Electrochemical and in-situ X-ray diffraction studies of Ti3C2Tx MXene in ionic liquid electrolyte

2D titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂T_x MXene) showed good capacitance in both organic and neat ionic liquid electrolytes, but its charge storage mechanism is still not fully understood. Here, electrochemical characteristics of Ti₃C₂T_x electrode were studied in neat EMI-TFSI electrolyte. A capacitive behavior was observed within a large electrochemical potential range (from − 1.5 to 1.5 V vs. Ag). Intercalation and de-intercalation of EMI⁺ cations and/or TFSI⁻ anions were investigated by in-situ X-ray diffraction. Interlayer spacing of Ti₃C₂T_x flakes decreases during positive polarization, which can be ascribed to either electrostatic attraction effect between intercalated TFSI⁻ anions and positively charged Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets or steric effect caused by de-intercalation of EMI⁺ cations. The expansion of interlayer spacing when polarized to negative potentials is explained by steric effect of cation intercalation.     

A novel vanadium oxide deposit for the cathode of asymmetric lithium-ion supercapacitors

Hydrous vanadium oxide (denoted as VO_x·yH₂O) deposited at 0.4 V shows promising capacitive behavior in aqueous media containing concentrated Li ions. VO_x·yH₂O annealed in air at 300 °C for 1 h shows highly reversible Li-ion intercalation/de-intercalation behavior with specific capacitance reaching ca. 737 and 606 F g^? 1 at 25 and 500 mV s^? 1 in 12 M LiCl between ?0.2 and 0.8 V. In 14 M LiCl, retention of specific capacitance is about 95% when the scan rate is increased from 25 to 500 mV s^? 1. This work is the first report showing the ultrahigh rate of Li-ion intercalation/de-intercalation in VO_x·yH₂O. A so-called Li-ion supercapacitor of the asymmetric type consisting of a VO_x^.yH₂O cathode and a WO₃^.zH₂O anode is proposed here.     

Thermodynamic properties of Na2Ti6O13 and Na2Ti3O7: electrochemical and calorimetric determination

Standard values of Gibbs free energy, entropy, and enthalpy of Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ and Na₂Ti₃O₇ were determined by evaluating emf-measurements of thermodynamically defined solid state electrochemical cells based on a Na–β″-alumina electrolyte. The central part of the anodic half cell consisted of Na₂CO₃, while two appropriate coexisting phases of the ternary system Na–Ti–O are used as cathodic materials. The cell was placed in an atmosphere containing CO₂ and O₂. By combining the results of emf-measurements in the temperature range of 573⩽T/K⩽1023 and of adiabatic calorimetric measurements of the heat capacities in the low-temperature region 15⩽T/K⩽300, the thermodynamic data were determined for a wide temperature range of 15⩽T/K⩽1100. The standard molar enthalpy of formation and standard molar entropy at T=298.15 K as determined by emf-measurements are Δ_fH_m⁰=(−6277.9±6.5) kJ · mol⁻¹ and S_m⁰=(404.6±5.3) J · mol⁻¹ · K⁻¹ for Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ and Δ_fH_m⁰=(−3459.2±3.8) kJ · mol⁻¹ and S_m⁰=(227.8±3.7) J · mol⁻¹ · K⁻¹ for Na₂Ti₃O₇. The standard molar entropy at T=298.15 K obtained from low-temperature calorimetry is S_m⁰=399.7 J · mol⁻¹ · K⁻¹ and S_m⁰=229.4 J · mol⁻¹ · K⁻¹ for Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ and Na₂Ti₃O₇, respectively. The phase widths with respect to Na₂O content were studied by using a Na₂O-titration technique.     

