Ionic Pathways in Li13Si4 investigated by 6Li and 7Li solid state NMR experiments

Local environments and dynamics of lithium ions in the binary lithium silicide Li₁₃Si₄ have been studied by ⁶Li MAS-NMR, ⁷Li spin-lattice relaxation time and site-resolved ⁷Li 2D exchange NMR measurements as a function of mixing time. Variable temperature experiments result in distinct differences in activation energies characterizing the transfer rates between the different lithium sites. Based on this information, a comprehensive picture of the preferred ionic transfer pathways in this silicide has been developed. With respect to local mobility, the results of the present study suggests the ordering Li6/Li7>Li5>Li1>Li4 >Li2/Li3. Mobility within the z=0.5 plane is distinctly higher than within the z=0 plane, and the ionic transfer between the planes is most facile via Li1/Li5 exchange. The lithium ionic mobility can be rationalized on the basis of the type of the coordinating silicide anions and the lithium-lithium distances within the structure. Lithium ions strongly interacting with the isolated Si⁴⁻ anions have distinctly lower mobility than those the coordination of which is dominated by Si₂⁶⁻ dumbbells.     

Correlation Between Segmental Dynamics,Glass Transition,and Lithium Ion Conduction in Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)/Ionic Liquid Mixture

A solid-state membrane of a polymer/ionic liquid miscible mixture, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF₆) doped with lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄), was prepared and characterized. Miscibility, segmental dynamics, glass transition and ionic conductivity were investigated. Based on the results from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), the system is fully miscible and of single phase. Broadening of the glass transition was observed when increasing the amount of ionic liquid, which can be attributed to mobility and flexibility differences between the polymer and ionic liquid. A large dynamical asymmetry and intrinsic mobility difference allow segmental and structural motion/relaxation over a wider temperature range by increasing the amount of ionic liquid. Saturation recovery spin–lattice relaxation time (T₁) versus temperature obtained from ⁷Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) showed high mobility of lithium ions, which was almost temperature independent. Lithium ion conductivity significantly increases with increasing ionic liquid amount. It is concluded that lithium ion mobility and its conduction is positively correlated to segmental dynamics of ion carriers in this model system, which is more noticeable in mixtures with higher amounts of the ionic liquid.     

7Li NMR study of the mobility of lithium ions in one-dimensional channels of Nb3Se4

The temperature dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation time T ₁ and the ⁷Li NMR spectra of the Li_0.7Nb₃Se₄ intercalation compound with one-dimensional channel structure have been studied. It is found that the temperature dependence of T ₁ exhibits two relaxation minima, and the quadrupole splitting in the Li NMR spectra shows an anomalous temperature behavior. The inference is drawn that the observed effects are associated with the high-rate diffusive motion of lithium ions along one-dimensional channels and the interchannel transitions.     

6Li and 7Li MAS NMR spectra of complex lyonsite-type Li2Zn2(MoO4)3 and LiRb3Hf2(MoO4)6 lithium molybdates

⁶Li and ⁷Li MAS NMR spectra of complex Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ and LiRb₃Hf₂(MoO₄)₆ molybdates of lyonsite-type structure are studied at temperatures ranging from 25 to 100°C. NMR signals are attributed to their sources. It is shown that the presence of a transition metal such as Hf in the +4 oxidation state in the structure of lyonsite contributes to the increased mobility of lithium ions along the channels of the crystal structure.     

β NMR on8Li in the superiqnic conductor Li3N

Polarized⁸Li nuclei were produced in a Li₃N single crystal by irradiation with polarized neutrons, Β-ray detected NMR signals and spin-lattice relaxation of⁸Li were observed between B and 300 K. In Li₃N there are two non-equivalent Li sites. The corresponding two quadrupole split NMR spectra could be resolved. From the measured relaxation rates activation enthalpies for two diffusion processes were deduced.     

Influence of lattice defects on the reactivity of lithium titanate

⁷Li NMR spectroscopic experiments on Li₂TiO₃ demonstrate that the presence of planar crystal defects leads to lithium ion mobility in the temperature range of 30–100°C. Kinetics studies show the number of planar defects (and thus the rate of Li-H ion exchange) depends on the method and conditions of lithium titanate synthesis. The complete exchange of Li⁺ for H⁺ results in the formation of crystalline titanium oxyhydroxide TiO(OH)₂ due to stabilization of defect state.     

