A New Phase of the Na+ Ion Conductor Na3PS4
<div> <p>Solid electrolytes are crucial for next‑generation solid‑state batteries and Na<sub>3</sub>PS<sub>4</sub> is one of the most promising Na<sup>+</sup> conductors for such applications. At present, two phases of Na<sub>3</sub>PS<sub>4</sub> have been identified and it had been thought to melt above 500 °C. In contrast, we show that it remains solid above this temperature and transforms into a third polymorph, γ, exhibiting superionic behavior. We propose an orthorhombic crystal structure for γ‑Na<sub>3</sub>PS<sub>4</sub> based on scattering density analysis of diffraction data and density functional theory calculations. We show that the Na<sup>+</sup> superionic behavior is associated with rotational motion of the thiophosphate polyanions pointing to a rotor phase, based on <i>ab initio</i> molecular dynamics simulations and supported by high‑temperature synchrotron and neutron diffraction, thermal analysis and impedance spectroscopy. These findings are of importance for the development of new polyanion‑based solid electrolytes.</p> </div>