Measurements of HmE and VmE for (propane + sulphurhexafluoride) in the near critical region

A flow mixing calorimeter followed by a vibrating-tube densimeter has been used to measure excess molar enthalpies H_m^E and excess molar volumesV_m^E of {xC₃H₈ +  (1  − x)SF₆}. Measurements over a range of mole fractionsx have been made at the pressure p =  4.30 MPa at eight temperatures in the rangeT =  314.56 K to 373.91 K, in the liquid region at p =  3.75 MPa andT =  314.56 K, in the two phase region at p =  3.91 MPa andT =  328.18 K, and in the supercritical region at p =  5.0 MPa andT =  373.95 K. The measurements are compared with results from the Patel–Teja equation of state which reproduces the main features of the excess function curves as well as it does for similar measurements on{xCO₂ +  (1  − x)C₂H₆} ,{xCO₂ +  (1  − x)C₂H₄} and{xCO₂ +  (1  − x)SF₆} reported previously.     

Near critical measurements of HmE andVmE for (ethane + sulphur hexafluoride)

A flow mixing calorimeter and a vibrating-tube densimeter have been used to measure excess molar enthalpies H_m^E and excess molar volumes V_m^E of {xC₂H₆ +  (1  − x)SF₆ }. Measurements over a range of mole fractions x have been made at T =  305.65 K and T =  312.15 K and at the pressures (3.76, 4.32, 4.88 and 6.0) MPa. The pressure 3.76 MPa is close to the critical pressure of SF₆, the pressure 4.88 MPa is close to the critical pressure of C₂H₆, and the pressure 4.32 MPa is midway between these values. The measurements are compared with the Patel–Teja equation of state which reproduces the main features of the excess function curves as well as it does for similar measurements on {xCO₂ +  (1  − x)C₂H₆ }, {xCO₂ +  (1  − x)C₂H₄ } and {xCO₂ +  (1  − x)SF₆ }.     

Achieving high yield of Ti3C2Tx MXene few-layer flakes with enhanced pseudocapacior performance by decreasing precursor size

Ti₃C₂T_x, a most studied member of MXene family, shows promise as a candidate electrode for pseudocapacitor due to its electronic conductivity and hydrophilic surface. However, the unsatisfactory yield of Ti₃C₂T_x few-layer flakes significantly restricted it in real applications. Here, we proposed a simple solution to boost the yield of Ti₃C₂T_x few-layer flakes by decreasing precursor size. When using the small 500 mesh Ti₃AlC₂ powders as raw material, high yield of 65% was successfully achieved. Moreover, the as-received small flakes also exhibit an enhanced pseudocapacior performance owing to their excellent electrical conductivity, expanded interlayer space and more O content on the surface. This work not only sheds light on the cost effective mass production of Ti₃C₂T_x few-layer flakes, but also provides an efficient solution for the design of MXene electrodes with high pseudocapacior performance.     

On the kinetics of thermal electron attachment to perfluoroethers

In this Letter we report the results of the measurements of the rate coefficients for thermal attachment to several perfluoroethers namely perfluorodiglyme (C₆F₁₄O₃), perfluorotriglyme (C₈F₁₈O₄), perfluoropolyether (CF₃–(OCF(CF₃)CF₂)_n–(OCF₂)_m–OCF₃) and perfluorocrownether ((C₂F₄O)₅). Rate coefficients were obtained under thermal conditions in the temperature range 298–378 K. The increase of the rates with temperature follows the Arrhenius law and the activation energies have been obtained from the slope of the ln(k) vs. 1/T. The respective values of the rate coefficients (at 298 K) and activation energies are as follows: 7.7 ± 1.2 × 10^?11 cm³ s^?1 (0.18 ± 0.005 eV), 6.7 ± 2.1 × 10^?11 cm³ s^?1 (0.25 ± 0.004 eV), 2.1 ± 0.2 × 10^?10 cm³ s^?1 (0.16 ± 0.010 eV), 3.1 × 10^?11 cm³ s^?1 (0.27 ± 0.003 eV) for C₆F₁₄O₃, C₈F₁₈O₄, CF₃–(OCF(CF₃)CF₂)_n–(OCF₂)_m–OCF₃ and (C₂F₄O)₅.     

