Cation distribution in LiMgVO4 and LiZnVO4: structural and spectroscopic study

The room temperature cation occupancy in LiMgVO(4) and LiZnVO(4) crystallographic sites is obtained by means of the combined use of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), (7)Li and (51)V magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR), and micro-Raman measurements. In the LiMgVO(4) Cmcm orthorhombic structure, the 4c (C(2)(v) symmetry) tetrahedral vanadium site is fully ordered; on the contrary, the Li 4c tetrahedral site and the 4b (C(2)(h) symmetry) Mg octahedral site display about 22% of reciprocal cationic exchange. Higher cationic disorder is observed in LiZnVO(4): the three cations can distribute on the three tetrahedral and distinct sites of the R-3 structure. XRPD and MAS NMR analysis results highly agree for what concerns vanadium ion distribution on the three cationic sites (about 25, 26, and 47%). From the full profile fitting of XRPD patterns with the Rietveld method, it is also obtained that Li(+) displays a slightly preferred occupation of the T1 position (approximately 55%) and Zn(2+) of the T2 position (approximately 46%). The vibrational spectra of the two compounds are characterized by different peak positions and broadening of the Raman modes, reflecting the cation distribution and the local vibrational unit distortion. A comparison is also made with recent Raman results on Li(3)VO(4). High temperature XRPD measurements rule out possible structural transitions up to 673 K for both compounds.     

Magnetism and structural chemistry of the n=2 Ruddlesden-Popper phase La3LiMnO7

Polycrystalline samples of the n=2 Ruddlesden-Popper phase La₃LiMnO₇ have been prepared and characterized. X-ray and neutron diffraction suggest that the structure is tetragonal with a disordered distribution of Li and Mn cations over the octahedral sites, but ⁶Li MAS NMR shows that the Li and Mn are 1:1 ordered locally. Electron microscopy shows that the stacking of the cation-ordered, perovskite-like bilayers along the crystallographic z-axis is disordered on the distance scale sampled by X-ray and neutron diffraction. Magnetometry data and neutron diffraction data collected at 2 K together suggest that the Mn cations within each structural domain order antiferromagnetically at 14 K, but that the disorder along z prevents the establishment of long-range magnetic order.     

Influence of vacancy ordering on the percolative behavior of (Li(1)(-x)Na(x))(3y)La(2/3-y)TiO(3) perovskites

Influence of the vacancy concentration on the Li conductivity of the (Li(1-x)Na(x))(0.2)La(0.6)TiO(3) and (Li(1-x)Na(x)(0.5)La(0.5)TiO(3) perovskite series, with 0 < or = x < 1, has been investigated by neutron diffraction (ND), impedance spectroscopy (IS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Monte Carlo simulations. In both series, Li(+) ions occupy unit cell faces, but Na(+) ions are located at A sites of the perovskite. From this fact, the amount of vacant A sites that participate in Li conductivity is given by the expression n(v) = [Li] + square, where square is the nominal vacancy concentration. Substitution of Li by Na decreases the amount of vacancies, reducing drastically the Li conductivity when n(v) approaches the percolation threshold of the perovskite conduction network. In disordered (Li(1-x)Na(x))(0.5)La(0.5)TiO(3) perovskites, the percolation threshold is 0.31; however, in ordered (Li(1-x)Na(x))(0.2)La(0.6)TiO(3) perovskites, this parameter changes to 0.26. Near the percolation threshold, the amount of mobile Li species deduced by (7)Li NMR spectroscopy is lower than that derived from structural formulas but higher than deduced from dc conductivity measurements. Conductivity values have been explained by Monte Carlo simulations, which assume a random walk for Li ions in the conduction network of the perovskite. In these simulations, distribution of vacancies conforms to structural models deduced from ND experiments.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Lithium Motion of Li8SeN2 and Li8TeN2

