Self-Repairable and Flexible Polymer Network Electrolyte with Enhanced Lithium-Ion Conduction for Lithium Metal Batteries

Developing high-performance functional polymer-based electrolytes is important for realizing next generation safe lithium metal batteries. In this study, a new type of quasi-solid polymer network electrolyte (SIPH-x-y%) was prepared by combining synthesized polymer network (SIPH) containing urethane bond linked ionic liquids (ILs), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and disulfide bond moieties, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt (LiTFSI), and glyme type additive. It was found that SIPH-20-40% was mechanically flexible, self-healable, and showed high ionic conductivity of 2.67×10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹. Also, SIPH-20-40% possesses a high lithium ion transference number of 0.43 and good electrochemical stability. These properties enabled the SIPH-20-40% electrolyte membrane to support Li/Li symmetrical cell to cycle stably during long term Li plating and stripping. The Li/SIPH-20-40%/LFP showed high delivered specific capacity and good stability (166.1 mAh g⁻¹ after 106 cycles at 0.2 C). Such glyme doped polymer network electrolyte provides new experimental findings for developing polymer-based electrolyte with excellent mechanical integrity and battery related properties.     

Comparative Investigation of the Ionicity of Aprotic and Protic Ionic Liquids in Molecular Solvents by using Conductometry and NMR Spectroscopy

Electrical conductivity (σ), viscosity (η), and self‐diffusion coefficient (D) measurements of binary mixtures of aprotic and protic imidazolium‐based ionic liquids with water, dimethyl sulfoxide, and ethylene glycol were measured from 293.15 to 323.15 K. The temperature dependence study reveals typical Arrhenius behavior. The ionicities of aprotic ionic liquids were observed to be higher than those of protic ionic liquids in these solvents. The aprotic ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [bmIm][BF₄], displays 100 % ionicity in both water and ethylene glycol. The protic ionic liquids in both water and ethylene glycol are classed as good ionic candidates, whereas in DMSO they are classed as having a poor ionic nature. The solvation dynamics of the ionic species of the ionic liquids are illustrated on the basis of the ¹H NMR chemical shifts of the ionic liquids. The self‐diffusion coefficients D of the cation and anion of [HmIm][CH₃COO] in D₂O and in [D₆]DMSO are determined by using ¹H nuclei with pulsed field gradient spin‐echo NMR spectroscopy.     

A comparative study of some lithium and hydrogen‐bonded complexes: Ab initio and QTAIM studies

The nature of the interactions of cyanide with lithium and hydrogen halides was investigated using ab initio calculations and topological analysis of electron density. The computed properties of the lithium‐bonded complexes RCN···LiX (R = H, F, Cl, Br, C?CH, CH?CH₂, CH₃, C₂H₅; X = Cl, Br) were compared with those of corresponding hydrogen‐bonded complexes RCN···HX. The results show that both types of intermolecular interactions are “closed‐shell” noncovalent interactions. The effect of substitution on the interaction energy and electron density at the bond critical points of the lithium and hydrogen bonding interactions is similar. In comparison, the interaction energies of lithium‐bonded complexes are more negative than those of hydrogen‐bonded counterparts. The electrostatic interaction plays a more important role in the lithium bond than in the hydrogen bond. On complex formation, the net charge and energy of the Li atom decrease and the atomic volume increases, while the net charge and energy of the H atom increase and the atomic volume decreases. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Nitrite Ionic Liquids (IL‐ONO and [bmim]NO2) as Effective Nitrosonium Sources for the Synthesis of α‐Oximinoketones under Mild Heterogeneous Conditions

Ketones and β‐diketones were nitrosated and converted to their corresponding α‐oximinoketones using task‐specific ionic liquids, 1‐(4‐nitritobutyl)‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride, IL‐ONO, and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium nitrite at room temperature. The results from two ionic liquids are comparable and showed that these IL's are effective nitrosonium sources for the preparation of oximinoketones. The protocol is rapid, the yields are excellent, and the method is simple.     

