Enabling High‐Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries by Manipulating Solvation Structure in Ester Electrolyte

Lithium metal is an ideal electrode material for future rechargeable lithium metal batteries. However, the widespread deployment of metallic lithium anode is significantly hindered by its dendritic growth and low Coulombic efficiency, especially in ester solvents. Herein, by rationally manipulating the electrolyte solvation structure with a high donor number solvent, enhancement of the solubility of lithium nitrate in an ester‐based electrolyte is successfully demonstrated, which enables high‐voltage lithium metal batteries. Remarkably, the electrolyte with a high concentration of LiNO₃ additive presents an excellent Coulombic efficiency up to 98.8 % during stable galvanostatic lithium plating/stripping cycles. A full‐cell lithium metal battery with a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathode exhibits a stable cycling performance showing limited capacity decay. This approach provides an effective electrolyte manipulation strategy to develop high‐voltage lithium metal batteries.     

Enabling High-Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries by Manipulating Solvation Structure in Ester Electrolyte

Lithium metal is an ideal electrode material for future rechargeable lithium metal batteries. However, the widespread deployment of metallic lithium anode is significantly hindered by its dendritic growth and low Coulombic efficiency, especially in ester solvents. Herein, by rationally manipulating the electrolyte solvation structure with a high donor number solvent, enhancement of the solubility of lithium nitrate in an ester-based electrolyte is successfully demonstrated, which enables high-voltage lithium metal batteries. Remarkably, the electrolyte with a high concentration of LiNO₃ additive presents an excellent Coulombic efficiency up to 98.8 % during stable galvanostatic lithium plating/stripping cycles. A full-cell lithium metal battery with a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathode exhibits a stable cycling performance showing limited capacity decay. This approach provides an effective electrolyte manipulation strategy to develop high-voltage lithium metal batteries.     

Mechanisms of lithium transport in amorphous polyethylene oxide

We report calculations using a previously reported model of lithium perchlorate in polyethylene oxide in order to understand the mechanism of lithium transport in these systems. Using an algorithm suggested by Voter, we find results for the diffusion rate which are quite close to experimental values. By analysis of the individual events in which large lithium motions occur during short times, we find that no single type of rearrangement of the lithium environment characterizes these events. We estimate the free energies of the lithium ion as a function of position during these events by calculation of potentials of mean force and thus derive an approximate map of the free energy as a function of lithium position during these events. The results are consistent with a Marcus-like picture in which the system slowly climbs a free energy barrier dominated by rearrangement of the polymer around the lithium ions, after which the lithium moves very quickly to a new position. Reducing the torsion forces in the model causes the diffusion rates to increase.     

氢化铝锂新合成方法的研究

在略高溫度下,通过氯化锂和金属钠在氫气氛中的反应,得到了氢化锂和氯化钠的混合物。用通常的Schlesinger法将得到的混合物用于合成氢化铝锂。反应的副产物是氯化锂和氯化钠的混合物,可用不同方法将其分离,所得氯化锂用于再循环。     

Highly Stable Lithium Metal Batteries Enabled by Regulating the Solvation of Lithium Ions in Nonaqueous Electrolytes

Safe and rechargeable lithium metal batteries have been difficult to achieve because of the formation of lithium dendrites. Herein an emerging electrolyte based on a simple solvation strategy is proposed for highly stable lithium metal anodes in both coin and pouch cells. Fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and lithium nitrate (LiNO₃) were concurrently introduced into an electrolyte, thus altering the solvation sheath of lithium ions, and forming a uniform solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), with an abundance of LiF and LiN_xO_y on a working lithium metal anode with dendrite‐free lithium deposition. Ultrahigh Coulombic efficiency (99.96 %) and long lifespans (1000 cycles) were achieved when the FEC/LiNO₃ electrolyte was applied in working batteries. The solvation chemistry of electrolyte was further explored by molecular dynamics simulations and first‐principles calculations. This work provides insight into understanding the critical role of the solvation of lithium ions in forming the SEI and delivering an effective route to optimize electrolytes for safe lithium metal batteries.     

