Growth of single crystalline dendritic Li2SiO3 arrays from LiNO3 and mesoporous SiO2

A solution based wet chemistry approach has been developed for synthesizing Li₂SiO₃ using LiNO₃ and mesoporous silica as starting materials at 550 °C. A reaction path where NO and O₂ are formed as side-products is proposed. The crystals synthesized exhibit dendritic growth where the as-prepared nanodendrite is a typical 1-fold nanodendrite composed of one several microns long and some tenth of nanometers wide trunk with small branches, which are several hundreds of nanometers long and up to 70 nm in diameter. The effect of the structure of the mesoporous silica for the final morphology is discussed.     

Effect of sintering on the ionic conductivity of garnet-related structure Li5La3Nb2O12 and In- and K-doped Li5La3Nb2O12

Garnet-structure related metal oxides with the nominal chemical composition of Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂, In-substituted Li_5.5La₃Nb_1.75In_0.25O₁₂ and K-substituted Li_5.5La_2.75K_0.25Nb₂O₁₂ were prepared by solid-state reactions at 900, 950, and 1000 °C using appropriate amounts of corresponding metal oxides, nitrates and carbonates. The powder XRD data reveal that the In- and K-doped compounds are isostructural with the parent compound Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂. The variation in the cubic lattice parameter was found to change with the size of the dopant ions, for example, substitution of larger In³⁺(r_CN6: 0.79 Å) for smaller Nb⁵⁺ (r_CN6: 0.64 Å) shows an increase in the lattice parameter from 12.8005(9) to 12.826(1) Å at 1000 °C. Samples prepared at higher temperatures (950, 1000 °C) show mainly bulk lithium ion conductivity in contrast to those synthesized at lower temperatures (900 °C). The activation energies for the ionic conductivities are comparable for all samples. Partial substitution of K⁺ for La³⁺ and In³⁺ for Nb⁵⁺ in Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂ exhibits slightly higher ionic conductivity than that of the parent compound over the investigated temperature regime 25-300 °C. Among the compounds investigated, the In-substituted Li_5.5La₃Nb_1.75In_0.25O₁₂ exhibits the highest bulk lithium ion conductivity of 1.8×10⁻⁴ S/cm at 50 °C with an activation energy of 0.51 eV. The diffusivity (“component diffusion coefficient”) obtained from the AC conductivity and powder XRD data falls in the range 10⁻¹⁰-10⁻⁷ cm²/s over the temperature regime 50-200 °C, which is extraordinarily high and comparable with liquids. Substitution of Al, Co, and Ni for Nb in Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂ was found to be unsuccessful under the investigated conditions.     

Effect of surface fluorination and conductive additives on the electrochemical behavior of lithium titanate (Li4/3Ti5/3O4) for lithium ion battery

Effect of surface fluorination and conductive additives on the charge/discharge behavior of lithium titanate (Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄) has been investigated using F₂ gas and vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF). Surface fluorination of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ was made using F₂ gas (3 × 10⁴ Pa) at 25-150 °C for 2 min. Charge capacities of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ samples fluorinated at 70 °C and 100 °C were larger than those for original sample at high current densities of 300 and 600 mA/g. Optimum fluorination temperatures of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ were 70 °C and 100 °C. Fibrous VGCF with a large surface area (17.7 m²/g) increased the utilization of available capacity of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ probably because it provided the better electrical contact than acetylene black (AB) between Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ particles and nickel current collector.     

Energetics of cobalt phosphate frameworks: α, β, and red NaCoPO4

Thermal behavior, relative stability, and enthalpy of formation of α (pink phase), β (blue phase), and red NaCoPO₄ are studied by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and high-temperature oxide melt drop solution calorimetry. Red NaCoPO₄ with cobalt in trigonal bipyramidal coordination is metastable, irreversibly changing to α NaCoPO₄ at 827 K with an enthalpy of phase transition of −17.4±6.9 kJ mol⁻¹. α NaCoPO₄ with cobalt in octahedral coordination is the most stable phase at room temperature. It undergoes a reversible phase transition to the β phase (cobalt in tetrahedra) at 1006 K with an enthalpy of phase transition of 17.6±1.3 kJ mol⁻¹. Enthalpy of formation from oxides of α, β, and red NaCoPO₄ are −349.7±2.3, −332.1±2.5, and −332.3±7.2 kJ mol⁻¹; standard enthalpy of formation of α, β, and red NaCoPO₄ are −1547.5±2.7, −1529.9±2.8, and −1530.0±7.3 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The more exothermic enthalpy of formation from oxides of β NaCoPO₄ compared to a structurally related aluminosilicate, NaAlSiO₄ nepheline, results from the stronger acid-base interaction of oxides in β NaCoPO₄ (Na₂O, CoO, P₂O₅) than in NaAlSiO₄ nepheline (Na₂O, Al₂O₃, SiO₂).     

