Low-temperature performance of Li-ion cells with a LiBF<Subscript>4</Subscript>-based electrolyte

The effect of LiBF₄ on the low-temperature performance of a Li-ion cell was studied by using a 1:1:1 (wt) EC/DMC/DEC mixed solvent. The results show that the LiBF₄-based electrolyte has a 2- to 3-fold lower ionic conductivity and shows rather higher freezing temperature compared with a LiPF₆-based electrolyte. Owing to electrolyte freezing, cycling performance of the Li-ion cell using LiBF₄ was significantly decreased when the temperature fell below –20 °C. However, impedance data show that at –20 °C the LiBF₄ cell has lower charge-transfer resistance than the LiPF₆ cell. In spite of the relatively lower conductivity of the LiBF₄-based electrolyte, the cell based on it shows slightly lower polarization and higher capacity in the liquid temperature range (above –20 °C) of the electrolyte. This fact reveals that ionic conductivity of the electrolytes is not a limitation to the low-temperature performance of the Li-ion cell. Therefore, LiBF₄ may be a good salt for the low-temperature electrolyte of a Li-ion cell if a solvent system that is of low freezing temperature, high solubility to LiBF₄, and good compatibility with a graphite anode can be formulated. Electronic Publication     

Solubilization of 1-butanol in a sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly(ethylene oxide) system by NMR and conductivity at 298.1 and 283.1 K

 The effects of adding 0.1 molal 1-butanol to the aqueous SDS system at 298.1 K and the aqueous PEO–SDS system at 298.1 and 283.1 K have been studied. NMR NOESY experiments on the PEO– SDS–1-butanol system in D₂O were obtained. NMR self-diffusion experiments and measurements of NMR chemical shifts and specific conductivity were carried out on the samples, i.e. on samples with PEO and without PEO. The addition of 1-butanol to an aqueous SDS–PEO system decreases the critical aggregation concentration (c.a.c). Determination of the second critical concentration (c ₂) depends on the method of measurements, i.e. the molecular species monitored. Conductivity measurements will give c ₂ as the SDS concentration where free micelles (micelles not bound to the polymer) are formed. PEO self-diffusion measurements, on the other hand, determine c ₂ as the SDS concentration where the polymer is saturated with SDS. Both the c.a.c and the c ₂ decrease upon 1-butanol addition. However, the c ₂ value exhibits a larger decrease than the c.a.c value. Thus, the amount of polymer bound surfactant molecules decreases upon addition of 1-butanol. Micellar solubilization of 1-butanol starts at c.a.c., but the solubilization capacity is low until the surfactant concentration reaches c ₂, where the increase in solubilization is significant. Thus, solubilization data can be used to detect c ₂, the concentration where free micelles form. Received: 21 July 1997 Accepted: 9 February 1998     

Dispersion behavior of oleic acid in aqueous media: from micelles to emulsions

 Dispersion behavior of aqueous solutions containing oleic acid (RH), sodium oleate (R^-Na⁺), and NaCl was investigated by turbidity and dynamic light-scattering measurements. Changes of the size of scattering particles in solution composed of 1 mM oleic acid and 100 mM NaCl were traced as a function of the degree of ionization α, in terms of radius of the equivalent hydrodynamic sphere. Large associated micelles with a radius of 30 nm appeared by a slight decline of α and existed at α higher than 0.75. They were responsible for the three-phase equilibrium (solution, micelle and aggregated micelle, and acid–soap, (R^-Na⁺)₃RH) characterized by a constant pH of 9.75. The appearance of a new phase, (R^-Na⁺)₃RH, contributed to increase both the turbidity and averaged scattering particle size. As the breakdown of the three-phase equilibrium, radius of scattering particles increased significantly. Finally, oleic acid oil droplets were separated from aqueous phase at low α. When the system was buffered by tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris), scattering particles with a weight-averaged hydrodynamic radius of 75 nm existed in a wide range of α from 0.85 to 0.65. In Tris buffered solution, turbidity formation was induced by the increase in the number of aggregated particles. Received: 12 November 1996 Accepted: 4 April 1997     

