Evaluating the Free Energies of Solvation and Electronic Structures of Lithium‐Ion Battery Electrolytes

Adaptive biasing force molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations were performed to understand the interaction of Li⁺ with pure carbonates and ethylene carbonate (EC)‐based binary mixtures. The most favorable Li carbonate cluster configurations obtained from molecular dynamics simulations were subjected to detailed structural and thermochemistry calculations on the basis of the M06‐2X/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory. We report the ranking of these electrolytes on the basis of the free energies of Li‐ion solvation in carbonates and EC‐based mixtures. A strong local tetrahedral order involving four carbonates around the Li⁺ was seen in the first solvation shell. Thermochemistry calculations revealed that the enthalpy of solvation and the Gibbs free energy of solvation of the Li⁺ ion with carbonates are negative and suggested the ion–carbonate complexation process to be exothermic and spontaneous. Natural bond orbital analysis indicated that Li⁺ interacts with the lone pairs of electrons on the carbonyl oxygen atom in the primary solvation sphere. These interactions lead to an increase in the carbonyl (C=O) bond lengths, as evidenced by a redshift in the vibrational frequencies [ν(C=O)] and a decrease in the electron density values at the C=O bond critical points in the primary solvation sphere. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules, localized molecular orbital energy decomposition analysis (LMO‐EDA), and noncovalent interaction plots revealed the electrostatic nature of the Li⁺ ion interactions with the carbonyl oxygen atoms in these complexes. On the basis of LMO‐EDA, the strongest attractive interaction in these complexes was found to be the electrostatic interaction followed by polarization, dispersion, and exchange interactions. Overall, our calculations predicted EC and a binary mixture of EC/dimethyl carbonate to be appropriate electrolytes for Li‐ion batteries, which complies with experiments and other theoretical results.     

Conduction of Li+ cations in ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC): comparative studies using density functional theory

Density functional theory is used to study the interaction of Li⁺ cation with ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) comparatively, which are the most popular solvents used in lithium-ion battery composite. In our theoretical calculations, we use DFT hybrid parameter B3LYP5 with a basis set 6–31G** by means of PCGAMESS/Firefly software package. We analyze the optimized structures of EC, PC, and their clusters including lithium-ion. We then calculate solvation energy, desolvation energy, electron affinity, Gibbs free energy, heats of formation of Li⁺ solvated by EC and PC, and the charge on Li⁺. From the above analysis, we observe EC as a better solvent than PC in applications of lithium-ion batteries.     

Structure and stability of solvation complexes of trimethyl phosphate and dimethyl methyl phosphonate

The presently used electrolytes in Lithium ion batteries, dimethyl carbonate (DMC), and ethylene carbonate are flammable. Trimethyl phosphate (TMP) and dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) have been shown to be potential nonflammable electrolytes. Density functional theory is used to calculate the structure and stability of the solvation complexes of TMP and DMMP. The calculations indicate that TMP and DMMP can form a solvation complex of the form Li⁺(X)₄ where X is the TMP or DMMP molecule. Calculations of the solvation energy and bond dissociation energies to remove one TMP and DMMP from the solvation complexes are compared with the same calculations on DMC. The results indicate that TMP and DMMP are considerably more stable than DMC.     

Kinetics of aquation of cis- and trans-chloro-nitrobis(ethylenediamine) cobalt(III) ion in aqueous mixtures of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate

Summary The kinetics of aquation of cis- and trans-[Co(en)₂-NO ₂Cl] ⁺ were investigated in quasi-isodielectric aqueous mixtures of ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) over a range of temperatures. Transfer Gibbs energies of reactant and transition state from H₂O to aqueous mixtures of EC were evaluated from kinetic measurements and the solubilities of the complex salt. An analysis of the solvent effect on the solvation of the initial (IS) and transition (TS) state reveals that their stabilization by non-aqueous cosolvent is due to predominant ion-dipole and dispersion interactions.     

Dual-Metal Electrolytes for Hybrid-Ion Batteries: Synergism or Antagonism?