Li ion diffusion in Li4Ti5O12 thin film electrode prepared by PVP sol-gel method

Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin films for rechargeable lithium batteries were prepared by a sol-gel method with poly(vinylpyrrolidone). Interfacial properties of lithium insertion into Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin film were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT). Redox peaks in CV were very sharp even at a fast scan rate of 50 mV s⁻¹, indicating that Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin film had a fast electrochemical response, and that an apparent chemical diffusion coefficient of Li⁺ ion was estimated to be 6.8×10⁻¹¹ cm² s⁻¹ from a dependence of peak current on sweep rates. From EIS, it can be seen that Li⁺ ions become more mobile at 1.55 V vs. Li/Li⁺, corresponding to a two-phase region, and the chemical diffusion coefficients of Li⁺ ion ranged from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹ at various potentials. The chemical diffusion coefficients of Li⁺ ion in Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ were also estimated from PITT. They were in a range of 10⁻¹¹-10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹.     

Synthesis, heat capacity and enthalpy of formation of [Ho2(l-Glu)2(H2O)8](ClO4)4·H2O

A complex of holmium perchlorate coordinated with l-glutamic acid, [Ho₂(l-Glu)₂(H₂O)₈](ClO₄)₄·H₂O, was prepared with a purity of 98.96%. The compound was characterized by chemical, elemental and thermal analysis. Heat capacities of the compound were determined by automated adiabatic calorimetry from 78 to 370 K. The dehydration temperature is 350 K. The dehydration enthalpy and entropy are 16.34 kJ mol⁻¹ and 16.67 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The standard enthalpy of formation is −6474.6 kJ mol⁻¹ from reaction calorimetry at 298.15 K.     

Calorimetric study and thermal analysis of [Gd4/3Y2/3(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O and [ErY(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O (Gly: glycin)

Two solid-state coordination compounds of rare earth metals with glycin, [Gd_4/3Y_2/3(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O and [ErY(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O were synthesized. The low-temperature heat capacities of the two coordination compounds were measured with an adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 78 to 376 K. [Gd_4/3Y_2/3(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O melted at 342.90 K, while [ErY(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O melted at 328.79 K. The molar enthalpy and entropy of fusion for the two coordination compounds were determined to be 18.48 kJ mol⁻¹ and 53.9 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for [Gd_4/3Y_2/3(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O, 1.82 kJ mol⁻¹ and 5.5 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for [ErY(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O, respectively. Thermal decompositions of the two coordination compounds were studied through the thermogravimetry (TG). Possible mechanisms of the decompositions are discussed.     

Comparative computational investigation of N and F substituted polyoxoanionic compounds: The case of Li2FeSiO4 electrode material

First principles calculations are used to anticipate the electrochemistry of polyoxoanionic materials consisting of XO_{4 − y}A_y (A = F, N) groups. As an illustrative case, this work focuses on the effect of either N or F for O substitution upon the electrochemical properties of Li₂FeSiO₄. Within the Pmn2₁–Li₂FeSiO₄ structure, virtual models of Li₂Fe₂^2.5+SiO_3.5N_0.5 and Li_1.5Fe²⁺SiO_3.5F_0.5 have been analyzed. We predict that the lithium deinsertion voltage associated to the Fe^3+/Fe⁴⁺ redox couple is decreased by both substituents. The high theoretical specific capacity of Li₂FeSiO₄ (330 mAh/g) could be retained in N-substituted silicates thanks to the oxidation of N³⁻ anions, whilst Li_1.5Fe²⁺SiO_3.5F_0.5 has a lower specific capacity inherent to the F substitution. Substitution of N/F for O will respectively improve/worsen the electrode characteristics of Li₂FeSiO₄.     