Elucidating Interactions between DMSO and Chelate‐Based Ionic Liquids

The C?D bond stretching vibrations of deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide ([D₆]DMSO) and the C₂?H bond stretching vibrations of 1,1,1,5,5,5‐hexafluoropentane‐2,4‐dione (hfac) ligand in anion are chosen as probes to elucidate the solvent–solute interaction between chelate‐based ionic liquids (ILs) and DMSO by vibrational spectroscopic studies. The indirect effect from the interaction of the adjacent S=O functional group of DMSO with the cation [C₁₀mim]⁺ and anion [Mn(hfac)₃]^? of the ILs leads to the blue‐shift of the C?D stretching vibrations of DMSO. The C₂?H bond stretching vibrations in hfac ligand is closely related to the ionic hydrogen bond strength between the cation and anion of chelate‐based ILs. EPR studies reveal that the crystal field of the central metal is kept when the chelate‐based ILs are in different microstructure environment in the solution.     

Density functional theory and topological analysis on the hydrogen bonding interactions in cysteine‐thymine complexes

Hydrogen bonding interactions between amino acids and nucleic acid bases constitute the most important interactions responsible for the specificity of protein binding. In this study, complexes formed by hydrogen bonding interactions between cysteine and thymine have been studied by density functional theory. The relevant geometries, energies, and IR characteristics of hydrogen bonds (H‐bonds) have been systematically investigated. The quantum theory of atoms in molecule and natural bond orbital analysis have also been applied to understand the nature of the hydrogen bonding interactions in complexes. More than 10 kinds of H‐bonds including intra‐ and intermolecular H‐bonds have been found in complexes. Most of intermolecular H‐bonds involve O (or N) atom as H‐acceptor, whereas the H‐bonds involving C or S atom usually are weaker than other ones. Both the strength of H‐bonds and the structural deformation are responsible for the stability of complexes. Because of the serious deformation, the complex involving the strongest H‐bond is not the most stable structures. Relationships between H‐bond length (ΔR_X‐H), frequency shifts (Δv), and the electron density (ρ_b) and its Laplace (?²ρ_b) at bond critical points have also been investigated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Conformational study of phosphoserine in aqueous solutions. II—1H n.m.r. results

The 270 MHz n.m.r. spectra of phosphoserine (PSer) have been measured and completely analysed for seven pD values. The resulting vicinal coupling constants ³J(HαHβ) and ³J(PHβ) are used to discuss the conformations of PSer with respect to the (Hα)? Cα? Cβ? (O) and (Cα)? Cβ? O? (P) bond axes. The all-trans conformer predominates for all pD values, with its fractional population being minimal at pD values close to neutrality. The Cβ? O bond rotamer populations agree reasonably well with those obtained from ¹³C investigations.     

含氮药物分子中氮a-位碳氢键离解能的理论研究

本文利用G3B3 和CBS-Q高精度理论方法检验了一系列胺类有机化合物中α-碳氢键离解能的实验测量值,在此基础上筛选出(U)BHandH/6-311++G(2df, 2p)//(U)B3LYP/6-31G(d)方法,发现其可以准确快速的预测氮α-碳氢键离解能。运用该方法研究了若干含氮药物分子,发现氮α-碳氢键离解能随药物分子结构发生明显变化。为了阐明其变化规律,系统研究单取代和双取代基效应,并解释了不同取代基效应的来源。     

Exploring Sustainable Rocket Fuels: [Imidazolyl−Amine−BH2]+‐Cation‐Based Ionic Liquids as Replacements for Toxic Hydrazine Derivatives

The application of hypergolic ionic liquids as propellant fuels is a newly emerging area in the fields of chemistry and propulsion science. Herein, a new class of [imidazolyl?amine?BH₂]⁺‐cation‐based ionic liquids, which included fuel‐rich anions, such as dicyanamide (N(CN)₂^?) and cyanoborohydride (BH₃CN^?) anions, were synthesized and characterized. As expected, all of the ionic liquids exhibited spontaneous combustion upon contact with the oxidizer 100 % HNO₃. The densities of these ionic liquids varied from 0.99–1.12 g cm^?3, and the heats of formation, predicted based on Gaussian 09 calculations, were between ?707.7 and 241.8 kJ mol^?1. Among them, the salt of compound 5 , that is, (1‐allyl‐1H‐imidazole‐3‐yl)?(trimethylamine)?dihydroboronium dicyanamide, exhibited the lowest viscosity (168 MPa s), good thermal properties (T_gT_d>130 °C), and the shortest ignition‐delay time (18 ms) with 100 % HNO₃. These ionic fuels, as “green” replacements for toxic hydrazine‐derivatives, may have potential applications as bipropellant formulations.     