NMR study of pure and doped β-LiAl

The NMR spin-lattice relaxation time, T_I, has been measured as a function of temperature for both ⁷Li and ²⁷Al in pure and doped β-LiAl alloys. Compositions with ⁷Li concentration in the range 48.3–54.5% and doping in the form Li₅₀Al_50?xM_x, where M = Ag or In, were studied. The relaxation rates T₁^?1 for the ²⁷Li and the ²⁷Al resonances were found to be peaked functions of temperature with the maxima for ⁷Li appearing at composition dependent temperatures. The ²⁷Al maxima always appeared at a lower temperature, independent of composition, and the ²⁷Al maximum relaxation rate was a strong function of composition in contrast with ⁷Li where the maximum rate was only weakly dependent on composition. The principle relaxation mechanisms are identified as dipole-dipole coupling in the ⁷Li and coupling of the ²⁷Al quadrupole moment to electric field gradients. The temperature dependence of these rates is attributed to the thermally activated diffusion of vacancies of a non-thermal origin in the Li sub-lattice. These vacancies are also responsible for the fluctuating electric field gradients. The results have been analyzed to give the Li diffusion coefficients with associated activation energies and estimates of the vacancy concentration as functions of alloy composition.     

Temperature dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation time for quadrupole nuclei under conditions of NMR line saturation

The contributions of different mechanisms of nuclear spin-lattice relaxation are experimentally separated for ⁶⁹Ga and ⁷¹Ga nuclei in GaAs crystals (nominally pure and doped with copper and chromium), ²³Na nuclei in a nominally pure NaCl crystal, and ²⁷Al nuclei in nominally pure and lightly chromium-doped Al₂O₃ crystals in the temperature range 80–300 K. The contribution of impurities to spin-lattice relaxation is separated under the condition of additional stationary saturation of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) line in magnetic and electric resonance fields. It is demonstrated that, upon suppression of the impurity mechanism of spin-lattice relaxation, the temperature dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation time T₁ for GaAs and NaCl crystals is described within the model of two-phonon Raman processes in the Debye approximation, whereas the temperature dependence of T₁ for corundum crystals deviates from the theoretical curve for relaxation due to the spin-phonon interaction.     

Lithium conductivity and lithium diffusion in NASICON-type Li<Subscript>1+x</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>2–x</Subscript>Al<Subscript>x</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> (x= 0; 0.3) prepared by mechanical activation

LiTi₂(PO₄)₃ (LTP) and Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃ (LATP) (S. g. R-3c) have been prepared using conventional ceramic and mechanical activation (MA) methods. It has been shown that preliminary mechanical activation of initial mixtures leads to different nature and amount of dielectric admixtures in the final product after heat treatment at 800–1000 °C as compared with ceramic method. Transport properties of as prepared materials have been studied by lithium ionic conductivity at d.c. and a.c. (complex impedance method), and ⁷Li NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate T₁ ^–1 measurements. Lithium ionic conductivity of mechanochemically prepared LTP and LATP was characterized by significant reduction of grain boundary resistance, especially for LTP, while the bulk conductivity and Li ion diffusion does not noticeably change. The activation energy of bulk conductivity and Li ion diffusion, i.e. short-range motion, appeared to be almost the same for all samples and was equal to ~0.20 eV. On contrary, the activation energy of d.c.-conductivity, i.e. long-range Li ion motion decreases from ~0.6 eV for ceramic samples to ~0.4 eV for samples prepared via mechanochemical route. It was proposed that MA leads to formation of nano-particulate high-conductive grain boundaries both in LTP and LATP. Paper presented at the 11th EuroConference on the Science and Technology of Ionics, Batz-sur-Mer, Sept. 9–15, 2007.     

Temperature- and Concentration-Dependence of the Spin-Lattice Relaxation Time of Chromium Ions in GASH

Investigations of the temperature- and concentration dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation time T₁ in ferroelectric GASH (= Guanidinium aluminium sulfate hexahydrate) single crystals doped with Cr³⁺-ions are reported. The concentration-dependence found on the higher concentrated crystals C 0.1% Cr³⁺) as well as the observed cross-relaxation are explained in terms of spin-lattice relaxation via exchange pairs. Using the VAN VLECK formalism T₁ has been estimated for Cr³⁺: GASH by comparision of the present system and K-Cr-alum.     