Vaporization of DyI3(s) and thermochemistry of the homocomplexes (DyI3)2(g) and (DyI3)3(g)

The vaporization of DyI₃(s) was investigated in the temperature range between 833 and 1053 K by the use of Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry. The ions DyI₂⁺, DyI₃⁺, Dy₂I₄⁺, Dy₂I₅⁺, Dy₃I₇⁺, and Dy₃I₈⁺ were detected in the mass spectrum of the equilibrium vapor. The gaseous species DyI₃, (DyI₃)₂, and (DyI₃)₃ were identified and their partial pressures determined. Enthalpies and entropies of sublimation resulted according to the second- and third-law methods. The following sublimation enthalpies at 298 K were determined for the gaseous species given in brackets: 274.8±8.2 kJ mol⁻¹ [DyI₃], 356.0±11.3 kJ mol⁻¹ [(DyI₃)₂], and 436.6±14.6 kJ mol⁻¹ [(DyI₃)₃]. The enthalpy changes of the dissociation reactions (DyI₃)₂=2 DyI₃ and (DyI₃)₃=3 DyI₃ were obtained as Δ_dH°(298)=193.3±5.6 and 390.3±13.0 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively.     

Thermochemistry of NaRb[B4O5(OH)4]·4H2O

The enthalpies of solution of NaRb[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·4H₂O in approximately 1 mol dm⁻³ aqueous hydrochloric acid and of RbCl in aqueous (hydrochloric acid + boric acid + sodium chloride) were determined. From these results and the enthalpy of solution of H₃BO₃ in approximately 1 mol dm⁻³ HCl(aq) and of sodium chloride in aqueous (hydrochloric acid + boric acid), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(5128.02 ± 1.94) kJ mol⁻¹ for NaRb[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·4H₂O was obtained from the standard molar enthalpies of formation of NaCl(s), RbCl(s), H₃BO₃(s) and H₂O(l). The standard molar entropy of formation of NaRb[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·4H₂O was calculated from the Gibbs free energy of formation of NaRb[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·4H₂O computed from a group contribution method.     

Application of Li2SiO3 as a heterogeneous catalyst in the production of biodiesel from soybean oil

Biodiesel was synthesized from soybean oil by transesterification over Li₂SiO₃ catalyst.The Li₂SiO₃ can be used for biodiesel production directly without further drying or thermal pretreatment,no obvious difference in the FAME conversion（92.4-96.7%） between the air-exposed catalyst（24-72 h） and the fresh one（94.2%）.This leads to important benefits when considering industrial applications of Li₂SiO₃ as a solid catalyst for storing and handling catalyst without taking special actions.     

Solid products and rate-limiting step in the thermal half decomposition of natural dolomite in a CO2 (g) atmosphere

Natural dolomite powders obtained from caves which give unusual high resistance building materials, have been decomposed in a Knudsen cell at high CO₂ pressures in the temperature range of 913-973 K. XRD traces for the final solid products, after the first half thermal decomposition, have shown, that beside the XRD patterns for the calcite and MgO, the existence of a new structure with major peaks at 2θ equal to 38.5 and 65°. This finding has been ascribed to a solid solution of MgO in calcite. The kinetic analysis of the TG curves yield a total apparent enthalpy (ΔH^∗) for the decomposition equal to 440±10 kJ mol⁻¹ for a range of fraction decomposed (α) varying between 0.2 and 0.7. This value is much closer to the theoretical expected at 950 K value ΔH=486 kJ mol⁻¹ for the dolomite decomposition in CO₂ environment, where CaO, MgO and oxides of solid solution can be the solid reaction products. The rate determining step is the transport of CO₂ across the reacting interface through an high activated thermal process due to solid state diffusion of CO₃²⁻ in the bulk and/or the grain boundaries phases of CaCO₃ and/or of the solid solution. The microstructure evolution of the solid products follows a shear-transformation mechanism. At temperatures below 943 K, porous product particles are characterized by a monomodal narrow pore size distribution around 0.05 μm. At higher temperatures, a critical level of tensions inside the particles is reached and a bimodal pore size distribution around 1 and 0.05 μm is formed.     