Perovskite-type oxides for high-temperature oxygen separation membranes

Oxygen permeation through dense ceramic membranes of perovskite-like SrCo_0.9−xFe_0.1Cr_xO_3−δ (x = 0.01–0.05), Sr_1−x−yLn_xCoO_3−δ(Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Gd; x = 0.30–0.35; y = 0–0.10), SrCo_1−xTi_xO_3−δ (x = 0.05–0.20) and LaM_1−xNi_xO_3−δ (M = Ga, Co, Fe; x = 0–0.6) was studied. The SrCoO_3−δ-based solid solutions with cubic perovskite structure were found to exhibit highest permeation fluxes compared to other membranes. However, high thermal expansion coefficients and interaction with gas species such as carbon dioxide may complicate the employment of SrCoO_3−δ membranes for oxygen separation membranes. Alternatively, the LaGa_1−xNi_xO_3−δ (x = 0.2–0.5) perovskites, having significant permeation fluxes as well as thermal expansion coefficients in the range of (10.8–11.6) × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, were demonstrated to be suitable as membrane materials at oxygen pressures from 1 × 10⁻² to 2 × 10⁴ Pa. Testing oxygen permeation at oxygen partial pressures of 1–60 atm showed that only oxides with a high oxygen deficiency such as SrCo_0.85Ti_0.15F_3−δ possess sufficient oxygen permeation fluxes. The oxygen permeability of perovskites on the basis of LaGaO₃ and LaCoO_3−δ was found to be negligible at oxygen pressures above 15 atm, caused by low oxygen vacancy concentration and ionic conductivity of such ceramic materials.     

Thermodynamic properties of 4-amino-3-furazanecarboxamidoxime

4-Amino-3-furazanecarboxamidoxime (AAOF) is an important precursor for synthesizing new furazano (furoxano) energetic compounds. Its thermal behaviour was studied under a non-isothermal condition by DSC methods. The results of this study show that there are one melting process and two exothermic decomposition processes. Its kinetic parameters of the intense exothermic decomposition process are obtained from analysis of the DSC curves. The apparent activation energy (E_a), pre-exponential factor (A) and the mechanism function (f(α)) were (146 ± 18) kJ · mol⁻¹, (10^10.9±1.8) s⁻¹ and (1 − α)², respectively. The specific molar heat capacity (C_p,m) of AAOF was determined by a continuous C_p mode of micro-calorimeter. The self-accelerating decomposition temperature (T_SADT), thermal ignition temperature (T_TIT) and critical temperatures of thermal explosion (T_b) were obtained to evaluate its thermal safety.     

Achieving high electrode specific capacitance with materials of low mass specific capacitance: Potentiostatically grown thick micro-nanoporous PEDOT films

Electrode materials for supercapacitors are at present commonly evaluated and selected by their mass specific capacitance (C_M, F g⁻¹). However, using only this parameter may be a misleading practice because the electrode capacitance also depends on kinetics, and may not increase simply by increasing material mass. It is therefore important to complement C_M by the practically accessible electrode specific capacitance (C_E, F cm⁻²) in material selection. Poly[3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene] (PEDOT) has a mass specific capacitance lower than other common conducting polymers, e.g. polyaniline. However, as demonstrated in this communication, this polymer can be potentiostatically grown to very thick films (up to 0.5 mm) that were porous at both micro- and nanometer scales. Measured by both cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectrometry, these thick PEDOT films exhibited electrode specific capacitance (C_E, F cm⁻²) increasing linearly with the film deposition charge, approaching 5 F cm⁻², which is currently the highest amongst all reported materials.     

Bi2O3 deposited on highly ordered mesoporous carbon for supercapacitors

A simple route has been employed to prepare nanosized Bi₂O₃ deposited on highly ordered mesoporous carbon. The electrochemical measurements reveal that, by loading only 10% Bi₂O₃ on the mesoporous carbon, the specific capacitance of the composite is improved by 62%, with the maximum value reaching 232 F g^?1 at a sweep rate of 5 mV s^?1. The specific capacitance of Bi₂O₃ is calculated and reaches 1305 F g^?1 at 1 mV s^?1. It is found that the mass transfer in the framework of the crystalline oxide is still difficult in spite of its nanosize, as evidenced by the decline of the specific capacitance of the Bi₂O₃ with the increase of the sweep rate. The cyclic life of composite materials is also measured and the capacitance only declines 21% after 1000 cycles.     