The construction of hybrid metal-ion batteries faces a plethora of challenges. A critical one is to unveil the solvation/desolvation processes at the molecular level in electrolytes that ensure efficient transfer of several types of charge carriers. This study reports first results on simulations of mixed-ion electrolytes. All combinations of homo- and hetero-binuclear complexes of Li⁺, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺, solvated with varying number of ethylene carbonate (EC) molecules are modeled in non-polar and polar environment by means of first principles calculations and compared to the mononuclear analogues in terms of stability, spatial organization, charge distribution and solvation/desolvation behavior. The used PF₆⁻ counterion is shown to have minor impact on the geometry of the complexes. The desolvation energy penalty of binuclear complexes can be lowered by the fluoride ions, emerging upon the PF₆⁻ decay. These model investigations could be extended to rationalize the solvation structure and ionic mobility in dual-ion electrolytes.     

FT‐IR Studies of Plasticization of Propylene Carbonate and Ethylene Carbonate in PEO‐NaSCN Polymer Electrolytes

The FT‐IR spectra of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)‐based gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs), PEO‐NaSCN‐propylene carbonate (PC) and PEO‐NaSCN‐ethylene carbonate (EC), were measured at room temperature. Along with the FT‐IR spectra of NaSCN‐PC, PEO‐PC, and PEO‐EC, the interactions in the GPEs and the plasticizations of PC and EC are revealed. It is shown that the coordination of ether oxygen in PEO with NaSCN is the preferential solvation, whereas the interactions of PC and EC with NaSCN are relatively weak in the GPEs. However, both PC and EC play an important role in inhibiting the formation of crystalline complexes and high ionic aggregations, in addition to the ability of transformation of PEO from crystal to amorphism. It is further observed that EC exhibits the stronger ability to transform PEO crystalline into amorphism than PC when the plasticizer content in PEO is more than 25%, and also the far stronger ability to decompose the crystalline complexes, in particular, in polymer electrolytes with high salt content.     

Solvent Molecule Cooperation Enhancing Lithium Metal Battery Performance at Both Electrodes

Developing electrolytes compatible with efficient and reversible cycling of electrodes is critical to the success of rechargeable Li metal batteries (LMBs). The Coulombic efficiencies and cycle lives of LMBs with ethylene carbonate (EC), dimethyl carbonate, ethylene sulfite (ES), and their combinations as electrolyte solvents show that in a binary‐solvent electrolyte the extent of electrolyte decomposition on the electrode surface is dependent on the solvent component that dominates the solvation sheath of Li⁺. This knowledge led to the development of an EC‐ES electrolyte exhibiting high performance for Li||LiFePO₄ batteries. Carbonate molecules occupy the solvation sheath and improve the Coulombic efficiencies of both the anode and cathode. Sulfite molecules lead to desirable morphology and composition of the solid electrolyte interphase and extend the cycle life of the Li metal anode. The cooperation between these components provides a new example of electrolyte optimization for improved LMBs.     

Estimating the Gibbs Hydration Energies of Actinium and Trans-Plutonium Actinides

The use of actinides for medical, scientific and technological purposes has gained momentum in the recent years. This creates a need to understand their interactions with biomolecules, both at the interface and as they become complexed. Calculation of the Gibbs binding energies of the ions to biomolecules, i. e., the Gibbs energy change associated with a transfer of an ion from the water phase to its binding site, could help to understand the actinides’ toxicities and to design agents that bind them with high affinities. To this end, there is a need to obtain accurate reference values for actinide hydration, that for most actinides are not available from experiment. In this study, a set of ionic radii is developed that enables future calculations of binding energies for Pu³⁺ and five actinides with renewed scientific and technological interest: Ac³⁺, Am³⁺, Cm³⁺, Bk³⁺ and Cf³⁺. Reference hydration energies were calculated using quantum chemistry and ion solvation theory and agree well for all ions except Ac³⁺, where ion solvation theory seems to underestimate the magnitude of the Gibbs hydration energy. The set of radii and reference energies that are presented here provide means to calculate binding energies for actinides and biomolecules.     