β-Radiation Detected Li Diffusion in the Fast Ionic Conductor Li3N

The method of β-radiation detected nuclear magnetic resonance (β-NMR) was applied to ⁸Li in a ⁷Li₃N single crystal. From NMR signals and spin-lattice relaxation rates the activation enthalpies for two distinct Li⁺ diffusion processes were deduced. Ultraslow diffusion corresponding to ionic jump rates down to 0.1 s^?1 was observed. It could be confirmed that the static electric field gradients at the two inequivalent Li sites have opposite signs.     

Structural Nature of 7Li and 11B Sites by Static NMR and MAS NMR in Nonlinear Optical Material LiCsB6O10

The relationship between structure and nonlinear optical properties in LiCsB₆O₁₀ is characterized using single-crystal nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR. Although the quadrupole parameters for B(1) and B(2) sites were obtained using single-crystal NMR, the T ₁ values for these atomic sites could not be distinguished in this way. Thus, the structural nature of lithium and boron sites in LiCsB₆O₁₀ was investigated using MAS NMR. B(1) and B(2) sites could be distinguished based on the spectrum and T _1ρ obtained from ¹¹B MAS NMR. In addition, the T ₁ and T _1ρ values and activation energies for ⁷Li and ¹¹B are compared. No significant changes were seen in the T _1ρ at the lithium and boron nuclei in LiCsB₆O₁₀.     

Quadrupole interactions in lithium borodeuteride

Polycrystalline samples of lithium borohydride and borodeuteride, LiBH₄ and LiBD₄, are studied by ²H, ⁷Li, and ^10,11B NMR in 7.04 T and 9.35 T magnetic fields in the temperature range 116–580 K. The ^10,11B NMR line shape of the orthorhombic phase of LiBH₄ and LiBD₄ suggests that first-order quadrupole interaction takes place. The quadrupole coupling constant (QCC) χ _q and asymmetry parameter η of the electric field gradient tensor for ¹¹B are described by linear temperature dependences: χ _q (¹¹B) = 177 ? 0.24T and η = 0.043 + 0.0014T. The electric field gradient at the positions of boron nuclei is created by external charges, primarily lithium cations. In the range of 388–391 K, the ⁷Li NMR line shape reflects the coexistence of two phase modifications of LiBH₄ and LiBD₄ and the occurrence of a reversible first-order phase transition. In the temperature range of 390–530 K, the ⁷Li NMR line shape represents a first-order quadrupole perturbed spectrum with zero asymmetry parameter and a weakly temperature dependent ⁷Li QCC. The spin-lattice relaxation time and the NMR line shape of ²H are interpreted in terms of the reorientation of the BD ₄ ^? anion about their proper symmetry axes C₂ and C₃.     

Spin-lattice relaxation by solitons in 13C enriched iodine doped trans-poly acetylene

An experimental study of NMR spin-lattice relaxation of ¹³C in enriched, iodine doped, polyacetylene is presented together with a theoretical analysis of the results based on the existence of solitons in this system. The good agreement with this model and the numerical values obtained here and those measured by different experimental techniques support firmly the applicability of the soliton picture to I₂ doped polyacetylene.     

Li and K NMR relaxation study of a LiKSO4 single crystal

The ⁷Li and ³⁹K NMR relaxations in a LiKSO₄ single crystal grown by the slow evaporation method were investigated by employing a pulse NMR spectrometer. From the experimental data, the quadrupole coupling constant and asymmetry parameter were determined at the temperatures of 180 and 300 K. The relaxation processes of ⁷Li and ³⁹K were studied for the LiKSO₄ crystal, and the relaxation times for the ⁷Li and ³⁹K nuclei exhibit remarkable changes near T_c2 (=190 K). The activation energies for ⁷Li and ³⁹K were determined in phases I and III. The large change in the activation energy at 190 K indicates that the Li and K ions are significantly affected during this transition. The correlation time of the ⁷Li calculated from the spin-lattice relaxation time and quadrupole parameters was larger than that of the ³⁹K calculated using the same method. The reason for this is that the Li ion undergoes molecular motion as in the LiO₄ groups.     

