With the goal of finding new lithium solid electrolytes by a combined computational–experimental method, the exploration of the Li–Al–O–S phase field resulted in the discovery of a new sulfide Li3AlS3. The structure of the new phase was determined through an approach combining synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction with 6Li and 27Al magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and revealed to be a highly ordered cationic polyhedral network within a sulfide anion hcp-type sublattice. The originality of the structure relies on the presence of Al2S6 repeating dimer units consisting of two edge-shared Al tetrahedra. We find that, in this structure type consisting of alternating tetrahedral layers with Li-only polyhedra layers, the formation of these dimers is constrained by the Al/S ratio of 1/3. Moreover, by comparing this structure to similar phases such as Li5AlS4 and Li4.4Al0.2Ge0.3S4 ((Al + Ge)/S = 1/4), we discovered that the AlS4 dimers not only influence atomic displacements and Li polyhedral distortions but also determine the overall Li polyhedral arrangement within the hcp lattice, leading to the presence of highly ordered vacancies in both the tetrahedral and Li-only layer. AC impedance measurements revealed a low lithium mobility, which is strongly impacted by the presence of ordered vacancies. Finally, a composition–structure–property relationship understanding was developed to explain the extent of lithium mobility in this structure type.

The synthesis of BiAgOCh (Ch = S or Se) compounds has been successfully achieved via the ion exchange of copper with silver in aqueous solutions, starting from the copper parent phase. Optical and electrical measurements of BiAgOCh powders confirm an increase in both the bandgap and the electrical resistivity, as compared to those of the copper compounds. The structure of the BiAgOS phase has been clearly examined. X-ray diffraction synchrotron measurements coupled with advanced high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis evidenced a Ag-deficient structure, as well as Bi-rich defects, both types of defects being oppositively charged. Silver atoms are also found in interstial sites, which explains the two-dimensional ionic conductivity. This structural study combined with theoretical calculations explains the intrinsic conductivity behavior of these semiconductors linked to the mutual compensation of both defect types in the structure and to the increase in the hole effective mass. This study shows the feasibility of modifying the optoelectronic properties of the BiMOCh compounds, with the goal of integrating them in heterojunction solar cells. Moreover, it provides very precise insight into the complexity of the relationship between structural defects and optoelectronic properties.