The compounds Li₈EN₂ with E = Se, Te were obtained in form of orange microcrystalline powders from reactions of Li₂E with Li₃N. Single crystal growth of Li₈SeN₂ additionally succeeded from excess lithium. The crystal structures were refined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction as well as X‐ray and neutron powder diffraction data (I4₁md, No. 109, Z = 4, Se: a = 7.048(1) Å, c = 9.995(1) Å, Te: a = 7.217(1) Å, c = 10.284(1) Å). Both compounds crystallize as isotypes with an anionic substructure motif known from cubic Laves phases and lithium distributed over four crystallographic sites in the void space of the anionic framework. Neutron powder diffraction pattern recorded in the temperature range from 3 K to 300 K and X‐ray diffraction patterns using synchrotron radiation taken from 300 K to 1000 K reveal the structural stability of both compounds in the studied temperature range until decomposition. Motional processes of lithium atoms in the title compounds were revealed by temperature dependent NMR spectroscopic investigations. Those are indicated by significant changes of the ⁷Li NMR signals. Lithium motion starts for Li₈SeN₂ above 150 K whereas it is already present in Li₈TeN₂ at this temperature. Quantum mechanical calculations of NMR spectroscopic parameters reveal clearly different environments of the lithium atoms determined by the electric field gradient, which are sensitive to the anisotropy of charge distribution at the nuclear sites. With respect to an increasing coordination number according to 2 + 1, 3, 3 + 1, and 4 for Li(3), Li(4), Li(2), and Li(1), respectively, the values of the electric field gradients decrease. Different environments of lithium predicted by quantum mechanical calculations are confirmed by ⁷Li NMR frequency sweep experiments at low temperatures.     

Short- and long-range order in the positive electrode material, Li(NiMn)0.5O2: a joint X-ray and neutron diffraction, pair distribution function analysis and NMR study

The local environments and short-range ordering of LiNi(0.5)Mn(0.5)O(2), a potential Li-ion battery positive electrode material, were investigated by using a combination of X-ray and neutron diffraction and isotopic substitution (NDIS) techniques, (6)Li Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy, and for the first time, X-ray and neutron Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis, associated with Reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) calculations. Three samples were studied: (6)Li(NiMn)(0.5)O(2), (7)Li(NiMn)(0.5)O(2), and (7)Li(NiMn)(0.5)O(2) enriched with (62)Ni (denoted as (7)Li(ZERO)Ni(0.5)Mn(0.5)O(2)), so that the resulting scattering length of Ni atoms is null. LiNi(0.5)Mn(0.5)O(2) adopts the LiCoO(2) structure (space group Rm) and comprises separate lithium layers, transition metal layers (Ni, Mn), and oxygen layers. NMR experiments and Rietveld refinements show that there is approximately 10% of Ni/Li site exchange between the Li and transition metal layers. PDF analysis of the neutron data revealed considerable local distortions in the layers that were not captured in the Rietveld refinements performed using the Bragg diffraction data and the LiCoO(2) structure, resulting in different M-O bond lengths of 1.93 and 2.07 Angstroms for Mn-O and Ni/Li-O, respectively. Large clusters of 2400-3456 atoms were built to investigate cation ordering. The RMC method was then used to improve the fit between the calculated model and experimental PDF data. Both NMR and RMC results were consistent with a nonrandom distribution of Ni, Mn, and Li cations in the transition metal layers; both the Ni and Li atoms are, on average, close to more Mn ions than predicted based on a random distribution of these ions in the transition metal layers. Constraints from both experimental methods showed the presence of short-range order in the transition metal layers comprising LiMn(6) and LiMn(5)Ni clusters combined with Ni and Mn contacts resembling those found in the so-called "flower structure" or structures derived from ordered honeycomb arrays.     

Synthesis and characterization of ordered and disordered polycrystalline La(2)NiMnO(6) thin films by sol-gel

Polycrystalline La(2)NiMnO(6) thin films are prepared on Pt/Ti/SiO(2)/Si substrates by the sol-gel method. Through controlling the processing parameters, the cation ordering can be tuned. The disordered and ordered thin films exhibit distinct differences for crystal structures as well as properties. The crystal structure at room temperature characterized by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra is suggested to be monoclinic (P2(1)/n) and orthorhombic (Pbnm) for the ordered and disordered thin films, respectively. The ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition is 263 K and 60 K for the ordered and disordered samples respectively, whereas the saturation magnetic moment at 5 K is 4.9 μ(B) fu(-1) (fu = formula unit) and 0.9 μ(B) fu(-1). The dielectric constant as well as magnetodielectric effect is higher for the ordered La(2)NiMnO(6) thin films. The magnetodielectric effect for the ordered thin film is dominantly contributed to the intrinsic coupling of electric dipole ordering and fluctuations and magnetic ordering and fluctuations, while it is mainly contributed to Maxwell-Wagner (M-W) effects for the disordered thin film. The successful achievements of ordered and disordered polycrystalline La(2)NiMnO(6) thin films will provide an effective route to fabricate double-perovskite polycrystalline thin films by the sol-gel method.     