Solubilization of styrene in the catanionic system dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide–n′-dodecanephosphonic acid

 The solubilization of styrene in micelles of the catanionic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (DTAOH)–n-dodecane-phosphonic acid (DPA) was studied by UV–Vis. spectrometry, as a function of the DTAOH:DPA proportion in the surfactant mixture. The styrene molecules are adsorbed at the surface of the micelles, with the vinyl group closer to the hydrocarbon core than the aromatic ring, which is oriented to the water. In micelles with an excess of DTAOH, the dielectric constant of the water surrounding the micelles was strongly affected by the non-neutralized –N(CH₃)⁺ ₃ groups at the Stem layer. In micelles with an excess of DPA, the –PO₃H₂ groups which are not neutralized by –N(CH₃)⁺ ₃, remain almost unionized and hydrogen-bonded. The effect of the micellar surface on the surrounding water dielectric constant dropped sharply. The dielectric constant in the hydrogen-bonded polar layer is ∼65, rising to the value of pure water very close to the micellar surface. Received: 2 September 1997 Accepted: 20 October 1997     

XAFS investigation of [Pd(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>][AuCl<Subscript>4</Subscript>]<Subscript>2</Subscript> and its thermolysis products

Thermolysis of double complex salt [Pd(NH₃)₄][AuCl₄]₂ has been studied in helium atmosphere from ambient to 350 °C. The XAFS of Pd K and Au L₃ edges and thermogravimetry measurements have been carried out to characterize the intermediates and the final product. In the temperature range 115–160 °C the complex is decomposed to form Pd(NH₃)₂Cl₂ and AuCl_4−x N _x species with x ranging from 2 to 3. Subsequent heating of the intermediate up to 300 °C leads to the total loss of NH₃. The Au–Cl and Au–Au bonds form the local environment of Au at the stage of decomposition while only four chlorine atoms are around Pd. At the temperature of 330 °C the Au and Pd nanoparticles as well as residues of palladium chloride are detected. The final product consists of separated Au and Pd nanoparticles.     

Low-temperature behavior of Li3V2(PO4)3/C as cathode material for lithium ion batteries

The electrochemical performance of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C was investigated at various low temperatures in the electrolyte 1.0 mol dm⁻³ LiPF₆/ethyl carbonate (EC)+diethyl carbonate (DEC)+dimethyl carbonate (DMC) (volume ratio 1:1:1). The stable specific discharge capacity is 125.4, 122.6, 119.3, 116.6, 111.4, and 105.7 mAh g⁻¹ at 26, 10, 0, −10, −20, and −30 °C, respectively, in the voltage range of 2.3–4.5 V at 0.2 C rate. When the temperature decreases from −30 to −40 °C, there is a rapid decline in the capacity from 105.7 to 69.5 mAh g⁻¹, implying that there is a nonlinear relationship between the performance and temperature. With temperature decreasing, R _ct (corresponding to charge transfer resistance) increases rapidly, D (the lithium ion diffusion coefficients) decreases sharply, and the performance of electrolyte degenerates obviously, illustrating that the low-temperature electrochemical performance of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C is mainly limited by R _ct, D _Li, and electrolyte.     

New hybrid chelating sorbents with grafted 3-aminopropionate groups based on mixed silicon,aluminum, titanium,or zirconium oxides

A series of new hybrid organo-inorganic sorbents with the 3-aminopropionate chelating group was synthesized. The synthesis includes the copolycondensation (sol—gel method) of tetraethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and several modifiers (MeSi(OEt)₃, EtSi(OEt)₃, Ti(OEt)₄, AlONO₃, ZrOCl₂) followed by carboxyethylation with acrylic acid. The obtained chelating sorbents were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry. The N-carboxylated sorbents have a higher sorption capacity with respect to metal ions (0.5–0.9 mmol g⁻¹, pH 6.3, NH₄OAc, 20 °C) than the starting sorbents with the primary amino group (0.05–0.2 mmol g⁻¹) and manifest high selectivity for copper(II) ion extraction. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1783–1788, August, 2005.     