Synthesis and Theoretical Study of Intramolecular Hydrogen Bond at Two Possible Positions in Pyrazolo[1,2‐b]phthalazine

Properties of dimethyl 3‐(alkylamino)‐5,10‐dioxo‐5,10‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[1,2‐b]phthalazine‐1,2‐dicarboxylate and its derivatives were studied by means of ab initio method. NO₂ derivative of title compound was synthesized and the nature of its intramolecular hydrogen bond (HB) was investigated. Furthermore, the topological properties of the electron density distributions for N? H···O intramolecular bridges were analyzed in terms of the Bader theory of atoms in molecules (AIM). The electron density (ρ) and Laplacian (?²ρ) properties, estimated by AIM calculations, indicated that O···H bond possesses low ρ and positive ?²ρ values which are in agreement with electrostatic character of the HBs, whereas N? H bonds have covalent character (?²ρ<0). Moreover, steric effect of the t‐Bu group on structure and topological parameters of pyrazolo[1,2‐b]phthalazine conformers was studied. Finally, the powerful method of Espinosa was used to obtain the H‐bond energy.     

Thermal and ionic‐conductive behaviors of liquid crystalline polymers with alkali metal salt

In order to investigate the relationship between ionic conductivity and liquid crystallinity, we prepared the main‐chain type polyester having 1,4‐bisstyrylbenzene units and ethyleneoxide chain in the repeating unit. The main‐chain type polyester with lithium salt at the ratio of 0.04 per polymer repeating unit exhibited a smectic phase. However, the polyester with lithium salt (0.11) showed a nematic phase. The ionic conductivity of the polyester with lithium salt increased with increasing lithium salt concentration. The trans‐type polyester exhibited a liquid crystalline phase, while the cis‐type polyester did not show any mesophase. We found that the ionic conductivity of the trans‐type polyester with lithium salt (0.11) was larger than that of the cis‐type polyester with lithium salt (0.11). However, a liquid crystalline phase was found in the side‐chain type polyether with alkoxy chain length of below 12. A smectic phase was induced for the non‐mesomorphic polyethers with lithium salt. The layer spacing of the smectic A phase for the non‐mesomorphic polyether with lithium salt decreased from 55 to 41 Å with increasing temperature. The ionic conductivity of the polyether with lithium salt increased with decreasing the layer spacing. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

锂在共轭双键高分子中的电化学嵌入反应III. 锂嵌入聚噻吩的量子化学计算†

采用Gaussian软件和HF方法, 通过从头计算(ab initio)法选取4-31G基组计算锂离子嵌入聚噻吩过程中结构与结合能的变化关系. 发现噻吩聚合时主要生成三或四聚合物. 聚合物在Li原子(或Li^＋离子)嵌入后, 聚噻吩间距离明显变小, 同时发生电荷转移, 形成稳定嵌合物; 并使噻吩环的C-α—C-β键级变小. 同时, 研究了锂离子(或原子)嵌入后体系的HOMO, LUMO能级. 聚噻吩在嵌入锂离子时LUMO轨道能级变为负值, 成为电池反应得电子的正极. 而金属Li₂ 释放Li^＋后的Li^－的HOMO能级为＋0.7427 eV, 则成为给电子的负极. 由此, 可以完成由锂/聚噻吩在高氯酸锂电解质中组成的放电过程, 并提出嵌合键级概念用来表征锂在聚噻吩间的结合程度.     

