Plastic domain and ionic conductivity of (C4H9)4NI

Unusual ionic transport in tetrabutylammonium iodide (C₄H₉)₄NI (TBAI) was observed by high resolution proton NMR spectroscopy accompanied by diffusion experiments. Some parts of the TBA cations are diffusing not only in the plastic phase II, but in the low temperature ordered phase I as well. The diffusing TBA ions are considered to be inside the remaining plastic domains dispersed in the ordered crystal matrix. The volume fraction of the plastic domain is evaluated from the observed narrow component of the proton NMR spectra. The observed unusual temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient can be explained by assuming a manifold decrease of the dimension of the plastic domain in phase I. The differences in degree of crystallinity at the interface of plastic domains with respect to its surroundings led to the surface enhancement of diffusivity in phase I. Finally, the observed ionic conductivity is compared with the estimation from the diffusion coefficient and mobile cation densities. The results suggest that only a fraction of the cations take part in the observed ionic conductivity.     

固态离子晶体β-K0.294Ga1.969O3的高压与变温拉曼光谱研究

β-镓酸盐（β-gallate）型化合物是一种非常有应用前景的固态离子导体,在储能领域具有重要的应用价值。该类型化合物导电层中往往可以容纳过量的碱金属离子,使得该体系体现出复杂的晶格动力学行为,这也为进一步理解其导电机制带来了困难。压力与温度两个参量均可以通过改变原子间的间距而影响材料的结构,在研究材料的动力学过程,尤其在研究离子的扩散过程方面有很大的应用价值。迄今为止,对于温度依赖的β-镓酸盐型化合物的特性研究很少,且尚无β-镓酸盐型结构化合物的高压研究。由于激光拉曼散射技术在研究物质晶格动力学方面的独特优势,尤其压力与温度依赖的拉曼光谱可以提供重要的结构信息,是研究物质晶格动力学行为的有效实验手段。使用大腔体静高压技术成功合成了一种新型的β-镓酸盐型K_0.294Ga_1.969O₃(KGO)晶体,利用扫描电镜、能谱对晶体进行了表征,通过单晶X射线衍射对其晶体结构进行了解析,并与β-Ga₂O₃的晶体结构进行了对比分析。利用高压和变温拉曼光谱研究了KGO导电层中无序碱金属离子的晶格动力学行为。研究发现,由尖晶石层与疏松的离子导电层交替排列而成的β-镓酸盐型KGO晶体结构在压力23.3 GPa条件下仍可保持稳定;由于振动模式不同,高频拉曼模与低频拉曼模的压力系数存在着显著差异,并表现出显著的对压力诱导非谐性。在约300 ℃,KGO中K+发生热激活,表现在与碱金属K+运动相关的低频拉曼模的强度迅速增加,而与Ga-O多面体相关的高频振动模强度增加缓慢,与此同时,K+在沿着导电平面的方向上发生了无序扩散过程。研究结果将有助于深入地理解β-镓酸盐型结构化合物的导电机制,而且对于实现β-镓酸盐型化合物精确的计算控制和掺杂尤为重要。     

Raman spectra of a pseudo‐oxocarbon anion in ionic liquids

Raman and electronic spectra of the [3,5‐bis(dicyanomethylene)cyclopentane‐1,2,4‐trionate] dianion, the croconate violet (CV), are reported in solutions of ionic liquids based on imidazolium cations. Different normal modes of the CV anion, ν (CO), ν (CO) + ν (CC) + ν (CCN), and ν(C≡N), were used as probes of solvation characteristics of ionic liquids, and were compared with spectra of CV in common solvents. The spectra of CV in ionic liquids are similar to those in dichloromethane solution, but distinct from those in protic solvents such as ethanol or water. The UV–vis spectra of CV in ionic liquids strongly suggest π–π interactions between the CV anion and the imidazolium cation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Proton diffusion mechanism in amorphous SiO2

We study proton diffusion in amorphous SiO2 from the atomic scale to the long-range percolative regime. Ab initio molecular dynamics suggest that the dominant atomic process consists in cross-ring interoxygen hopping assisted by network vibrations. A statistical analysis accounting for the disorder in amorphous SiO2 yields relations between transition energies and interoxygen distances for both cross-ring and nearest-neighbor hopping. The percolative regime is then addressed through large-size model systems reproducing these relations. Cross-ring hopping is confirmed as the dominant diffusion mechanism and supported by a good agreement with experiment for the activation energy.     