Micellization of triblock copoly(ethyleneoxide/tetrahydrofuran/ ethylene oxide)

 The association behaviour of triblock copoly(ethylene oxide/tetrahydrofuran/ethylene oxide), in particular E₁₀₀T₂₇E₁₀₀, in aqueous solutions has been investigated by means of static and dynamic light scattering, nuclear magnetic reso-nance (NMR) and surface tension techniques. On raising the polymer concentration at room temperature, the copolymer aggregates to form micelles with an aggregation number of about 105 (R _G, mic≈15 nm and R _H, mic≈13 nm, as revealed by light scattering and FT-PGSE NMR measurements, respectively). The micelles are kinetically quite stable, the micellar lifetime is shown to be more than 1 h. The residence time of a single unimer in a micelle is more than 140 ms. The apparent radius of gyration R _G, mic is fairly independent of concentration, but large effects are observed on varying the temperature. Raising the temperature initially results in an increase of the apparent micellar size, followed by a maximum at an intermediate temperature (≈45 °C). At higher temperatures a contraction of the micelles is observed. The shape of the micelles also appear to vary in this temperature interval. The interactions responsible for these phenomena are discussed in terms of, e.g., the temperature-dependent solubility of the alkylene oxide segments in water and polydispersity effects. Received: 29 January 1996 acccepted : 4 November 1996     

Synthesis and characterization of sol–gel derived Ag(Nb,Ta)O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanopowder

Perovskite-type Ag(Nb_0.6Ta_0.4)O₃ nanopowder was prepared by the sol–gel process from the AgNO₃, Ta₂O₅ and Nb₂O₅, with help of K₂CO₃, avoiding use of strong corrosive acid or expensive niobium ethoxide and tantalum ethoxide. The results suggested that thermal decomposition of the xerogel took place when the xerogel was heated at 450 °C. Well-crystallized single-phased powder was obtained at low temperature about 680 °C. With the heat-treatment temperature increasing (680–1,100 °C), the intensity of the diffraction peaks increased. The crystallite size determined by Scherer formula and the result suggested that higher temperature lead to larger crystallite size. Moreover, the average grain size 30–50 nm was estimated by a field emission scanning electron microscope. The influence of holding time on microstructures indicated that the homogeneous and small grains were obtained at 800 °C for 2–4 h while larger ones for 8–16 h.     

Effect of the nature of the solvent and the supporting electrolyte on the electrochemically activated insertion of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> into fluorine-containing aromatic imines with the production of amino acids

The effect of the nature of the solvent (DMF, DMSO, CH₃CN, N-methylpyrrolidinone, THF) and supporting electrolyte (Bu₄NBr, Et₄NBr, Et₄NClO₄,Me₄NBr, LiBF₄, NaBF₄, and KBF₄) on the electrochemical activation and carboxylation of fluorine-containing aromatic imines by the action of CO₂ was studied for the case of p-and m-fluorobenzylideneaniline. It was shown that factors promoting the formation of intimate ion pairs between the radical-anions of the imines – the initial products of the processes in the electrochemical activation of the imines – and the cations of the supporting electrolyte (decrease of the polarity of the medium and decrease of the radius of the cation in the supporting electrolyte) significantly reduce the effectiveness of electrochemical carboxylation right down to its complete cessation.     

