Observation of large low‐field magnetoresistance in spinel cobaltite: A new half‐metal

Low‐field magnetoresistance is an effective and energy‐saving way to use half‐metallic materials in magnetic reading heads and magnetic random access memory. Common spin‐polarized materials with low field magnetoresistance effect are perovskite‐type manganese, cobalt, and molybdenum oxides. In this study, we report a new type of spinel cobaltite materials, self‐assembled nanocrystalline NiCo₂O₄, which shows large low field magnetoresistance as large as –19.1% at 0.5 T and –50% at 9 T (2 K). The large low field magnetoresistance is attributed to the fast magnetization rotation of the core nanocrystals. The surface spin‐glass is responsible for the observed weak saturation of magnetoresistance under high fields. Our calculation demonstrates that the half‐metallicity of NiCo₂O₄ comes from the hopping e_g electrons within the tetrahedral Co‐atoms and the octahedral Ni‐atoms. The discovery of large low‐field magnetoresistance in simple spinel oxide NiCo₂O₄, a non‐perovskite oxide, leads to an extended family of low‐field magnetoresistance materials. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Preconcentration of Trace Cu(II) in Water Samples with Nano-Sized ZnO and Determination by GFAASSCIEI北大核心CSCD

The content of copper in natural water is very low, and direct determination is difficult. Therefore, it is very meaningful for the combination of efficient separation-enrichment technology and highly sensitive detection. Based on the high adsorption capacity of Cu(II) onto nano-sized ZnO, a novel method by using nano-sized ZnO as adsorbent and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry as determination means was in this work. The adsorption behaviors of Cu(II) on nano-sized ZnO was studied. Effects of acidity, adsorption equilibrium time, adsorbent dosage and coexisting ions on adsorption rates were investigated. The results showed that the adsorption efficiency was above 95% in a pH range from 3.0 to 7.0. Compared with other adsorbents for trace element enrichment such as activated carbon, nano-sized TiO2 powder, the most prominent advantage is nanosized ZnO precipitate with the concentrated element can directly dissolved in HCl solution without any filtration and desorption process can directly analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Compared with colloid nano materials, nano-sized ZnO is the true solution after dissolving have small matrix effect and viscosity more suitable for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry detection. The proposed method possesses low detection limit (0.13 mu g.L-1) and good precision (RSD=2.2%). The recoveries for the analysis of environmental samples were in a rang of 91.6%-92.6% and the analysis results of certified materials were compellent by using the proposed method.     

尖晶石铁氧体TixNi1-xFe2O4中阳离子分布和Ti离子磁矩的实验研究

采用固相反应法制备了系列样品Ti_xNi_1-xFe₂O₄ (x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4). 室温下的X射线衍射谱表明样品全部为(A)[B]₂O₄型单相立方尖晶石结构, 属于空间群Fd3m. 样品的晶格常数随Ti掺杂量的增加而增大. 样品在10 K温度下的比饱和磁化强度σ_S随着Ti掺杂量x的增加逐渐减小. 研究发现, 当Ti掺杂量x≥ 0.2时, 磁化强度σ随温度T的变化曲线出现两个转变温度T_L和T_N. 当温度低于T_N时, 磁化强度明显减小; 当温度达到T_N时, dσ/dT具有最大值. σ-T曲线的这些特征表明, 由于Ti掺杂在样品中出现了附加的反铁磁结构. 这说明样品中的Ti离子不是无磁性的+4价离子, 而是以+2和+3价态存在, 其离子磁矩的方向与Fe和Ni离子的磁矩方向相反. 利用本课题组提出的量子力学方势垒模型拟合样品在10 K温度下的磁矩, 得到了Ti, Fe和Ni三种阳离子在(A)位和[B]位的分布情况, 并发现在所有掺杂样品中, 80%的Ti离子以+2价态占据尖晶石结构的[B]位.     

Synthesis of Single‐Crystalline Spinel LiMn2O4 Nanorods for Lithium‐Ion Batteries with High Rate Capability and Long Cycle Life

The long‐standing challenge associated with capacity fading of spinel LiMn₂O₄ cathode material for lithium‐ion batteries is investigated. Single‐crystalline spinel LiMn₂O₄ nanorods were successfully synthesized by a template‐engaged method. Porous Mn₃O₄ nanorods were used as self‐sacrificial templates, into which LiOH was infiltrated by a vacuum‐assisted impregnation route. When used as cathode materials for lithium‐ion batteries, the spinel LiMn₂O₄ nanorods exhibited superior long cycle life owing to the one‐dimensional nanorod structure, single‐crystallinity, and Li‐rich effect. LiMn₂O₄ nanorods retained 95.6 % of the initial capacity after 1000 cycles at 3C rate. In particular, the nanorod morphology of the spinel LiMn₂O₄ was well‐preserved after a long‐term cycling, suggesting the ultrahigh structural stability of the single crystalline spinel LiMn₂O₄ nanorods. This result shows the promising applications of single‐crystalline spinel LiMn₂O₄ nanorods as cathode materials for lithium‐ion batteries with high rate capability and long cycle life.     