Exploring the Strength of the H‐Bond in Synthetic Models for Heme Proteins: The Importance of the N−H Acidity of the Distal Base

The distal hydrogen bond (H‐bond) in dioxygen‐binding proteins is crucial for the discrimination of O₂ with respect to CO or NO. We report the preparation and characterization of a series of Zn^II porphyrins, with one of three meso‐phenyl rings bearing both an alkyl‐tethered proximal imidazole ligand and a heterocyclic distal H‐bond donor connected by a rigid acetylene spacer. Previously, we had validated the corresponding Co^II complexes as synthetic model systems for dioxygen‐binding heme proteins and demonstrated the structural requirements for proper distal H‐bonding to Co^II‐bound dioxygen. Here, we systematically vary the H‐bond donor ability of the distal heterocycles, as predicted based on pK_a values. The H‐bond in the dioxygen adducts of the Co^II porphyrins was directly measured by Q‐band Davies‐ENDOR spectroscopy. It was shown that the strength of the hyperfine coupling between the dioxygen radical and the distal H‐atom increases with enhanced acidity of the H‐bond donor.     

Side‐chain conformations in the isomorphous polyfluorinated {4,4′‐bis[(2,2‐difluoroethoxy)methyl]‐2,2′‐bipyridine‐κ2N,N′}dichloridopalladium and ‐platinum complexes

The polyfluorinated title compounds, [M Cl₂(C₁₆H₁₆F₄N₂O₂)] or [4,4′‐(HCF₂CH₂OCH₂)₂‐2,2′‐bpy]M Cl₂ [M = Pd, ( 1 ), and M = Pt, ( 2 )], have –C(H_α)₂OC(H_β)₂CF₂H side chains with H‐atom donors at the α and β sites. The structures of ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) are isomorphous, with the nearly planar (bpy)M Cl₂ molecules stacked in columns. Within one column, π‐dimer pairs alternate between a π‐dimer pair reinforced with C—H…Cl hydrogen bonds (α,α) and a π‐dimer pair reinforced with C—H_β…F(—C) interactions (abbreviated as C—H_β…F—C,C—H_β…F—C). The compounds [4,4′‐(CF₃CH₂OCH₂)₂‐2,2′‐bpy]M Cl₂ [M = Pd, ( 3 ), and M = Pt, ( 4 )] have been reported to be isomorphous [Lu et al. (2012). J. Fluorine Chem. 137 , 54–56], yet with disorder in the fluorous regions. The molecules of ( 3 ) [or ( 4 )] also form similar stacks, but with alternating π‐dimer pairs between the (α,β; α,β) and (β,β) forms. Through (C—)H…Cl hydrogen‐bond interactions, one molecule of ( 1 ) [or ( 2 )] is expanded into an aggregate of two inversion‐related π‐dimer pairs, one pair in the (α,α) form and the other pair in the (C—H_β…F—C,C—H_β…F—C) form, with the plane normals making an interplanar angle of 58.24 (3)°. Due to the demands of maintaining a high coordination number around the metal‐bound Cl atoms in molecule ( 1 ) [or ( 2 )], the ponytails of molecule ( 1 ) [or ( 2 )] bend outward; in contrast, the ponytails of molecule ( 3 ) [or ( 4 )] bend inward.     

Asymmetric Aldol Reactions in Caprolactam?Quaternary Ammonium Salt Coordination Ionic Liquid Catalyzed by L‐Pro‐L‐Trp

A direct asymmetric aldol reaction of aldehydes and acetone catalyzed by L ‐Pro‐L ‐Trp was performed in β‐caprolactam? quaternary ammonium salt coordination ionic liquid media in the presence of N‐methylmorpholine (NMM) in high yield and with good enantioselectivity. The approach has the advantages of simple product isolation, and reusable catalyst and coordination ion liquids.     