Side-chain effects on the capacitive behaviour of ionic liquids in microporous electrodes

Classical density functional theory (cDFT) is used to investigate electrosorption of ionic liquids in porous electrodes within the framework of a coarse-grained model. The purpose of this study is to clarify the influence of the side alkyl chains of imidazolium cations on the electric double layer (EDL) capacitance that was studied in a number of recent investigations but with contradictory trends. For an ionic liquid near a planar electrode, cDFT predicts that the capacitance falls by extending the alkyl chain length of cations because neutral segments reduce the packing density of counterions thus the charge density. The side-chain effect is more complicated for ionic liquids in micropores owing to space-charge competition. Adding neutral segments to imidazolium cations always reduces the capacitance in cases where the surface electrical potential of micropores is sufficiently large. However, the capacitance shows a nonmonotonic dependence on the alkyl chain length at intermediate surface potentials. Surprisingly, addition of neutral segments to the cations has the most pronounced effect on the EDL capacitance in cases when the surface potential is positively charged. These findings challenge the conventional assumption that the alkyl side chains of imidazolium ions only negatively impact ionic liquid performance in charge storage.     

Proton disorder and superionicity in hot dense ammonia ice

We report the experimental discovery of a new phase of ammonia ice, stable at pressures above 57 GPa and temperatures above 700 K. The combination of our experimental results and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal that this new phase is a superionic conductor, characterized by a large proton diffusion coefficient (1.0×10(-4) cm(2)/s at 70 GPa, 850 K). Proton diffusion occurs via a Grotthuss-like mechanism, at a surprisingly lower temperature than in water ice. This may have implications for the onset of superionicity in the molecular ice mixtures present in Jovian planets. Our simulations further suggest that the anisotropic proton hopping along different H bonds in the molecular solid may explain the formation of the recently predicted ionic phase at low temperatures.     

Revisited vibrational assignments of imidazolium‐based ionic liquids

Imidazolium‐based ionic liquids (ILs) involving anions of variable coordinating strength have been investigated using infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopies, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and selective deuteration of the imidazolium CH groups. Particular emphasis has been placed on the vibrational assignments of the anion and cation internal vibrations, a prerequisite before any interpretation of spectral changes due to ion–ion interactions in these unconventional liquids. The vibrations of highly symmetric and weakly coordinating anions, such as PF₆⁻, have unperturbed wavenumbers, but unexpected IR or Raman activity for some modes, showing that the anion is subjected to an anisotropic electric field. The stretching as well as the in‐plane and out‐of‐plane bending modes of the imidazolium CH groups are anharmonic. They give broad bands that reflect a large distribution of interactions with the surrounding anions. All the bending modes are mixed with ring vibrations and the stretching modes are complicated by Fermi resonance interactions with overtones and combination of in‐plane ring modes. However, the stretching vibration of the quasi‐diatomic C₍₂₎ D bond appears to be a good spectroscopic probe of the increasing cation–anion interactions when the coordinating strength of the anion increases. The broad absorption observed in the far IR with weakly coordinating anions remains practically unchanged when the acidic C₍₂₎ H imidazolium bond is methylated and even when the imidazolium cation is substituted by tetra‐alkyl ammonium or pyrrolidinium cations. It is concluded that this absorption is a general feature of any IL, coming from the relative translational and librational motions of the ions without needing to invoke C₍₂₎ H anion hydrogen bonds. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two separate Li ionic motions observed by Li and B NMR in xLi2S + (1 − x)B2S3 glassy fast ionic conductors