Near critical measurements of HmEandVmE for { xCO2 + (1 − x)SF6} and measurements made over the pressure range 2.5 to 10.0 MPa at the temperature T = 301.95 K

A flow mixing calorimeter, followed by a vibrating tube densimeter, has been used to measure excess molar enthalpies H_m^Eand excess molar volumesV_m^E of {xCO₂ +  (1  − x)SF₆}. Measurements over a range of mole fraction x have been made at the temperatures T =  302.15 K and T =  305.65 K at the pressures (3.76, 5.20, 6.20, and 7.38) MPa. The lowest pressure 3.76 MPa is close to thecritical pressure of SF₆ and the highest pressure 7.38 MPa is close to the critical pressure of CO ₂. Measurements atx =  0.5 have been made over the pressure range (2.5 to 10.0) MPa at the temperature 301.95 K. Some of the measurements are very close to the critical locus of the mixture. The measurements are compared with the Patel–Teja equation of state which reproduces the main features of the excess function curves as well as it does for similar measurements on {xCO₂ +  (1  − x)C₂H₆} and{xCO₂ +  (1  − x)C₂H₄} . The equation was used to calculate residual enthalpies and residual volumes for the pure components and for the mixture, and inspection of the way these combine to give excess enthalpies and volumes assisted the interpretation of the pressure scan measurements.     

Thermochemical behavior of crown ethers in the mixtures of water with organic solvents. Part VIII. Hydrophobic hydration and preferential solvation of 1,4-dioxane in {(1 − x)amide + xH2O} at T = 298.15 K

The enthalpies of solution of 1,4-dioxane in {(1 − x)F + xH₂O}, {(1 − x)NMF + xH₂O}, and {(1 − x)DMF + xH₂O} have been measured within the whole mole fraction range at T = 298.15 K. Based on the obtained data, the effect of substituting methyl groups at the nitrogen atom in formamide on the preferential solvation of 1,4-dioxane has been analyzed. A simple model has been proposed to describe the influence of structural and energetic properties of the mixed solvent on the energetic effect of hydrophobic hydration and preferential solvation of 1,4-dioxane by the components of the examined mixture.     

Quaternary (liquid + liquid) equilibria for (water + 2-propanol + 1,1-dimethylethyl methyl ether + diisopropyl ether) at the temperature 298.15 K

(Liquid + liquid) equilibrium tie-lines were measured for one ternary system {x₁H₂O + x₂(CH₃)₂CHOH + (1 − x₁ − x₂)CH₃C(CH₃)₂OCH₃} and one quaternary system {x₁H₂O + x₂(CH₃)₂CHOH + x₃CH₃C(CH₃)₂OCH₃ + (1 − x₁ − x₂ − x₃)(CH₃)₂CHOCH(CH₃)₂} at T = 298.15 K and P^∘ = 101.3 kPa. The experimental (liquid + liquid) equilibrium results were satisfactorily correlated by modified and extended UNIQUAC models both with ternary and quaternary parameters in addition to binary ones.     

(p, ρ, T) measurements of (ammonia + water) in the temperature range 310 K to 400 K at pressures up to 17 MPa. II. Measurements of{ xNH3 + (1 − x )H2O } at x = (1.0000, 0.8374, 0.6005, and 0.2973)

Measurements of (p, ρ, T) for{xNH₃ +  (1  − x)H₂O} at x =  (1.0000, 0.8374, 0.6005, and 0.2973) and at specified temperatures and pressures in the compressed liquid phase were carried out with a metal-bellows variable volumometer between T =  310 K and T =  400 K at pressures up to 17 MPa. The results cover the high-density region from ρ =  345 kg · m ^− 3 for x =  1.0000 to ρ =  878 kg · m  ^− 3for x =  0.2973. The experimental uncertainties at a 95 per cent confidence interval in temperature T, pressure p, density ρ, and mole fraction x were estimated to be less than  ± 11 mK,  ± 2.6 kPa,  ± 2.1 · 10  ^− 3. ρ, and  ± 1.8 · 10 ^− 3· x, respectively. A detailed comparison of the density values with literature data as well as with an equation of state proposed by Tillner-Roth and Friend is also reported.     

