Smart Materials Prediction: Applying Machine Learning to Lithium Solid-State Electrolyte

Traditionally, the discovery of new materials has often depended on scholars’ computational and experimental experience. The traditional trial-and-error methods require many resources and computing time. Due to new materials’ properties becoming more complex, it is difficult to predict and identify new materials only by general knowledge and experience. Material prediction tools based on machine learning (ML) have been successfully applied to various materials fields; they are beneficial for modeling and accelerating the prediction process for materials that cannot be accurately predicted. However, the obstacles of disciplinary span led to many scholars in materials not having complete knowledge of data-driven materials science methods. This paper provides an overview of the general process of ML applied to materials prediction and uses solid-state electrolytes (SSE) as an example. Recent approaches and specific applications to ML in the materials field and the requirements for building ML models for predicting lithium SSE are reviewed. Finally, some current obstacles to applying ML in materials prediction and prospects are described with the expectation that more materials scholars will be aware of the application of ML in materials prediction.