New solid-state synthesis routine and mechanism for LiFePO4 using LiF as lithium precursor

Li₂CO₃ and LiOH·H₂O are widely used as Li-precursors to prepare LiFePO₄ in solid-phase reactions. However, impurities are often found in the final product unless the sintering temperature is increased to 800 °C. Here, we report that lithium fluoride (LiF) can also be used as Li-precursor for solid-phase synthesis of LiFePO₄ and very pure olivine phase was obtained even with sintering at a relatively low temperature (600 °C). Consequently, the product has smaller particle size (about 500 nm), which is beneficial for Li-extraction/insertion in view of kinetics. As for cathode material for Li-ion batteries, LiFePO₄ obtained from LiF shows high Li-storage capacity of 151 mAh g⁻¹ at small current density of 10 mA g⁻¹ (1/15 C) and maintains capacity of 54.8 mAh g⁻¹ at 1500 mA g⁻¹ (10 C). The solid-state reaction mechanisms using LiF and Li₂CO₃ precursors are compared based on XRD and TG-DSC.     

Ab initio structure determination of new compound Li4CaB2O6

A new compound, Li₄CaB₂O₆, has been synthesized by solid-state reaction and its structure has been determined from powder X-ray diffraction data by direct methods. The refinement was carried out using the Rietveld methods and the final refinement converged with R_p=10.4%, R_wp=14.2%, R_exp=4.97%. This compound belongs to the orthorhombic space group Pnnm, with lattice parameters a=9.24036(9) Å, b=8.09482(7) Å, and c=3.48162(4) Å. Fundamental building units are isolated [BO₃]³⁻ anionic groups, which are all parallel to the a-b plane stacked along the c-axis. The Ca atoms are six-coordinated by the O atoms to form octahedral coordination polyhedra, which are joined together through edges along the c-axis, forming infinitely long three-dimensional chains. The Li atoms have a four-fold and a five-fold coordination with O atoms that lead to complex Li-O-Li chains that also extend along the c-axis. The infrared spectrum of Li₄CaB₂O₆ was also studied, which is consistent with the crystallographic study.     

Determination of the enthalpy of fusion of K3TaF8 and K3TaOF6

The areas of the fusion and crystallization peaks of K₃TaF₈ and K₃TaOF₆ have been measured using the DSC mode of the high-temperature calorimeter (SETARAM 1800 K). On the basis of these quantities and the temperature dependence of the used calorimetric method sensitivity, the values of the enthalpy of fusion of K₃TaF₈ at temperature of fusion 1039 K: Δ_fusH_m(K₃TaF₈; 1039 K) = (52 ± 2) kJ mol⁻¹ and of K₃TaOF₆ at temperature of fusion 1055 K: Δ_fusH_m(K₃TaOF₆; 1055 K) = (62 ± 3) kJ mol⁻¹ have been determined.     

Thermodynamic properties of the gaseous barium silicates BaSiO2 and BaSiO3

In the present study, the stability of gaseous barium silicates was confirmed by the high temperature mass spectrometry. On the basis of equilibrium constants measured for gas-phase reactions, the standard formation enthalpies were determined for gaseous barium silicates as (−510 ± 15) kJ · mol⁻¹ and (−884 ± 18) kJ · mol⁻¹ at 298 K; standard atomization enthalpies as (1637 ± 17) kJ · mol⁻¹ and (2318 ± 20) kJ · mol⁻¹ at 298 K for BaSiO₂ and BaSiO₃, respectively. Based on the results obtained the critical analysis of the literature data was carried out.     

Low-temperature heat-capacity and standard molar enthalpy of formation of copper l-threonate hydrate Cu(C4H6O5)·0.5H2O(s)

The solid copper l-threonate hydrate, Cu(C₄H₆O₅)·0.5H₂O, was synthesized by the reaction of l-threonic acid with copper dihydrocarbonate and characterized by means of chemical and elemental analyses, IR and TG-DTG. Low-temperature heat-capacity of the title compound has been precisely measured with a small sample precise automated adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 77 to 390 K. An obvious process of the dehydration occurred in the temperature range between 353 and 370 K. The peak temperature of the dehydration of the compound has been observed to be 369.304 ± 0.208 K by means of the heat-capacity measurements. The molar enthalpy, Δ_dH_m, of the dehydration of the resulting compound was of 16.490 ± 0.063 kJ mol⁻¹. The experimental molar heat capacities of the solid from 77 to 353 K and the solid from 370 to 390 K have been, respectively, fitted to tow polynomial equations with the reduced temperatures by least square method. The constant-volume energy of combustion of the compound, Δ_cU_m, has been determined as being −1616.15 ± 0.72 kJ mol⁻¹ by an RBC-II precision rotating-bomb combustion calorimeter at 298.15 K. The standard molar enthalpy of formation of the compound, , has been calculated to be −1114.76 ± 0.81 kJ mol⁻¹ from the combination of the data of standard molar enthalpy of combustion of the compound with other auxiliary thermodynamic quantities.     