Mechanism of meerwein-pondorf-verley type reductions

The reduction of benzophenone by lithium and chloromagnesium alkoxides has been studied as well as the transformation of certain lithium alkoxides to the corresponding ketones by electron transfer. Fluorenone was reduced by lithium sec-butoxide to the corresponding lithium ketyl to the extent of 65%. Lithium 9-fluoroenolate underwent in tetrahydrofuran a spontaneous transformation to lithium fluorenone ketyl. This process was interpreted as involving 1,2-hydrogen shift in an oxygen-centred radical. A mechanism for the Meerwein-Pondorf-Verley-type reductions is proposed, invoking single electron as well as 1,2-hydrogen shift steps.     

热压法构筑锂负极聚偏氟乙烯基双功能保护层的研究

锂金属具有高比容量(3860 mA·h/g)和低电化学电位(-3.04 V vs. SHE), 是一种极具潜力的新型电池负极材料. 然而, 锂金属电化学稳定性差, 导致电池循环寿命受限, 容易产生枝晶, 造成电池短路, 引发安全风险, 而其对空气及环境的高度敏感性也极大增加了电池制作的难度与成本, 限制了其应用推广. 改善锂金属负极的界面稳定性被认为是提升锂金属电池性能的重要途径. 本文通过简单直接的热压法在锂金属负极表面构筑了聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)基双功能保护层, 使锂金属的空气稳定性提升至约120 min, 并延长了锂金属对称电池的循环寿命至约1200 h; 再通过在PVDF保护层内引入亲锂的SnO₂粒子, 形成的无机有机复合保护层可以通过原位合金化反应提供锂沉积的形核位点, 在保持良好循环稳定性的基础上进一步降低成锂沉积的过电位, 极化过电位从0.016 V降低到0.007 V. 含有该保护层的全电池展现出约200次的长循环寿命与90%以上的高容量保持率, 在3C高倍率下放电比容量仍达127 mA·h/g. 提出的双功能电极界面保护层策略能有效提升锂金属负极空气稳定性和电化学性能.     

Extractive separation of lithium isotopes by 4-tert-butylbenzo-15-crown-5

Based on the principle of an empirical equation, an extractive process has been developed for separating isotopes of lithium. A 2.5M aqueous solution of lithium perchlorate was contacted with twice its volume of 1.0M solution of 4-tert-butylbenzo-15-crown-5 in nitrobenzene at 25 °C to obtain a lithium isotope separation factor of 1.036 and a percent extaction of lithium reaching 45%. With 13 stages of extraction, the concentration of lithium perchlorate in the raffinate was reduced from 2.5M to 2.5×10^–4M to meet the needs of recycling cascade. With 4 stages of scrubbing by use of identical volumes of water at 60 °C, the overall recovery of lithium was found to be >99%.     

Alumina nanotubes containing lithium of high ion mobility

We revealed the first example of a crystalline lithium aluminate nanotube with thermal stability prepared by a surfactant-driven hydrothermal procedure. The obtained nanotube showed an interesting structure unknown thus far for oxide nanotubes such as cylindrical bundles of lithium aluminate subnanotubules. These novel nanotubules had walls of crystalline lithium aluminate with a honeycomblike Al-O wall-network surrounding a central lithium core that forms a linear array of atoms and could be a promising solid ion conducting material.     

Stereochimie de la deprotonation et de la reaction d'aldolisation des dithioesters

Cis lithium thioenolates are preferentially formed by deprotonation of dithiopropanoates with lithium diisopropylamide in tetrahydro-furan at -78°C. The cis selectivity observed, is unproved by increasing the alkylthio group size or by the ability of this group to chelate the lithium cation. When more bulkier bases such as lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperi-dide or lithium hexamethyldisilazane are used, the selectivity is lowered. This lowering of selectivity is suppressed when the deprotonation is performed in presence of 12-crown-4. Addition of hexamethyl phosphoramide to the base does not invert the selectivity as it uas reported for the deprotonation of esters ; a rather better cis selectivity is reached in the case of methoxymethyl dithiopropanoate. These original results are well understood in terms of an open transition state model. Preformed lithium thioenolates are reacted uith a variety of aldehydes and afford stereo-specifically syn aldols. The influence of hexamethylphosphoramide and reaction time is also examined.     