Solid-state NMR and EXAFS spectroscopic characterization of polycrystalline copper(I) O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphate cluster compounds: Formation of copper(I) O,O'-diisobutyldithiophosphate compounds on the surface of synthetic chalcocite

A number of polycrystalline copper(I) O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphate cluster compounds with Cu4, Cu6, and Cu8 cores were synthesized and characterized by using extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The structural relationship of these compounds is discussed. The polycrystalline copper(I) O,O'-diisobutyldithiophosphate cluster compounds, [Cu8{S2P(OiBu)2}6(S)] and [Cu6{S2P(OiBu)2}6], were also characterized by using 31P CP/MAS NMR (CP = cross polarization, MAS = magic-angle spinning) and static 65Cu NMR spectroscopies (at different magnetic fields) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Comparative analyses of the 31P chemical-shift tensor, and the 65Cu chemical shift and quadrupolar-splitting parameters, estimated from the experimental NMR spectra of the polycrystalline copper(I) cluster compounds, are presented. The adsorption mechanism of the potassium O,O'-diisobutyldithiophosphate collector, K[S2P(OiBu)2], at the surface of synthetic chalcocite (Cu2S) was studied by means of solid-state 31P CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). 31P NMR resonance lines from collector-treated chalcocite surfaces were assigned to a mixture of [Cu8{S2P(OiBu)2}6(S)] and [Cu6{S2P(OiBu)2}6] compounds.     

Control of magnetic ordering by Jahn--Teller distortions in Nd(2)GaMnO(6) and La(2)GaMnO(6).

The substitution of Ga(3+) into the Jahn--Teller distorted, antiferromagnetic perovskites LaMnO(3) and NdMnO(3) strongly affects both the crystal structures and resulting magnetic ordering. In both compounds the Ga(3+) and Mn(3+) cations are disordered over the six coordinate sites. La(2)GaMnO(6) is a ferromagnetic insulator (T(c) = 70 K); a moment per Mn cation of 2.08(5) mu(B) has been determined by neutron powder diffraction at 5 K. Bond length and displacement parameter data suggest Jahn--Teller distortions which are both coherent and incoherent with the Pnma space group symmetry of the perovskite structure (a = 5.51122(4) A, b = 7.80515(6) A, c = 5.52947(4) A) at room temperature. The coherent distortion is strongly suppressed in comparison with the parent LaMnO(3) phase, but the displacement ellipsoids suggest that incoherent distortions are significant and arise from local Jahn--Teller distortions. The preparation of the new phase Nd(2)GaMnO(6) has been found to depend on sample cooling rates, with detailed characterization necessary to ensure phase separation has been avoided. This compound also adopts the GdFeO(3)-type orthorhombically distorted perovskite structure (space group Pnma, a = 5.64876(1) A, b = 7.65212(2) A, c = 5.41943(1) A at room temperature). However, the B site substitution has a totally different effect on the Jahn--Teller distortion at the Mn(3+) centers. This phase exhibits a Q(2) mode Jahn--Teller distortion similar to that observed in LaMnO(3), although reduced in magnitude as a result of the introduction of Ga(3+) onto the B site. There is no evidence of a dynamic Jahn-Teller distortion. At 5 K a ferromagnetically ordered Nd(3+) moment of 1.06(6) mu(B) is aligned along the y-axis and a moment of 2.8(1) mu(B) per Mn(3+) is ordered in the xy plane making an angle of 29(2) degrees with the y-axis. The Mn(3+) moments couple ferromagnetically in the xz plane. However, along the y-axis the moments couple ferromagnetically while the x components are coupled antiferromagnetically. This results in a canted antiferromagnetic arrangement in which the dominant exchange is ferromagnetic. Nd(2)GaMnO(6) is paramagnetic above 40(5) K, with a paramagnetic moment and Weiss constant of 6.70(2) mu(B) and 45.9(4) K, respectively. An ordered moment of 6.08(3) mu(B) per Nd(2)GaMnO(6) formula unit was measured by magnetometry at 5 K in an applied magnetic field of 5 T.     