Studies of ion dynamics in the highly conductive glassy fast ionic conductor (FIC) xLi₂S + (1 − x)B₂S₃ (x = 0.65 and 0.70) were made with NMR nuclear spin lattice relaxation (NSLR) R₁(ω, T) of both mobile ⁷Li and immobile ¹¹B ions, and ⁷Li NMR line narrowing δν(T). The possible dependence of ion dynamics on the short range order structures (SRO) and the distribution of activation energies (DAE) in this highly conductive FIC was investigated. Two Gaussian DAE were employed to fit ⁷Li NSLR data, where each Gaussian DAE was correlated to a separate ¹¹B NSLR in a BS₃ and in a BS₄ group. The long range diffusion of Li ions among BS₃ groups and a seemingly localized ionic hopping motion around BS₄ group is suggested as a microscopic model for the ion dynamics in thioborate glasses, namely a ‘two channel relaxation’.     

Studies of ionic conductivity and structural phase transitions of Na3H(SO4)2 crystal

The complex electrical impedance of Na₃H(SO₄)₂ along the b_m-axis has been measured from 25°C to 316°C in the frequency range 4 kHz–40 MHz. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity shows remarkable changes in the temperature range 160°C–260°C. The sample crystal becomes a fast ionic conductor above 260°C. The conduction mechanisms of proton and sodium ions in the different phases are analyzed in detail with respect to the structural features of the sample crystal.     

Ion diffusion in the high-temperature phases Li2SO4, LiNaSO4, LiAgSO4 and Li4Zn(SO4)3

Diffusion in the four high-temperature sulphate phases Li₂SO₄, LiNaSO₄, LiAgSO₄ and Li₄Zn(SO₄)₃ was studied extensively some 20–30 years ago. We have now carried out a re-evaluation where we include information obtained from a number of studies of other properties. The data are adjusted slightly due to the use of another type of regression analysis. It is characteristic of the four phases that they are both plastic crystals and solid electrolytes (superionic conductors). The cause of the high conductivity is that the mobility of the cations is strongly enhanced by the rotational motion of the translationally static sulphate ions. This is observed not only for the abundant cations, but also for other cations present (mono- as well as polyvalent) and for monovalent anions. Furthermore, both bulk diffusion and transfer along high diffusivity paths are affected. In addition, one can distinguish between different contributions to the bulk diffusion. The ionic radius is a very important parameter, since it determines the solid solubility and the distribution of the ions between the sites that are available in the lattice. All this affects the relative importance of several competing diffusion mechanisms. This gives a qualitative explanation of an anomalous correlation which has been observed in FCC Li₂SO₄ for monovalent ions (cations as well as anions), namely that both the diffusion coefficients D, and the activation energies Q, decrease when the radius is increased. This holds for hard-core cations (Li, Na, K, Rb), polarizable cations (Ag, Tl) and anions (F, Cl, Br). On the other hand, the situation is normal for divalent cations for which an increase in D corresponds to a decrease in Q. This is the case for hard-core ions (Mg, Ca) as well as for polarizable ones (Zn, Cd, Pb). Migration of the large ions Cs⁺ and SO²⁻₄ appears to be specially sensitive to how the experiment is prepared. Diffusion in BCC LiNaSO₄ and LiAgSO₄ has been studied for the two main cations as well as for some dopant ions. A general conclusion is that studies of diffusion of several ions in the same structure can give information that cannot be obtained by other types of experiments.     

Nature of Local Symmetry Violations of Ions in the Magnetic Subsystem of Magnetoplumbite Crystal,According to Raman Scattering Spectroscopy Data

The structure of an M-type lead hexaferrite (magnetoplumbite) crystal is studied via the diffraction of synchrotron radiation. The crystal model contains two iron ions positions with dynamic disorder. The dynamics of the crystal lattice in the temperature range of 80 to 775 K is studied by Raman scattering. Particular attention is given to the discussing the nature of the local disorder of iron ions in the trigonal bipyramidal environment of oxygen ions.     