Theoretical and Structural Analysis of Long CC Bonds in the Adducts of Polycyanoethylene and Anthracene Derivatives and Their Connection to the Reversibility of Diels–Alder Reactions

X‐ray structure determinations on four Diels–Alder adducts derived from the reactions of cyano‐ and ester‐substituted alkenes with anthracene and 9,10‐dimethylanthracene have shown the bonds formed in the adduction to be particularly long. Their lengths range from 1.58 to 1.62 Å, some of the longest known for Diels–Alder adducts. Formation of the four adducts is detectably reversible at ambient temperature and is associated with free energies of reaction ranging from ?2.5 to ?40.6 kJ mol^?1. The solution equilibria have been experimentally characterised by NMR spectroscopy. Density‐functional‐theory calculations at the MPW1K/6‐31+G(d,p) level with PCM solvation agree with experiment with average errors of 6 kJ mol^?1 in free energies of reaction and structural agreement in adduct bond lengths of 0.013 Å. To understand more fully the cause of the reversibility and its relationship to the long adduct bond lengths, natural‐bond‐orbital (NBO) analysis was applied to quantify donor–acceptor interactions within the molecules. Both electron donation into the σ*‐anti‐bonding orbital of the adduct bond and electron withdrawal from the σ‐bonding orbital are found to be responsible for this bond elongation.     

Anionic bulk oligomerization of ethylene and propylene carbonate initiated by bisphenol‐A/base systems

When the bulk oligomerization of 1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one (ethylene carbonate, EC) and 4‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one (propylene carbonate, PC) with the 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol‐A, BPA)/base system (bases such as KHCO₃, K₂CO₃, KOH, Li₂CO₃, and t‐BuOK) was investigated at elevated temperature, significant differences were observed. Oligomerization of EC initiated by BPA/base readily takes place, but the oligomerization of PC is inhibited. The very first propylene carbonate/propylene oxide unit readily forms a phenolic ether bond with the functional groups of BPA phenolate, but the addition of the second monomer unit is rather slow. The oligomerization of EC yields symmetrical oligo(ethylene oxide) side chains. According to IR studies the oligomeric chains formed from PC with BPA contain not only ether but also carbonate bonds. The in situ step oligomerization of the BPA dipropoxylate was also identified by SEC, and a possible reaction mechanism is proposed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 545–550, 1999     

Effect of ring annelation on cations [M = H+, Li+, Na+, K+, Be2+, Mg2+, and Ca2+]…benzene interaction: A density functional theory investigation

Density functional theory calculation was carried out on cation‐π complexes formed by cations [M = H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺] and π systems of annelated benzene. The cation‐π bonding energy of Be²⁺ or Mg²⁺ with annelated benzene is very strong in comparison with the common cation‐π intermolecular interaction, and the bonding energies follow the order Be²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺. Similarly, the interaction energies follow the trend 1‐M < 2‐M < 3‐M for all the metal cations considered. These outcomes may be due to the weak interactions of the metal cations with C? H and the interactions of metal cations with π in addition to the nature of a metal cation. We have also investigated on all the possible substituted sites, and find that the metal ion tends to interact with all ring atoms while proton prefers to bind covalently to one of the ring carbons. The binding of metal cations with annelated benzenes has striking effect on nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts using the gauge independent atomic orbital method. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Molar volumes and viscosities of LiClO4 and LiBr in propylene carbonate + 1,2-dimethoxyethane mixed solvents at 298.15 K

The standard partial molar volumes, viscosity B-coefficients and activation free energies of lithium salts (LiClO₄ and LiBr) in propylene carbonate (PC) with 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) mixed solvents have been determined as a function of the mole fraction of DME at 298.15 K from precise density and viscosity measurements. The values studied are all positive and decrease monotonously with addition of DME in the PC, which indicates that nature of the solvents plays an important role. The effects are discussed in terms of preferential solvation and packing effect in the solvation shell and electrostriction. The differences between ClO₄⁻ and Br⁻ have also been discussed.     