Electronic charge density and mean kinetic energy of lithium orbitals in LiH,LiH+, Li2, Li2+, LiH2+, and Li2H+

The electron density near the lithium nucleus in the species LiH, LiH⁺, Li₂, Li₂⁺, LiH₂⁺, and Li₂H⁺ was analyzed by transforming the SCF molecular orbitals into a sum of atomic contribnutions, for both core and valence orbitals. These “hybrid-atomic” orbitals were used to compare: electron densities, orbital polarizations, and orbital mean kinetic energies with the corresponding lithium atom quantities. Core-orbital electron densities at the lithium nucleus were observed to increase by up to 0.5% relative to the lithium atom 1s orbital. Lithium cores also exhibited polarization but, surprisingly, in the direction away from the internuclear region. Similar dramatic changes were seen in the electron densities of the valence orbitals of lithium: The electron density at the nucleus for these orbitals increased two-fold for homonuclear species and twenty-fold for heteronuclear triatomic species relative to the electron density at the nucleus in lithium atom. The polarization of the valence orbital electronic charge, in the vicinity of the lithium nucleus, was also away from the internuclear region. The mean “hybrid-atomic” orbital kinetic energies associated with the lithium atom in the molecules also showed changes relative to the free lithium atom. Such changes, accompanying bond formation, were relatively small for the lithium core orbitals (within 0.2% of the value for lithium atom). The orbital kinetic energies for the lithium valence electrons, however, increased considerably relative to the lithium atom: By a factor of about 2 in homonuclear diatomics, by a factor of 7 in heteronuclear diatomics, and by a factor of 11 in the triatomic species. In summary, the total electronic density (core plus valence) at the lithium nucleus remained remarkably constant for all of the species studied, regardless of the effective charge on lithium. Thus, the drastic changes noted in the individual lithium orbitals occurred in a cooperative fashion so as to preserve a constant total electron density in the vicinity of the lithium nucleus. In all cases, bond formation was accompanied by an increase in the orbital kinetic energy of the lithium valence orbital. We suggest that these two observations represent important and significant features of chemical bonding which have not previously been emphasized.     

The glass transition behaviour of salted nylon 6

Summary Glass transition measurements of nylon-6/lithium halides mixtures have been carried out in wide range of frequency with the aid of different experimental techniques.The results show an increase of the glass transition temperature when the salt is present and prove the larger effectiveness of lithium chloride with respect of lithium bromide.This effect, in line with the large reduction of the specific volume caused by the salt, is due to the formation of a pseudo-cross-linking between lithium ions and the carbonyl-oxygen groups of the polyamide.     

Determination of lithium stearate in sebacate-based lubricants by atomic absorption

An accurate method is proposed for the determination of lithium stearate in sebacate-based lubricants. The sample is treated with dilute hydrochloric acid and an extraction is performed with ethyl ether to remove di-isopropyl phosphite which would otherwise interfere by causing the subsequent precipitation of lithium phosphate or lithium metaphosphate. The aqueous extract is then evaporated to fuming with perchloric acid and the lithium is determined by atomic absorption.     

Computational strategies for evaluating barrier heights for gas-phase reactions of lithium enolates

Gas-phase activation energies were calculated for three lithium enolate reactions by using several different ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) methods to determine which levels of theory generate acceptable results. The reactions included an aldol-type addition of an enolate to an aldehyde, a proton transfer from an alcohol to a lithium enolate, and an S(N)2 reaction of an enolate with chloromethane. For each reaction, the calculations were performed for both the monomeric and dimeric forms of the lithium enolate. It was found that transition state geometry optimization with B3LYP followed by single point MP2 calculations generally provided acceptable results compared to higher level ab initio methods.     

Hydroacridines and related compounds

One hydrogen atom is replaced by lithium in the reaction of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine and sym-octahydroacridine with phenyllithium; effective replacement of a second hydrogen atom by lithium becomes possible after replacement of the first lithium by an alkyl group. This makes it possible to achieve step-wise alkylation.See [1] for communication VIII.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 673–675, May, 1972.     

Interfacial Evolution of Lithium Dendrites and Their Solid Electrolyte Interphase Shells of Quasi-Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries

Unstable electrode/solid-state electrolyte interfaces and internal lithium dendrite penetration hamper the applications of solid-state lithium-metal batteries (SSLMBs), and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Herein, in situ optical microscopy provides insights into the lithium plating/stripping processes in a gel polymer electrolyte and reveals its dynamic evolution. Spherical lithium deposits evolve into moss-like and branch-shaped lithium dendrites with increasing current densities. Remarkably, the on-site-formed solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) shell on the lithium dendrite is distinctly captured after lithium stripping. Inducing an on-site-formed SEI shell with an enhanced modulus to wrap the lithium precipitation densely and uniformly can regulate dendrite-free behaviors. An in-depth understanding of lithium dendrite evolution and its functional SEI shell will aid in the optimization of SSLMBs.     

