, self-driving laboratories for autonomous materials discovery. Furthermore, AI-guided strategies have demonstrated remarkable interfacial ionic transport mechanism. Despite these transformative advances, persistent challenges including data scarcity, limited descriptor transferability, discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental realization, remain significant challenges. Looking forward, the convergence of AI with high-throughput experimentation and multiscale modeling promises to redefine SSE discovery, accelerating the deployment of high-performance all solid-state batteries (ASSBs) for sustainable energy storage.