NMR study of Li+ ion dynamics in the perovskite Li(3x)La(1/3-x)NbO3

(7)Li and (6)Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments are carried out on the perovskite Li(3x)La(1/3-x)NbO(3). The results are compared to those obtained on the titanate Li(3x)La(2/3-x)TiO3 (LLTO) in order to investigate the effect, on the lithium ion dynamics, of the total substitution of Nb(5+) for Ti(4+) in the B-site of the ABO(3) perovskites. The XRD patterns analysis reveals that this substitution leads to a change in the distribution of the La(3+) ions in the structure. La(3+) ions distribution is very important, in regard to ionic conductivity, because these immobile ions can be considered as obstacles for the long-range Li+ motion. If compared to the titanates, the compounds of the niobate solid solution have a bigger unit cell volume, a smaller number of La(3+) ions, and a higher number of vacancies. These should favor the motion of the mobile ions into the structure. This is not experimentally observed. Therefore, the interactions between the mobile species and their environment greatly influence their mobility. (7)Li and (6)Li NMR relaxation time experiments reveal that the Li relaxation mechanism is not dominated by quadrupolar interaction. (7)Li NMR spectra reveal the presence of different Li+ ion sites. Some Li+ ions reside in an isotropic environment with no distortion, some others reside in weakly distorted environments. T(1), T(1)(rho), and T(2) experiments allow us to evidence two motions of Li+. As in LLTO, T(1) probes a fast motion of the Li+ ions inside the A-cage of the perovskite structure and T(1)(rho) a slow motion of these ions from A-cage to A-cage. At variance with what has been observed in LLTO, these different Li+ ions can be differentiated through the spin-lattice relaxation times, T(1) and T(1)(rho), as well as through the transverse relaxation time, T(2).     

Crystal chemistry and stability of "Li7La3Zr2O12" garnet: a fast lithium-ion conductor

Recent research has shown that certain Li-oxide garnets with high mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrochemical stability are excellent fast Li-ion conductors. However, the detailed crystal chemistry of Li-oxide garnets is not well understood, nor is the relationship between crystal chemistry and conduction behavior. An investigation was undertaken to understand the crystal chemical and structural properties, as well as the stability relations, of Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12) garnet, which is the best conducting Li-oxide garnet discovered to date. Two different sintering methods produced Li-oxide garnet but with slightly different compositions and different grain sizes. The first sintering method, involving ceramic crucibles in initial synthesis steps and later sealed Pt capsules, produced single crystals up to roughly 100 μm in size. Electron microprobe and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurements show small amounts of Al in the garnet, probably originating from the crucibles. The crystal structure of this phase was determined using X-ray single-crystal diffraction every 100 K from 100 K up to 500 K. The crystals are cubic with space group Ia3?d at all temperatures. The atomic displacement parameters and Li-site occupancies were measured. Li atoms could be located on at least two structural sites that are partially occupied, while other Li atoms in the structure appear to be delocalized. (27)Al NMR spectra show two main resonances that are interpreted as indicating that minor Al occurs on the two different Li sites. Li NMR spectra show a single narrow resonance at 1.2-1.3 ppm indicating fast Li-ion diffusion at room temperature. The chemical shift value indicates that the Li atoms spend most of their time at the tetrahedrally coordinated C (24d) site. The second synthesis method, using solely Pt crucibles during sintering, produced fine-grained Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12) crystals. This material was studied by X-ray powder diffraction at different temperatures between 25 and 200 °C. This phase is tetragonal at room temperature and undergoes a phase transition to a cubic phase between 100 and 150 °C. Cubic "Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12)" may be stabilized at ambient conditions relative to its slightly less conducting tetragonal modification via small amounts of Al(3+). Several crystal chemical properties appear to promote the high Li-ion conductivity in cubic Al-containing Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12). They are (i) isotropic three-dimensional Li-diffusion pathways, (ii) closely spaced Li sites and Li delocalization that allow for easy and fast Li diffusion, and (iii) low occupancies at the Li sites, which may also be enhanced by the heterovalent substitution Al(3+) ? 3Li.     