A reality check on using NaAlH4 as a hydrogen storage material

Sodium aluminum hydride or sodium alanate (NaAlH₄) has been considered as a potential material for hydrogen storage. Although its theoretical hydrogen storage capacity is 5.5 wt.% at 250 °C, the material still has its drawback in the regeneration issue. With the use of certain catalysts, the regeneration problem can somewhat be alleviated with added benefits in the decrease in the hydrogen decomposition temperature and the increase in the decomposition rate. This work summarizes what we have learned from the decomposition of NaAlH₄ with/without catalysts and co-dopants. The decomposition was carried out using a thermovolumetric apparatus. For the tested catalysts—HfCl₄, VCl₃, TiO₂, TiCl₃, and Ti—the decomposition temperature of the hydride decreases; however, they affect the temperature in the subsequent cycles differently and TiO₂ appears to have the most positive effect on the temperature. Sample segregation and the morphological change are postulated to hinder the reversibility of the hydride. To prevent the problems, co-dopants—activated carbon, graphite, and MCM-41—were loaded. Results show that the hydrogen reabsorption capacity of HfCl₄- and TiO₂-doped NaAlH₄ added with the co-dopants increases 10–50% compared with that without a co-dopant, and graphite is the best co-dopant in terms of reabsorption capacity. In addition, the decomposition temperature in the subsequent cycles of the co-dopant doped samples decreases about 10–15 °C as compared to the sample without a co-dopant. Porosity and large surface area of the co-dopant may decrease the segregation of bulk aluminum after the desorption and improve hydrogen diffusion in/out bulk of desorbed/reabsorbed samples.     

Physicochemical investigation of the solubilization of ytterbium nitrate in AOT reverse micelles and liquid crystals

A wide investigation of the solubilization of the water-soluble salt Yb(NO₃)₃ in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles and AOT liquid crystals has been carried out. After saturation of water/AOT/organic solvent w/o microemulsions with pure Yb(NO₃)₃, the Yb(NO₃)₃/AOT composites were prepared by complete evaporation under vacuum of the volatile components (water and organic solvent) of the salt-containing microemulsions. It was observed that these composites can be totally dissolved in pure n-heptane or CCl₄, allowing the solubilization of a noticeable amount of Yb(NO₃)₃ in quite dry apolar media. By UV–vis–NIR, FT-IR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopies, some information on the state of Yb(NO₃)₃ within AOT reverse micelles were acquired, whereas by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), it has been ascertained that Yb(NO₃)₃ is quite homogeneously distributed as very small clusters among the reverse micelles. An analysis of SAXS and wide-angle X-ray scattering spectra of Yb(NO₃)₃/AOT composites leads to the hypothesis that, also in these systems, Yb(NO₃)₃ is dispersed in the surfactant matrix as very small clusters.     

Synthesis and thermal characterization of NZP compounds Na1?xLixZr2(PO4)3 (x?=?0.00–0.75)

Sodium zirconium phosphate (NZP) composition Na_1−x Li _x Zr₂(PO₄)₃, x = 0.00–0.75 has been synthesized by method of solid state reaction method from Na₂CO₃·H₂O, Li₂CO₃, ZrO₂, and NH₄H₂PO₄, sintering at 1050–1250 °C for 8 h only in other to determine the effect on thermal properties, such as the phase formation of the compound. The materials have been characterized by TGA and DTA thermal analysis methods from room temperature to 1000 °C. It was observed that the increase in lithium content of the samples increased thermal stability of the samples and the DTA peaks shifted towards higher temperatures with increase in lithium content. The thermal stability regions for all the sample was observed to be from 640 °C. The sample with the highest lithium content, x = 0.75, exhibited the greatest thermal stability over the temperature range.     

Improving safety performance of lactose-fueled binary pyrotechnic systems of smoke dyes

The lactose/KClO₃ is a widely used pyrotechnic mixture to vaporize organic materials, such as smoke dyes. However, because of low ignition temperature of this mixture, serious precaution should be taken into account to prevent its accidental self-ignition. In order to find a safe and efficient alternative of this conventional mixture, KClO₃ has been replaced by common oxidizing agents including KMnO₄, KNO₃, KClO₄, Ba(NO₃)₂, PbO₂ and NH₄ClO₄. TG and DTA analysis have been used to obtain thermal characteristic of the mixtures. Based on ignition temperature of the pyrotechnic mixtures we can divide them into four categories as follows: (1) the mixture igniting at low temperature, i.e., at about 200 °C. (2) Moderate temperature igniting mixture, in which ignition occurs at 300–400 °C. (3) High temperature igniting mixture with ignition temperature higher than 400 °C .(4) Not igniting mixtures. Also, the apparent activation energy (E), ΔG ^#, ΔH ^#, ΔS ^# and critical ignition temperature (T _b ) of the ignition processes of low and moderate temperature igniting mixtures were obtained from the DSC experiments. Finally, among the investigated mixtures, lactose/KNO₃ can be considered as a safe and efficient pyrotechnic composition for vaporization of organic materials, such as smoke dyes, due to its moderate safe ignition temperature.     