Chemical and thermal stability of N‐heterocyclic ionic liquids in catalytic C–H activation reactions

¹H‐NMR spectrum analyses are applied to study the chemical and thermal stability of selected N‐heterocyclic ionic liquids within the reaction system that can highly efficiently activate a C–H bond of methane and convert it into the C–O bond in methanol. Our results indicate that under such reaction conditions involving using a powerful Pt‐based catalyst and strong acidic solvent, the aromatic ring of an imidazolium cation becomes unstable generating an ammonium ion (NH₄⁺). Our results also suggest that the instability of the imidazolium ring is more chemically (participation in reactions) than thermally based. Modifications of the aromatic ring structure such as pyrazolium and triazolium cations can increase the chemical/thermal stability of ionic liquids under these reaction conditions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of networked polymers by copolymerization of monoepoxy‐substituted lithium sulfonylimide and diepoxy‐substituted poly(ethylene glycol), and their properties

Networked polymers that had poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains and lithium sulfonylimide salt structures were prepared by curing a mixture of poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether and lithium 3‐glycidyloxypropanesulfonyl‐trifluoromethanesulfonylimide with poly(ethylene glycol) bis(3‐aminopropyl) terminated. The obtained flexible self‐standing networked polymer films showed high thermal and mechanical stability with relatively high ionic conductivity. The room temperature ionic conductivity under a dry condition was in the range of 10^?5 ～ 10^?4 S m^?1, which is one order of magnitude higher than the corresponding networked polymers having lithium sulfonate salt structures (10^?6 ～ 10^?5 S m^?1). The film sample became swollen by immersing in propylene carbonate (PC) or PC solution of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). The sample swollen in PC showed higher ionic conductivity (7.2 × 10^?3 S m^?1 at room temperature), and the sample swollen in 1.0 M LiTFSI/PC showed much higher ionic conductivity (8.2 × 10^?1 S m^?1 at room temperature). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Theoretical evidence for bond stretch isomerism in Grubbs olefin metathesis

A comprehensive density functional theory study on the dissociative and associative mechanisms of Grubbs first and second generation olefin metathesis catalysis reveals that ruthenacyclobutane intermediate (RuCB) observed in the Chauvin mechanism is not unique as it can change to a non‐metathetic ruthenacyclobutane (RuCB′) via the phenomenon of bond stretch isomerism (BSI). RuCB and RuCB′ differ mainly in RuC_α, RuC_β, and C_αC_β bond lengths of the metallacycle. RuCB is metathesis active due to the agostic type bonding‐assisted simultaneous activation of both C_αC_β bonds, giving hypercoordinate character to C_β whereas an absence of such bonding interactions in RuCB′ leads to typical CC single bond distances and metathesis inactivity. RuCB and RuCB′ are connected by a transition state showing moderate activation barrier. The new mechanistic insights invoking BSI explains the non‐preference of associative mechanism and the requirement of bulky ligands in the Grubbs catalyst design. The present study lifts the status of BSI from a concept of largely theoretical interest to a phenomenon of intense importance to describe an eminent catalytic reaction. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

β‐Hairpins Generated from Hybrid Peptide Sequences Containing both α‐ and β‐Amino Acids

The incorporation of the β‐amino acid residues into specific positions in the strands and β‐turn segments of peptide hairpins is being systematically explored. The presence of an additional torsion variable about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ) enhances the conformational repertoire in β‐residues. The conformational analysis of three designed peptide hairpins composed of α/β‐hybrid segments is described: Boc‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐^DPro‐β Phe ‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 1 ), Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Val ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Leu ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 2 ), and Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Phe ‐Val‐^DPro‐Gly‐Leu‐β Phe ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 3 ). 500‐MHz ¹H‐NMR Analysis supports a preponderance of β‐hairpin conformation in solution for all three peptides, with critical cross‐strand NOEs providing evidence for the proposed structures. The crystal structure of peptide 2 reveals a β‐hairpin conformation with two β‐residues occupying facing, non‐H‐bonded positions in antiparallel β‐strands. Notably, βVal(3) adopts a gauche conformation about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ=+65°) without disturbing cross‐strand H‐bonding. The crystal structure of 2 , together with previously published crystal structures of peptides 3 and Boc‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐OMe, provide an opportunity to visualize the packing of peptide sheets with local ‘polar segments' formed as a consequence of reversal peptide‐bond orientation. The available structural evidence for hairpins suggests that β‐residues can be accommodated into nucleating turn segments and into both the H‐bonding and non‐H‐bonding positions on the strands.