Solvent decompositions and physical properties of decomposition compounds in Li-ion battery electrolytes studied by DFT calculations and molecular dynamics simulations

The density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed for the reduction decompositions of solvents widely used in Li-ion secondary battery electrolytes, ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonates (DMC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), and diethyl carbonate (DEC), including a typical electrolyte additive, vinylene carbonate (VC), at the level of B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p), both in the gas phase and solution using the polarizable conductor calculation model. In the gas phase, the first electron reduction for the cyclic carbonates and for the linear carbonates is found to be exothermic and endothermic, respectively, while the second electron reduction is endothermic for all the compounds examined. On the contrary, in solution both first and second electron reductions are exothermic for all the compounds. Among the solvents and the additive examined, the likelihood of undergoing the first electron reduction in solution was found in the order of EC > PC > VC > DMC > EMC > DEC with EC being the most likely reduced. VC, on the other hand, is most likely to undergo the second electron reduction among the compounds, in the order of VC > EC > PC. Based on the results, the experimentally demonstrated effectiveness of VC as an excellent electrolyte additive was discussed. The bulk thermodynamic properties of two dilithium alkylene glycol dicarbonates, dilithium ethylene glycol dicarbonate (Li-EDC) and dilithium 1,2-propylene glycol dicarbonate (Li-PDC), as the major component of solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) films were also examined through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in order to understand the stability of the SEI film. It was found that film produced from a decomposition of EC, modeled by Li-EDC, has a higher density, more cohesive energy, and less solubility to the solvent than the film produced from decomposition of PC, Li-PDC. Further, MD simulations of the interface between the decomposition compound and graphite suggested that Li-EDC has more favorable interactions with the graphite surface than Li-PDC. The difference in the SEI film stability and the behavior of Li-ion battery cycling among the solvents were discussed in terms of the molecular structures.     

A valence bond model for aqueous Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions in the AMOEBA polarizable force field

A general molecular mechanics (MM) model for treating aqueous Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions was developed based on valence bond (VB) theory and incorporated into the atomic multipole optimized energetics for biomolecular applications (AMOEBA) polarizable force field. Parameters were obtained by fitting MM energies to that computed by ab initio methods for gas‐phase tetra‐ and hexa‐aqua metal complexes. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the proposed AMOEBA‐VB model were performed for each transition metal ion in aqueous solution, and solvent coordination was evaluated. Results show that the AMOEBA‐VB model generates the correct square‐planar geometry for gas‐phase tetra‐aqua Cu²⁺ complex and improves the accuracy of MM model energetics for a number of ligation geometries when compared to quantum mechanical (QM) computations. On the other hand, both AMOEBA and AMOEBA‐VB generate results for Zn²⁺–water complexes in good agreement with QM calculations. Analyses of the MD trajectories revealed a six‐coordination first solvation shell for both Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions in aqueous solution, with ligation geometries falling in the range reported by previous studies. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The influence of hydrophobic amino acid side groups on the acidity of the aromatic imidazole ring of histidine: A theoretical study

In this study we have calculated the acidity constant (pKa) of imidazole ring in Histidine‐Hydrophobic amino acid dipeptides using the quantum chemistry and continuum solvation methods. Density functional theory calculations with the large basis sets are used to determine the Gibbs free energy of deprotonate in the gas and liquid phases. Based on our results ΔG_S values are located between ?69.38 and ?18.82 kcal mol^?1 which are related to His⁺–Gly and His forms, respectively. pKa of the dipeptides in the aqueous phase was obtained from the calculated gas‐phase and solvation free energies through a thermodynamic cycle and the solvation model chemistry of Martin Karplus et al. Solvation effects are treated using a self‐consistent reaction field formalism involving polarized continuum models. According to our calculations pKa values are between 5.50 and 8.19 that are belong to His⁺–ILe and His⁺–Ala forms, respectively. Natural bond orbital analysis of dipeptides reveals that the electron delocalization in imidazole ring is the most effective factor in determination of acidity order for these compounds. Structural analysis confirmed that the orientation of carbonyl group with respect to imidazole ring is an effective factor in imidazole ring stability. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