Magnetic and neutron diffraction study on melilite-type oxides Sr2MGe2O7 (M = Mn, Co)

The crystal structures and magnetic properties of melilite-type oxides Sr(2)MGe(2)O(7) (M = Mn, Co) were investigated. These compounds crystallize in the melilite structure with space group P ?42(1)m, in which the M and Ge ions occupy two kinds of tetrahedral sites in an ordered manner. The magnetic M ions form a square-planar lattice in the ab plane. Both compounds do not show the structural phase transition down to 2.5 K. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility for Sr(2)MnGe(2)O(7) shows a broad peak at ~6.0 K because of a two-dimensional magnetic interaction between Mn ions in the ab plane. At 4.4 K, an antiferromagnetic transition was observed. The magnetic structure was determined by the neutron powder diffraction measurements at 2.5 K. It can be represented by the propagation vector k = (0, 0, 1/2), and the magnetic moments of Mn(2+) (3.99 μ(B)) ions order antiferromagnetically in a collinear manner along the c axis. On the other hand, Sr(2)CoGe(2)O(7) shows an antiferromagnetic transition at 6.5 K with divergence between zero-field-cooled and field-cooled susceptibilities. Its magnetic structure determined at 2.5 K has a magnetic propagation vector k = (0, 0, 0), and the ordered magnetic moment of Co(2+) (2.81 μ(B)) adopts a collinear arrangement lying on the ab plane.     

Structural and Magnetic Chemistry of La2Sr2BMnO8 (B=Mg, Zn)

Polycrystalline samples of the layered perovskites La₂Sr₂MgMnO₈ and La₂Sr₂ZnMnO₈ have been studied by X-ray and neutron powder diffraction, electron diffraction and magnetometry. X-ray and neutron powder diffraction indicate that the average structure is that of K₂NiF₄, with disordering of Mn and (Zn, Mg) cations over the octahedral sites. Electron diffraction data indicate that cation ordering is present over these sites in the xy planes, with the xy ordered planes being stacked in a disordered manner along z. No long-range magnetic ordering is observed in the temperature range 5≤T (K)≤300.     

Multinuclear solid-state NMR spectroscopy of doped lanthanum fluoride nanoparticles

Multinuclear solid-state NMR spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments are applied to comprehensively characterize a series of pure and lanthanide-doped LaF3 nanoparticles (NPs) that are capped with di-n-octadectyldithiophosphate ligands (Ln3+ = diamagnetic Y3+ and Sc3+ and paramagnetic Yb3+ ions), as well as correlated bulk microcrystalline materials (LaF3, YF3, and ScF3). Solid-state 139La and 19F NMR spectroscopy of bulk LaF3 and the LaF3 NPs reveal that the inorganic core of the NP retains the LaF3 structure at the molecular level; however, inhomogeneous broadening of the NMR powder patterns arises from distributions of 139La and 19F NMR interactions, confirming a gradual change in the La and F site environments from the NP core to the surface. 139La and 19F NMR experiments also indicate that low levels (5 and 10 mol %) of Ln3+ doping do not significantly change the LaF3 structure in the NP core. Similar doping levels of paramagnetic Yb3+ ions severely broaden 19F resonances, but only marginally effect 139La powder patterns, suggesting that the dopant ions are uniformly distributed throughout the NP core and occupy vacant La sites. Measurements of 139La T1 and T2 relaxation constants are seen to vary between the bulk material and NPs and between samples with diamagnetic and paramagnetic dopants. 45Sc NMR experiments confirm that the dopants are integrated into the La sites of the LaF3 core. Solid-state 1H and 31P magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra aid in probing the nature of the capping ligands and their interactions at the NP surface. 31P cross-polarization (CP)/MAS NMR experiments identify not only the dithiophosphate head groups but also thiophosphate and phosphate species which may form during NP synthesis. Finally, 19F-31P CP/MAS and 1H MAS experiments confirm that ligands are coordinated to the NP surface.     