Interfacial Evolution of Lithium Dendrites and Their Solid Electrolyte Interphase Shells of Quasi‐Solid‐State Lithium‐Metal Batteries

Unstable electrode/solid‐state electrolyte interfaces and internal lithium dendrite penetration hamper the applications of solid‐state lithium‐metal batteries (SSLMBs), and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Herein, in situ optical microscopy provides insights into the lithium plating/stripping processes in a gel polymer electrolyte and reveals its dynamic evolution. Spherical lithium deposits evolve into moss‐like and branch‐shaped lithium dendrites with increasing current densities. Remarkably, the on‐site‐formed solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) shell on the lithium dendrite is distinctly captured after lithium stripping. Inducing an on‐site‐formed SEI shell with an enhanced modulus to wrap the lithium precipitation densely and uniformly can regulate dendrite‐free behaviors. An in‐depth understanding of lithium dendrite evolution and its functional SEI shell will aid in the optimization of SSLMBs.     

Facile Generation of Polymer–Alloy Hybrid Layers for Dendrite‐Free Lithium‐Metal Anodes with Improved Moisture Stability

Lithium‐metal anodes are recognized as the most promising next‐generation anodes for high‐energy‐storage batteries. However, lithium dendrites lead to irreversible capacity decay in lithium‐metal batteries (LMBs). Besides, the strict assembly‐environment conditions of LMBs are regarded as a challenge for practical applications. In this study, a workable lithium‐metal anode with an artificial hybrid layer composed of a polymer and an alloy was designed and prepared by a simple chemical‐modification strategy. Treated lithium anodes remained dendrite‐free for over 1000 h in a Li–Li symmetric cell and exhibited outstanding cycle performance in high‐areal‐loading Li–S and Li–LiFePO₄ full cells. Moreover, the treated lithium showed improved moisture stability that benefits from the hydrophobicity of the polymer, thus retaining good electrochemical performance after exposure to humid air.     

Realisation of an all solid state lithium battery using solid high temperature plastic crystal electrolytes exhibiting liquid like conductivity

Replacement of volatile and combustible electrolytes in conventional lithium batteries is desirable for two reasons: safety concerns and increase in specific energy. In this work we consider the use of an ionic organic plastic crystal material (IOPC), N-ethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate, [C2mpyr][BF(4)], as a solid-state electrolyte for lithium battery applications. The effect of inclusion of 1 to 33 mol% lithium tetrafluoroborate, LiBF(4), into [C2mpyr][BF(4)] has been investigated over a wide temperature range by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and cycling of full Li|LiFePO(4) batteries. The increases in ionic conductivity by orders of magnitude observed at higher temperature are most likely associated with an increase in Li ion mobility in the highest plastic phase. At concentrations >5 mol% LiBF(4) the ionic conductivity of these solid-state composites is comparable to the ionic conductivity of room temperature ionic liquids. Galvanostatic cycling of Li|Li symmetrical cells showed that the reversibility of the lithium metal redox reaction at the interface of this plastic crystal electrolyte is sufficient for lithium battery applications. For the first time we demonstrate an all solid state lithium battery incorporating solid electrolytes based on IOPC as opposed to conventional flammable organic solvents.     

Metallic Li in carbonaceous nanotubes grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition from a metalorganic precursor

Metallic Li in carbonaceous nanostructures was obtained in high concentration (as much as 33.4%) through metalorganic chemical vapor deposition involving certain lithium–aminoalkyl moieties, which are formed in situ , by decomposition of a precursor containing both cobalt and lithium. The bimetallic complex containing both lithium and cobalt was characterized by IR spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements performed on the as‐grown films demonstrate that lithium can be stable in metallic form in such a film. Results of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis of the as‐grown films are presented as direct evidence of the formation and stabilization of metallic lithium in carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes, encapsulating metallic lithium, can potentially act as a miniaturized nanobattery. Such a battery would be potentially useful in the next generation of communication and remote sensing devices, where a pulse of current is required for their operation. In addition, with metallic lithium, having an effective nuclear magnetic moment, such materials can be envisioned to show potential applications in devices based on nuclear magnetic resonances. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.