温和条件下元素对M~(2+)/Fe~(2+)/Fe~(3+)-LDHs转化成尖晶石铁氧体过程的影响(英文)

研究了二价金属离子在温和条件下(低于100℃,暴露于空气中)从水滑石M2+/Fe2+/Fe3+-LDHs(M=Co,Ni,Mn,Zn)转化成尖晶石铁氧体的过程中所起的作用。结果表明,该转化过程不仅与晶化温度有关,还与M2+在元素周期表中所处的位置有关。当这些二价金属离子处于同一周期并且相邻较近时,M2+的半径越大,水滑石微晶向尖晶石铁氧体的转化就越容易。此外,Fe2+在转化过程中起着至关重要的作用,如果没有Fe2+的参与,在此条件下的转化将无法进行。     

Structural Peculiarities and Thermoelectric Study of Iron Indium Thiospinel

The homogeneity range of ternary iron indium thiospinel at 873 K was investigated. A detailed study was focused on two distinct series (y=z): 1) a previously reported charge-balanced (In_0.67+0.33y□_0.33−0.33y)_tetr[In_2−zFe_z]_octS₄ (A1-series; □ stands for vacancy; the abbreviations “tetr” and “oct” indicate atoms occupying tetrahedral 8a and octahedral 16d sites, respectively) and 2) a new charge-unbalanced (In_0.67+y□_0.33−y)_tetr[In_2−zFe_z]_octS₄ (A2-series). Fe atoms were confirmed to exclusively occupy an octahedral position in both series. An unusual reduction of the unit cell parameter with increasing Fe content is explained by differences in the ionic radii between Fe and In, as well as by an additional electrostatic attraction originating from charge imbalance (latter only in A2-series). The studied compound is an n-type semiconductor, and its charge carrier concentration increases or decreases for larger Fe content within the A1- and A2-series, respectively. The thermal conductivity κ_tot is significantly reduced upon increasing vacancy concentration, whereas the change of power factor is insufficient to drastically improve the thermoelectric figure of merit.     

Nitride Spinel: An Ultraincompressible High‐Pressure Form of BeP2N4

Owing to its outstanding elastic properties, the nitride spinel γ‐Si₃N₄ is of considered interest for materials scientists and chemists. DFT calculations suggest that Si₃N₄‐analog beryllium phosphorus nitride BeP₂N₄ adopts the spinel structure at elevated pressures as well and shows outstanding elastic properties. Herein, we investigate phenakite‐type BeP₂N₄ by single‐crystal synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and report the phase transition into the spinel‐type phase at 47 GPa and 1800 K in a laser‐heated diamond anvil cell. The structure of spinel‐type BeP₂N₄ was refined from pressure‐dependent in situ synchrotron powder X‐ray diffraction measurements down to ambient pressure, which proves spinel‐type BeP₂N₄ a quenchable and metastable phase at ambient conditions. Its isothermal bulk modulus was determined to 325(8) GPa from equation of state, which indicates that spinel‐type BeP₂N₄ is an ultraincompressible material.     

An Ultra‐Long‐Life Lithium‐Rich Li1.2Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 Cathode by Three‐in‐One Surface Modification for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Voltage decay and capacity fading are the main challenges for the commercialization of Li‐rich Mn‐based layered oxides (LLOs). Now, a three‐in‐one surface treatment is designed via the pyrolysis of urea to improve the voltage and capacity stability of Li_1.2Mn_0.6Ni_0.2O₂ (LMNO), by which oxygen vacancies, spinel phase integration, and N‐doped carbon nanolayers are synchronously built on the surface of LMNO microspheres. Oxygen vacancies and spinel phase integration suppress irreversible O₂ release and help lithium ion diffusion, while N‐doped carbon nanolayer mitigates the corrosion of electrolyte with excellent conductivity. The electrochemical performance of LMNO after the treatment improves significantly; the capacity retention rate after 500 cycles at 1 C is still as high as 89.9 % with a very small voltage fading rate of 1.09 mV cycle^?1. This three‐in‐one surface treatment strategy can suppress the voltage decay and capacity fading of LLOs.     

Electrochemical Oxidation of Nitrogen towards Direct Nitrate Production on Spinel Oxides

Nitrates are widely used as fertilizer and oxidizing agents. Commercial nitrate production from nitrogen involves high‐temperature‐high‐pressure multi‐step processes. Therefore, an alternative nitrate production method under ambient environment is of importance. Herein, an electrochemical nitrogen oxidation reaction (NOR) approach is developed to produce nitrate catalyzed by ZnFe_xCo_2?xO₄ spinel oxides. Theoretical and experimental results show Fe aids the formation of the first N?O bond on the *N site, while high oxidation state Co assists in stabilizing the absorbed OH^? for the generation of the second and third N?O bonds. Owing to the concerted catalysis, the ZnFe_0.4Co_1.6O₄ oxide demonstrates the highest nitrate production rate of 130±12 μmol h^?1 g_MO^?1 at an applied potential of 1.6 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE).     

Size‐Mediated Recurring Spinel Sub‐nanodomains in Li‐ and Mn‐Rich Layered Cathode Materials

Li‐ and Mn‐rich layered oxides are among the most promising cathode materials for Li‐ion batteries with high theoretical energy density. Its practical application is, however, hampered by the capacity and voltage fade after long cycling. Herein, a finite difference method for near‐edge structure (FDMNES) code was combined with in situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and transmission electron microscopy/electron energy loss spectroscopy (TEM/EELS) to investigate the evolution of transition metals (TMs) in fresh and heavily cycled electrodes. Theoretical modeling reveals a recurring partially reversible LiMn₂O₄‐like sub‐nanodomain formation/dissolution process during each charge/discharge, which accumulates gradually and accounts for the Mn phase transition. From the modeling of spectra and maps of the valence state over large regions of the cathodes, it was found that the phase change is size‐dependent. After prolonged cycling, the TMs displayed different levels of inactivity.