Thermodynamic properties of hydrated sodium l-threonate Na(C4H7O5)·H2O(s)

Low-temperature heat capacities of the compound Na(C₄H₇O₅)·H₂O(s) have been measured with an automated adiabatic calorimeter. A solid-solid phase transition and dehydration occur at 290-318 K and 367-373 K, respectively. The enthalpy and entropy of the solid-solid transition are Δ_transH_m = (5.75 ± 0.01) kJ mol⁻¹ and Δ_transS_m = (18.47 ± 0.02) J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹. The enthalpy and entropy of the dehydration are Δ_dH_m = (15.35 ± 0.03) kJ mol⁻¹ and Δ_dS_m = (41.35 ± 0.08) J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹. Experimental values of heat capacities for the solids (I and II) and the solid-liquid mixture (III) have been fitted to polynomial equations.     

Preparation and characterization of SiO2/TiO2 composite microspheres with microporous SiO2 core/mesoporous TiO2 shell

SiO₂/TiO₂ composite microspheres with microporous SiO₂ core/mesoporous TiO₂ shell structures were prepared by hydrolysis of titanium tetrabutylorthotitanate (TTBT) in the presence of microporous silica microspheres using hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) as a surface esterification agent and porous template, and then dried and calcined at different temperatures. The as-prepared products were characterized with differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric (DTA/TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption. The results showed that composite particles were about 1.8 μm in diameter, and had a spherical morphology and a narrow size distribution. Uniform mesoporous titania coatings on the surfaces of microporous silica microspheres could be obtained by adjusting the HPC concentration to an optimal concentration of about 3.2 mmol L⁻¹. The anatase and rutile phase in the SiO₂/TiO₂ composite microspheres began to form at 700 and 900 °C, respectively. At 700 °C, the specific surface area and pore volume of the SiO₂/TiO₂ composite microspheres were 552 and 0.652 mL g⁻¹, respectively. However, at 900 °C, the specific surface area and pore volume significantly decreased due to the phase transformation from anatase to rutile.     

Change in mechanistic pathway of hydroboration: A detailed kinetic study of H2BBr·SMe2 and HBBr2·SMe2

Hydroboration reactions of 1-octene and 1-hexyne with H₂BBr·SMe₂ in CH₂Cl₂ were studied as a function of concentration and temperature, using ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy. The reactions exhibited saturation kinetics. The rate of dissociation of dimethyl sulfide from boron at 25 °C was found to be (7.36 ± 0.59 and 7.32 ± 0.90) × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ for 1-octene and 1-hexyne, respectively. The second order rate constants, k₂, for hydroboration worked out to be 7.00 ± 0.81 M s⁻¹ and 7.03 ± 0.70 M s⁻¹, while the overall composite second order rate constants, k K, were (3.30 ± 0.43 and 3.10 ± 0.37) × 10⁻² M s⁻¹, respectively at 25 °C. The entropy and enthalpy values were found to be large and positive for k₁, whilst for k₂ these were large and negative, with small values for enthalpies. This is indicative of a limiting dissociative (D) for the dissociation of Me₂S and associative mechanism (A) for the hydroboration process. The overall activation parameters, ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠, were found to be 98 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹ and +56 ± 7 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for 1-octene whilst, in the case of 1-hexyne these were found out to be 117 ± 7 kJ mol⁻¹ and +119 ± 24 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. When comparing the kinetic data between H₂BBr·SMe₂ and HBBr₂·SMe₂, the results showed that the rate of dissociation of Me₂S from H₂BBr·SMe₂ is on average 34 times faster than it is in the case of HBBr₂·SMe₂. Similarly, the rate of hydroboration with H₂BBr·SMe₂ was found to be on average 11 times faster than it is with HBBr₂·SMe₂. It is also clear that by replacing a hydrogen substituent with a bromine atom in the case of H₂BBr·SMe₂ the mechanism for the overall process changes from limiting dissociative (D) to interchange associative (I_a).