Structure and dynamics of the fast lithium ion conductor "Li7La3Zr2O12"

The solid lithium-ion electrolyte "Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12)" (LLZO) with a garnet-type structure has been prepared in the cubic and tetragonal modification following conventional ceramic syntheses routes. Without aluminium doping tetragonal LLZO was obtained, which shows a two orders of magnitude lower room temperature conductivity than the cubic modification. Small concentrations of Al in the order of 1 wt% were sufficient to stabilize the cubic phase, which is known as a fast lithium-ion conductor. The structure and ion dynamics of Al-doped cubic LLZO were studied by impedance spectroscopy, dc conductivity measurements, (6)Li and (7)Li NMR, XRD, neutron powder diffraction, and TEM precession electron diffraction. From the results we conclude that aluminium is incorporated in the garnet lattice on the tetrahedral 24d Li site, thus stabilizing the cubic LLZO modification. Simulations based on diffraction data show that even at the low temperature of 4 K the Li ions are blurred over various crystallographic sites. This strong Li ion disorder in cubic Al-stabilized LLZO contributes to the high conductivity observed. The Li jump rates and the activation energy probed by NMR are in very good agreement with the transport parameters obtained from electrical conductivity measurements. The activation energy E(a) characterizing long-range ion transport in the Al-stabilized cubic LLZO amounts to 0.34 eV. Total electric conductivities determined by ac impedance and a four point dc technique also agree very well and range from 1 × 10(-4) Scm(-1) to 4 × 10(-4) Scm(-1) depending on the Al content of the samples. The room temperature conductivity of Al-free tetragonal LLZO is about two orders of magnitude lower (2 × 10(-6) Scm(-1), E(a) = 0.49 eV activation energy). The electronic partial conductivity of cubic LLZO was measured using the Hebb-Wagner polarization technique. The electronic transference number t(e-) is of the order of 10(-7). Thus, cubic LLZO is an almost exclusive lithium ion conductor at ambient temperature.     

On the influence of the vacancy distribution on the structure and ionic conductivity of A-site-deficient Li(x)Sr(x)La(2/3-x)TiO3 perovskites

The crystal structure and dielectric properties of slowly cooled A-site-deficient perovskites Li(x)Sr(x)La(2/3-x)□(1/3-x)TiO(3) (0.04 ≤ x ≤ 0.33) have been investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), impedance spectroscopy, and (7)Li NMR techniques. In this series, nominal vacancies decrease with Li content, but the total amount of A-site vacancies, n(t) = Li + □, participating in conduction processes remains basically constant. Rietveld analysis of the XRD patterns showed a change of symmetry from orthorhombic to tetragonal when the lithium and strontium contents increased above x = 0.08 and from tetragonal to cubic above x = 0.16. Structural modifications are mainly due to the cation vacancy ordering along the c axis, which disappear gradually when the lithium content increases. In agreement with the structural information, two lithium signals with different quadrupole constants are detected in (7)Li NMR spectra of orthorhombic/tetragonal phases, which have been associated with lithium in two crystallographic z/c = 0 and 1/2 planes of perovskites. In cubic samples, only a single narrow component, indicative of mobile species, was detected. Lithium motion was thermally activated, with activation energies going from 0.35 to 0.38 eV. Evolution of the bulk dc-conductivity preexponential factors along the series showed a maximum that has been first related to the dependence of lithium hopping on the lithium and vacancy concentrations. Finally, changes in the vacancy ordering, produced along the series, affect the dimensionality of the conductivity, indicating that not only the amount of vacancies but also its distribution are relevant.     

Structural chemistry and magnetic properties of Nd18Li8Fe5O39 and Nd18Li8Co4O39: the interplay of cation and spin ordering

Polycrystalline samples of Nd(18)Li(8)Fe(5)O(39) and Nd(18)Li(8)Co(4)O(39) have been synthesized using a solid-state method and studied by a combination of neutron diffraction, direct and alternating current magnetometry, and, in the case of Nd(18)Li(8)Fe(5)O(39), Mossbauer spectroscopy. Both compounds adopt a cubic structure (space group Pm3n, a(0) approximately 11.9 A) based on intersecting 111 chains made up of alternating octahedral and trigonal-prismatic coordination sites. The Fe(4+) cations in Nd(18)Li(8)Fe(5)O(39) are found on only the smaller of the two distinct octahedral sites in the structure; Fe(3+) and Li(+) are disordered over the larger octahedral site and the trigonal-prismatic site. The Nd(3+) cations occupy sites between the chains. The smaller octahedral site is fully occupied by cobalt in Nd(18)Li(8)Co(4)O(39), with 25% of the larger octahedral sites being vacant; Li(+) is only found on the prismatic sites. Nd(18)Li(8)Fe(5)O(39) shows spin-glass-like behavior with a spin-freezing temperature of 5.75 K, whereas Nd(18)Li(8)Co(4)O(39) appears to order antiferromagnetically at 2.3 K. In both cases, the magnetic coupling involves the Nd(3+) sublattice.     