Conductance of 1,1-electrolytes in acetonitrile solutions from −40° to 35°C

Conductance data for perchlorates of Li⁺, K⁺, Me₄N⁺, Et₄N⁺, Pr₄N⁺, Bu₄N⁺, iodides of K⁺, Me₄N⁺, i-Am₃BuN⁺, and tetraphenylborates of Na⁺, Bu₄N⁺ and i-Am₃BuN⁺ in acetonitrile solution in the temperature range −40° to 35°C are reported. Λ_° (limiting molar conductance) and K_A (association constant) are evaluated for several temperatures using a conductance equation based on the chemical model of electrolyte solutions including short range forces. Limiting molar ion conductances, λ _ΰ ⁱ , at −35°, −25°, −15°, −5°, 5°, 15° and 25°C are evaluated from temperature dependent limiting transference numbers. Enthalpies and entropies of association, obtained from the temperature dependence of the association constants, are also presented. Dedicated to the memory of Professor Raymond M. Fuoss.     

Crystal structures of seven-coordinate (NH4)2[MnII(edta)(H2O)]·3H2O, (NH4)2[MnII(cydta)(H2O)]·4H2O and K2[MNII(hdtpa)]·3.5H2O complexes

The title compounds, (NH₄)₂[Mn^II(edta)(H₂O)]·3H₂O (H₄edta = ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid), (NH₄)₂[Mn^II(cydta)(H₂O)]·4H₂O (H₄cydta = trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid) and K₂[Mn^II(Hdtpa)]·3.5H₂O (H₅dtpa = diethylenetriamine-N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentaacetic acid), were prepared; their compositions and structures were determined by elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. In these three complexes, the Mn²⁺ ions are all seven-coordinated and have a pseudomonocapped trigonal prismatic configuration. All the three complexes crystallize in triclinic system in P-1 space group. Crystal data: (NH₄)₂[Mn^II(edta)(H₂O)]·3H₂O complex, a = 8.774(3) ?, b = 9.007(3) ?, c = 13.483(4) ?, α = 80.095(4)°, β = 80.708(4)°, γ = 68.770(4)°, V = 972.6(5) ?³, Z = 2, D _c = 1.541 g/cm³, μ = 0.745 mm⁻¹, R = 0.033 and wR = 0.099 for 3406 observed reflections with I ≥ 2σ(I); (NH₄)₂[Mn^II(cydta)(H₂O)]·4H₂O complex, a = 8.9720(18) ?, b = 9.4380(19) ?, c = 14.931(3) ?, α = 76.99(3)°, β = 83.27(3)°, γ = 75.62(3)°, V = 1190.8(4)?³, Z = 2, D _c = 1.426 g/cm³, μ = 0.625 mm⁻¹, R = 0.061 and wR = 0.197 for 3240 observed reflections with I ≥ 2σ(I); K₂[Mn^II(Hdtpa)]·3.5H₂O complex, a = 8.672(3) ?, b = 9.059(3) ?, c = 15.074(6) ?, α = 95.813(6)°, β = 96.665(6)°, γ = 99.212(6)°, V = 1152.4(7) ?³, Z = 2, D _c = 1.687 g/cm³, μ = 1.006 mm⁻¹, R = 0.037 and wR = 0.090 for 4654 observed reflections with I ≥ 2σ(I). Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2008 by X. F. Wang, J. Gao, J. Wang, Zh. H. Zhang, Y. F. Wang, L. J. Chen, W. Sun, and X. D. Zhang The text was submitted by the authors in English. Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 753–759, July–August, 2008.     

