{
  "abstract": "Solution processing of functional thin films offers significant benefits, yet characterising their local structure and bulk composition remains challenging. Here, we investigate the composition-structure-property relationships of nanocomposite Na-Al-P-O (NAPO) thin-film solid electrolytes using impedance spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and time-of-flight elastic recoil detection analysis (ToF-ERDA). An invariant activation energy of ≈0.8 eV across NAPO compositions was observed despite a ≈20-fold variation in ionic conductivity, suggesting that these differences arise primarily from changes in the concentration of mobile Na⁺ in the amorphous matrix. NMR measurements revealed highly disordered Al environments that were correlated with increased conductivity, evidence for multiple Na environments with differing mobilities, as well as a reduced local energy barrier to Na + hopping of ≈0.5 eV for two compositions. ToF-ERDA measurements showed that the elemental distributions were homogeneous, alongside significant H incorporation, identified as hydroxyl groups bound to Al and P via NMR. The H content increased as the ionic conductivity decreased in the NAPO system. Comparison with related, but ionically insulating compositions showed that H is a universal component of solution-processed materials. Although the protons were not mobile in these systems, H is proposed to occupy mobile sites within the framework that would otherwise host mobile ions such as Na + . Thus, our work suggests that promoting local disorder and minimising H incorporation are key design strategies for enhancing ionic conductivity in solution-processed amorphous solid electrolytes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering",
    "University College London",
    "Advanced Propulsion Lab",
    "Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Munster, Corrensstrasse 28/30, Mu nster, Germany, 48149",
    "International Graduate School for Battery Chemistry, Characterization, Analysis, Recycling and Application (BACCARA, Universita t Mu nster, Mu nster, Germany, 48149",
    "Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Munster, Corrensstrasse 28, Mu nster, Germany, 48149",
    "Advanced Technology Institute",
    "University of Surrey",
    "Department of Energy Conversion and Storage",
    "Technical University of Denmark"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Thomas E. Gill",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0231-9627"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Leon Hensmann"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Jędrzej Kondek"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Matthew K. Sharpe"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Callum D. McAleese"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Michael Ryan Hansen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Yaoguang Song"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2,
        8,
        9
      ],
      "name": "Alexander J. E. Rettie"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3e4yy889h42f.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15009950/v1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "c3e4yy889h42f",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009950/v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2208|Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220707493",
  "pdf_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/pdf/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009950/v1",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-05",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3e4yy889h42f.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:22Z",
      "native_id": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15009950",
      "source": "chemrxiv",
      "url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009950/v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "source:chemrxiv",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Probing local structure and hydrogen incorporation in solution-processed thin-film solid electrolytes",
  "title_text": "Probing local structure and hydrogen incorporation in solution-processed thin-film solid electrolytes",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:22Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c3e4yy889h42f",
  "venue": "ChemRxiv",
  "versions": []
}