The effects of Mo doping on 0.3Li[Li0.33Mn0.67]O2·0.7Li[Ni0.5Co0.2Mn0.3]O2 cathode material

Mo doped Li excess transition metal oxides formulated as 0.3Li[Li(0.33)Mn(0.67)]O(2)·0.7Li[Ni(0.5-x)Co(0.2)Mn(0.3-x)Mo(2x)]O(2) were synthesized using the co-precipitation process. The effects of the substitution of Ni and Mn with Mo were investigated for the density of the states, the structure, cycling stability, rate performance and thermal stability by tools such as first principle calculations, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, field-emission SEM, solid state (7)Li MAS nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental mapping by scanning TEM (STEM), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). It was confirmed that high valence Mo(6+) doping of the Li-excess manganese-nickel-cobalt layered oxide in the transition metal enhanced the structural stability and electrochemical performance. This increase was due to strong Mo-O hybridization inducing weak Ni-O hybridization, which may reduce O(2) evolution, and metallic behavior resulting in a diminishing cell resistance.     

Preparation and characterization of novel alkylviologens-intercalated vanadyl-vanadate (RV)V3O8

Various n-alkylviologens-intercalated vanadyl-vanadate (RV)V₃O₈ were synthesized with the combination of redox and ions-exchange methods. The derivative compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). The XRD results indicate that the interlayer spacing increases with the alkyl chain length of the alkylviologen cations. The FTIR data shows that alkylviologens were inserted into the interlayers of V₃O₈²⁻. XPS data reveals that the vanadium ions in the intercalation compounds are mostly in a pentavalent V⁵⁺ state with some partially reduced to the V⁴⁺ state. The intercalation compounds have the strong absorption character in the ultraviolet and visible light region. Magnetic susceptibility indicates that the (ethylviologen) V₃O₈ (EV3) is antiferromagnetic and possesses an ordered magnetic structure below 15 K. Above 15 K, EV3 exhibits paramagnetic behavior and a disordered magnetic structure.     

Extended polyoxometalate framework solids: two Mn(II)-linked {P8W48} network arrays

Two polyoxometalate open framework (POMOF) materials have been synthesized using a secondary building unit (SBU) approach that facilitates the convergent assembly of multidimensional framework materials using a preassembled anionic SBU {P(8)W(48)}, with integrated "pore" 1 nm in diameter, and electrophilic manganese {Mn(2+)} linkers. This yields two new POMOFS with augmented hexagonal tiling (2 and 3), related to a known three-dimensional (3D) cubic array K(18)Li(6)[Mn(II)(8)(H(2)O)(48)P(8)W(48)O(184)]·108H(2)O (1), K(12)[Mn(II)(14)(H(2)O)(30)P(8)W(48)O(184)]·111H(2)O (2), and K(8)Li(4)[Mn(II)(14)(H(2)O)(26)P(8)W(48)O(184)]·105H(2)O (3). These frameworks have been crystallized from aqueous Li-buffered solutions of {P(8)W(48)} and Mn(II)(ClO(4))(2)·6H(2)O via careful control of the synthetic strategy akin to a crystal engineering approach using cation and temperature control to isolate different material architectures shown by compounds 1-3.     

钴镧掺杂富锂型锰酸锂制备及其性能

应用共沉淀-高温固相法制备钴镧共掺杂富锂型Li1.1Co0.02La0.01Mn2O4材料.X射线衍射(XRD)和扫描电镜(SEM)测试表明,在700~850℃的焙烧温度范围内,合成材料为单相,但随着焙烧温度升高,材料结晶度上升,粒径增大,比表面减小.该材料具有较小的极化电阻,以其作正极(800℃焙烧)组成扣式电池具有最佳电化学性能,1 C倍率50周循环充放电容量保持率达98.5%.