Rational design of solid materials: A case study of lithium-ion conductors

In the absence of a reliable method for a priori prediction of structure an d properties of inorganic solid materials, an experimental approach involvi ng a systematic study of composition, structure and properties combined wit h chemical intuition based on previous experience is likely to be a viable alternative to the problem of rational design of inorganic materials. The a pproach is illustrated by taking perovskite lithium-ion conductors as an ex ample.