We also ruled out changes in electronic conductivity upon mechanical deformation by considering the effect of each damage mode. Of the two damage modes discussed here, fracture and plastic deformation, the latter is more likely to alter the transport properties, because of the introduction of atomic-scale defects such as dislocations . However, based on our mechanics simulations we do not believe plastic deformation occurs in the LLZO upon contact with the tungsten microprobe. Moreover, in the cantilever bending experiments a strain of less than 0.070% at the surface is also not expected to induce significant variations in transport properties of LLZO . Therefore, we conclude that it is unlikely that increases in electronic conductivity are leading to the observed changes in the intrusion behavior.