The Challenge of Paramagnetism in Two-Dimensional <Superscript>6,7</Superscript>Li Exchange NMR

^6,7Li fast magic-angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is used to study LiMn₂O₄ and Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃. The presence of paramagnetic transition metal centers in these materials has a profound effect on the resulting NMR spectra. Lithium ion mobility has been studied by two-dimensional (2-D) exchange spectroscopy (EXSY) in Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ but an absence of lithium ion exchange was observed for LiMn₂O₄. Several differences between the two materials are explored to explain these results. LiMn₂O₄ experiences a greater donation of electron spin density to the Li nucleus via the Fermi-contact interaction when compared with Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃. This contributes to a greater hyperfine chemical shift and a larger dependence of chemical shift on temperature. The delocalized electrons in LiMn₂O₄ cause temperature-independent T ₁ relaxation rates and shorter relative T ₂ values. The relative rates of ionic conductivity and spin–lattice or spin–spin relaxation in LiMn₂O₄ and Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ are contrasted to illustrate the constraints on the use of 2-D EXSY to characterize ion dynamics in paramagnetic materials. Authors' address: Gillian R. Goward, Department of Chemistry and Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1, Canada     

Asymmetry of quadrupole doublet of Mössbauer spectra in LiNbO3∶Fe

Polycrystalline samples of LiNbO₃ doped by the enriched⁵⁷Fe isotope have been studied at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures by nuclear γ-resonance (NGR). Iron impurity concentrations were 0.07, 0.30, 1.02, 2.06 at.%, the Li/Nb ratio being 0.935, 0.990, 1.000. An asymmetry of the quadrupole doublet of NGR experimental spectra has been found. Acceptable hypotheses are discussed to explain the nature of the asymmetry: the Goldanskii-Karyagin effect, the effect of sample texture, and the electron and nuclear spin-lattice relaxation effect. On the basis of computed NGR spectra and thorough analysis of the models we can conclude that there is tendency to form coupled pairs of Fe²⁺ cations in neighbour lithium and niobium sites. The probability of the formation of such pairs exceeds considerably the statistical value.     

7Li NMR analysis on perovskite structured Li0.15La0.28TaO3

The nanocrystalline perovskite material Li_0.15La_0.28TaO₃ has been synthesized by alkoxide-free Pechini type sol gel method. ⁷Li NMR measurements were carried out using a Bruker Avance 300 spectrometer at 116 MHz over the temperature range 150 to 400 K. Longitudinal spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) measured by saturation recovery and longitudinal relaxation times in the rotating frame (T_1ρ) measured using the pulse sequence (π/2–spin lock τ acquisition) with lock radio-frequency field υ = 62.5 kHz and the T₂ relaxation time measured by Hahn echo are presented. The static Hahn-echo spectra show two different lithium sites in this perovskite oxide. Further, the relaxation measurements T₁ and T_1ρ show two different types of lithium cations with fast and slow dynamics.     

Optorelaxers: Achieving real-time control of NMR relaxation

We present an approach to increase the detection sensitivity of NMR by shortening the spin-lattice relaxation time using transient paramagnetic species created by light irradiation of “optorelaxer” molecules. In the ultimate implementation of this concept, not yet realized here, these transient species are absent during the detection period, thereby avoiding the loss of spectral resolution caused by inhomogeneous broadening from paramagnetic species. Real-time control of NMR relaxation by visible light is demonstrated with Fe(II)(ptz)₆(BF₄)₂, (ptz = 1-propyltetrazole), abbreviated FePTZ. Illumination of FePTZ at 30 K results in a decrease of the ¹H NMR spin-lattice relaxation time T₁ due to formation of a high spin photoexcited state. The ¹H NMR of polystyrene containing a low concentration of FePTZ molecules shows a similar reduction in T₁, establishing that FePTZ can act as an optorelaxer for the protons of a matrix. Numerical modeling of the spin-diffusion processes from the protons in a FePTZ core to those in a shell of polystyrene accounts for the observed T₁ effects under both dark and light conditions. Additionally, ¹H MAS (magic-angle spinning) NMR results for pure FePTZ provide information on the isotropic and anisotropic portions of the electron-nuclear hyperfine interactions.     

Co2+ spin-lattice relaxation narrowing of 19F NMR in KCoF3

The temperature dependence of the ¹⁹F NMR linewidth ΔH in KCoF₃ has been measured over the entire paramagnetic solid state region. The dramatic decrease in the hyperfine-broadened, exchange narrowed ΔH that occurs above 200 K is interpreted as arising from fast Co²⁺ single-ion, spin-lattice relaxation. A model theory of the temperature dependence of ΔH is given which incorporates the interplay of exchange and spin lattice relaxation effects on the decay of the spin autocorrelation function.