A comprehensive study of the solvent effects on the cycloaddition reaction of diethyl azodicarboxylate and ethyl vinyl ether: Efficient implementation of QM and TD‐DFT study

In this work, quantum chemistry calculations performed to study the kinetics and thermodynamic parameters of [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of diethyl azodicarboxylate and ethyl vinyl ether in eighty‐three solvents and gas phase. The solvent effect on the reaction path and electron density of the C2? N6 critical bond as the reaction coordinate at the TS was investigated. Calculated rate constants in various solvents showed that increase in the activation dipole moment accelerates the reaction. Based on the time‐dependent studies, using a conductor like polarizable continuum model solvation model, the solvent effects on the excitation energies of the reactants and transition states (TSs) and the corresponding chemical shifts were analyzed. Finally, some correlations between the rate constant and quantum reactivity indices such as electrophilicity index, chemical hardness, and electronic chemical potential were investigated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Solvent‐Dependent Structure of the I3− Ion Derived from Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the solvation of LiI₃ in four different solvents (water, methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile) are employed to investigate the molecular and electronic structure of the I₃^? ion in relation to X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Simulations show that hydrogen‐bond rearrangement in the solvation shell is coupled to intramolecular bond‐length asymmetry in the I₃^? ion. By a combination of charge analysis and I 4 d core‐level XPS measurements, the mechanism of the solvent‐induced distortions has been studied, and it has been concluded that charge localization mediates intermolecular interactions and intramolecular distortion. The approach involving a synergistic combination of theory and experiment probes the solvent‐dependent structure of the I₃^? ion, and the geometric structure has been correlated with the electronic structure.     

Measuring the Relative Hydrogen‐Bonding Strengths of Alcohols in Aprotic Organic Solvents

Voltammetric experiments with 9,10‐anthraquinone and 1,4‐benzoquinone performed under controlled moisture conditions indicate that the hydrogen‐bond strengths of alcohols in aprotic organic solvents can be differentiated by the electrochemical parameter ΔE_p^red=|E_p^red(1)?E_p^red(2)|, which is the potential separation between the two one‐electron reduction processes. This electrochemical parameter is inversely related to the strength of the interactions and can be used to differentiate between primary, secondary, tertiary alcohols, and even diols, as it is sensitive to both their steric and electronic properties. The results are highly reproducible across two solvents with substantially different hydrogen‐bonding properties (CH₃CN and CH₂Cl₂) and are supported by density functional theory calculations. This indicates that the numerous solvent–alcohol interactions are less significant than the quinone–alcohol hydrogen‐bonding interactions. The utility of ΔE_p^red was illustrated by comparisons between 1) 3,3,3‐trifluoro‐n‐propanol and 1,3‐difluoroisopropanol and 2) ethylene glycol and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol.     

Theoretical study of environmental effects on proton transfer reaction through the peptide bond in a model system

This study considered the possibility of proton transfer reactions through the peptide bond under different environments using the dipeptide and the 12-mer polyglycine α-helix models, in which diglycine is substituted by the 12-mer polyglycine helix. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations were carried out at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory. To evaluate the free energies in solution, calculations of the solvation energies were performed using PCM. The correction functions on the calculated solvation energies were provided to reproduce experimental pKa values. The proton transfer reactions through the peptide bond are concluded to be possible in the protein for a wide range of proton acceptors. His complex has two free energy minima along a putative proton transfer pathway in spite of one minimum in the other complexes. The α-helix is estimated to suppress the proton transfer reactions through the peptide bond at the termini of the helix, although it is possible to proceed when the proton affinity of the acceptor is low. Contribution to the Mark S. Gordon 65th Birthday Festschrift Issue.