Thermal study on electrospun polyvinylpyrrolidone/ammonium metatungstate nanofibers: optimising the annealing conditions for obtaining WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanofibers

This article demonstrates how important it is to find the optimal heating conditions when electrospun organic/inorganic composite fibers are annealed to get ceramic nanofibers in appropriate quality (crystal structure, composition, and morphology) and to avoid their disintegration. Polyvinylpyrrolidone [PVP, (C₆H₉NO) _n ] and ammonium metatungstate [AMT, (NH₄)₆[H₂W₁₂O₄₀]·nH₂O] nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning aqueous solutions of PVP and AMT. The as-spun fibers and their annealing were characterized by TG/DTA-MS, XRD, SEM, Raman, and FTIR measurements. The 400–600 nm thick and tens of micrometer long PVP/AMT fibers decomposed thermally in air in four steps, and pure monoclinic WO₃ nanofibers formed between 500 and 600 °C. When a too high heating rate and heating temperature (10 °C min⁻¹, 600 °C) were used, the WO₃ nanofibers completely disintegrated. At lower heating rate but too high temperature (1 °C min⁻¹, 600 °C), the fibers broke into rods. If the heating rate was adequate, but the annealing temperature was too low (1 °C min⁻¹, 500 °C), the nanofiber morphology was excellent, but the sample was less crystalline. When the optimal heating rate and temperature (1 °C min⁻¹, 550 °C) were applied, WO₃ nanofibers with excellent morphology (250 nm thick and tens of micrometer long nanofibers, which consisted of 20–80 nm particles) and crystallinity (monoclinic WO₃) were obtained. The FTIR and Raman measurements confirmed that with these heating parameters the organic matter was effectively removed from the nanofibers and monoclinic WO₃ was present in a highly crystalline and ordered form.     

Effect of some ammonium salts on thermal decomposition of impregnated wood and properties of activated carbons

Methods of chemical, thermal, IR spectral, and X-ray phase analysis were used to study the effect of ammonium additives NH₄Cl + NH₄NO₃ introduced into a phosphorus-nitrogen formulation on the thermal decomposition of impregnated wood in the temperature range 20–700°C and on adsorption characteristics of the resulting activated carbon.     

Cobalt nanoparticles in block copolymer micelles: Preparation and properties

 The preparation and properties of Co nanoparticles in polystyrene(PS)-poly-4-vinyl-py-ridine(PVP) micelles were studied. Elementary Co was generated by two methods: (i) by reduction of micelles loaded with CoCl₂, and (ii) by thermal decomposition of Co₂(CO)₈ in micel-lar solutions of such block copolymers. Co particles formed by both processes are effectively stabilized by the block copolymer matrix and do not aggregate. For CoCl₂ as a Co-source, the formed particles have a size less than 1 nm. Thermal treatment of such dried polymers at 200 ^°C for 2 h leads to spherical particles of 3–5 nm in size. The polymeric hybrid materials prepared in this way display remarkably high values of magnetization at rather low Co contents in the polymer, i.e., we obtain a tenfold increase of the specific magnetization density. Co₂(CO)₈ as a Co source, results in a more complex behavior. Co₂(CO)₈ dissolves in the solvent as well as in the micelle core where it is converted to an cationic–anionic complex involving the 4-VP units. The shape and size of the Co nanoparticles formed by thermolysis can be controlled by the balance of 4-VP/Co and can be varied from spherical particles in the limit of lower Co loads being mainly attached to the micelle core to a star-like and cubic morphology in case of excess of Co₂(CO)₈. Both superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic materials can be prepared. For ferromagnetic samples coercive force varies from 250 to 475 Oe depending on Co content and polymer sample. Received : 27 September 1996 Accepted: 22 November 1996     

Micellization of dodecyldimethylethyl- ammonium bromide in aqueous solution

Specific conductivity of aqueous solutions of dodecyldimethylethylammonium bromide has been determined in the temperature range of 15-40°C. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) and ionization degree of the micelles, b, were determined from the data. Thermodynamic functions, such as standard Gibbs free energy, ΔG _m°, enthalpy, ΔG _m°, and entropy, ΔG _m°, of micellization, were estimated by assuming that the system conforms to the mass action model. The change in heat capacity upon micellization, ΔG _m°, was estimated from the temperature dependence of ΔG _m°. An enthalpy-entropy compensation phenomenom for the studied system has been found. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.