Ab initio calculations and mechanism of two proton migration reactions of ethoxy radical

We present a direct ab initio and density functional theory dynamics study of the thermal rate constants of the two H-migration reactions of C₂H₅O radical. MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) methods were employed to optimize the geometries of all stationary points and to calculate the minimum energy path (MEP). The energies of all the stationary points were refined at the QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. The thermal gas phase rate constants were evaluated based on the energetics from the QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory using both microcanonical variational transition state theory (μVT) and canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with the Eckart tunneling correction in the temperature range of 200–2500 K. The extended Arrhenius expression fitted from the μVT/Eckart rate constants of 1,2 H-shift and 1,3 H-shift reactions of C₂H₅O radical in the temperature range of 200–2500 K are k = 3.90 × 10⁻³¹T^12.4e^{(−2.13 × 103/T)} and k = 2.83 × 10⁻²⁹T^11.9e^{(−2.24 × 103/T)} s⁻¹, respectively. The two isomerization rate constants exhibited positive temperature dependence in the calculated temperature region. The variational effects for the two isomerizations of ethoxy radical are small and the tunneling effects are important in the low temperature range. The titled reactions are minor and not essential compared to the decomposition pathways of ethoxy radical.     

Diffusion of ferrocene methanol in super-cooled aqueous solutions using cylindrical microelectrodes

The diffusion of ferrocene methanol in super-cooled aqueous solutions containing sucrose has been studied, using disk and cylindrical microelectrodes, over a wide viscosity range. The solution viscosity and the reduced temperature T/T_g (T_g being the glass transition temperature) were varied by changing the sucrose concentration and the temperature of the system. The voltammetric limiting current obtained with a disk microelectrode and the i(t) response on a cylindrical microelectrode after a potential step were used to determine diffusion coefficients from 7 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹ down to 2 × 10⁻¹¹ cm² s⁻¹. The electrochemical procedure described in this work allows a simple and accurate measurement of the dynamics of electroactive solutes in glass-forming liquids.     

The estimation of the heat capacity of NpO2

The heat capacity C_{p, m}of NpO₂was estimated for temperatures between 300 K and 1400 K. The C_{p, m}was evaluated as a sum of three terms, phonon vibration C_{ph, m}, dilation C_{d, m}, and Schottky specific heat C_{s, m}. The C_{ph, m}and C_d,mwere calculated using the Debye temperature, Grüneisen constant and thermal expansion data obtained by high-temperature X-ray diffractometry. The coefficient of the linear thermal expansion (l.t.e.) for NpO₂was given as a polynomial function up to T =  1573 K. The estimated C_p,mwas compared with that of previous studies. The present result at T =  300 K was 66.87 J · K ^− 1· mol ^− 1, which agreed well with previous results, 66.22 J · K ^− 1· mol ^− 1, measured by using calorimetry. The thermodynamic functions were given as a function of temperature.     

Li(4−x)/3Ti(5−2x)/3CrxO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.9) spinels: New negatives for lithium batteries

Members of the spinel solid solution between Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ and LiCrTiO₄, i.e., Li_(4−x)/3Ti_(5−2x)/3Cr_xO₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.9), have been investigated as possible negative electrodes for future lithium-ion batteries. Electrochemical behaviour have been studied over the potential range 1–3.5 V vs Li⁺/Li. Results are promising with anodic capacities between 129 and 163 mA h/g with a flat operating voltage at about 1.5 V, which is attributed to the pair Ti⁴⁺/Ti³⁺. The inclusion of Cr³⁺ in the spinel structure enhances the specific capacity. In-situ X-ray diffraction experiments confirm that the reaction proceeds in a topotactic manner.