Facile One-Step Syntheses of Several Complex Ionic Lithium Gallates from LiGa as Intermetallic Precursors

We have employed the intermetallic phase LiGa as a precursor for the preparation of LiGaO2, LiGaS2, LiGa5O8, and Li3GaN2, presenting a new and convenient way to synthesize these compounds. They have high potential for application in optical and electrochemical devices, but their reported standard syntheses require sophisticated high-temperature solid-state preparation methods. With LiGa-based precursor routes, oxo-, thio-, and nitridogallates can be obtained in simple one-step reactions under comparatively mild conditions. LiGaO2 and LiGaS2 were revisited in terms of crystal structure, ion conductivity, and calculated electronic structure. LiGa5O8 and Li3GaN2 were found as byproducts and are of potential interest for applications themselves. The use of intermetallic phases as precursor materials is in general a valuable yet widely underestimated pathway for simple preparative access to functional materials.