Multiscale modelling strategies and experimental insights for the solvation of cellulose and hemicellulose in ionic liquids

ABSTRACT

The present study investigates the dissolution behaviour of cellulose and hemicellulose in potential ionic liquids (ILs) using both the quantum chemical and experimental validation. For converging upon the recommended IL, 1428 ILs consisting of 42 cations and 34 anions were studied with the conductor like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) model. Based on the infinite dilution activity coefficient of the components in IL, the selected anions and cations were visualised by observing their interactions with cellulose and hemicellulose using interaction energies, natural bonding orbital analysis and molecular dynamics simulations. The dissolution order of cellulose and hemicellulose in ILs was primarily determined by the evaluation of hydrogen bonds between the oxygen atom of anion and hydroxyl proton of cellulose/hemicellulose. From this discernible fact, the anion of the IL was observed to play a leading role in the solvation process as compared to the cation. Eventually, acetate [OAc]^– anion and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium [EMIM]⁺ cation were found to be good candidates for the dissolution of cellulose and hemicellulose. This was further confirmed by the measurement of solid-liquid equilibria with cellulose and hemicellulose. The regenerated cellulose powder was then characterised by Fourier transform spectroscopy(FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).     

56Fe13+离子引起GaP晶体的微结构损伤

利用X射线衍射（XRD）技术、傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）和Raman光谱对经不同剂量的56Fe13+离子辐照的GaP晶体的微结构进行了表征。结果表明:随着辐照离子剂量的增加,GaP晶体中产生了局部的无序与缺陷。随着56Fe13+离子剂量的增加,Raman光谱展示出振动峰强度逐渐减弱而且一些逐渐消失,但其峰位几乎没有发生变化;XRD显示出GaP晶体的衍射峰的强度逐渐减小;FTIR主要表现为宽化及其强度增加。这表明重离子56Fe13+的辐照使得GaP晶体中的缺陷与无序性增加,导致晶体产生了局部的非晶化。The Misconstructural damage of GaP irradiated with 56Fe13+ to fluences ranging from 1×107 ions/cm2~1×1010 ions/cm2 were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The result shows that, with the increase of irradiation ion fluences, local disorder and defects were produced in GaP crystal. With the increase of ion fluence, Raman spectra reveal the intensity of scattering peaks gradually weakens and some scattering peaks gradually disappear, however no changes in the peak position were found. XRD measurement displays that the intensity of diffraction peaks gradually decreases with an increase in ions fluences. Result from FTIR spectra exhibits that the intensity of reflection peaks gradually increases and the FWHM of reflection peaks broadens. These phenomena indicate that, the irradiation of heavy-ion Fe produces defects and disorder in GaP crystal, leading to a local amorphization.     

Light induced phenomena in superionic crystals

The phenomena of the reversible transformation of concentration and a structure of luminescence centers and of the concentration of mobile silver ions in local irradiated region of RbAg₄I₅ superionic crystals are studied. A new effect of illumination on ionic conductivity and activation energy of migration of mobile Ag⁺ cations in RbAg₄I₅ superionic crystals are observed. Reversible changes in the ionic conductivity due to illumination of superionic crystals are caused by reversible change in the structure of electronic centers caused by elastic strain around these centers. The effect of elastic deformation on the process of ionic transport and activation energy for diffusion of mobile silver cations are studied. Photostimulated recovery of the ionic conductivity after its change due to preliminary illumination of a RbAg₄I₅ superionic crystal with light of wavelength λ=430 nm are detected. This recovery of the ionic conductivity is due to excitation of centers in complexes generated by previous illumination of tested samples.     

Effect of microdefects in crystal lattice on certain luminescence relaxation processes in alkali halide phosphor crystals

A further development of ideas on an ionic mechanism for the activation of certain relaxation processes in recombination luminescence of alkali halide phosphor crystals is presented. It is shown that each stage of the thermal discoloration process in the phosphor crystals corresponds to disruption of the F-band in an isolated microsection of the specimen. The effect of the degree of plastic deformation on the relative proportions of F-center concentrations on various microregions of the crystal was investigated. The effect of impurity ions, of their concentration, arid of the crystal plastic deformation on the photothermal stability of the F-centers and on the thermal quenching of luminescence during photoexcitation of activator color centers in NaCl-Ag phosphor crystals was also studied.     

Silver ion dynamics in silver borate glasses: spectra and multiple-time correlation functions from 109Ag-NMR

The motion of silver ions in (AgI)x-(Ag2O-B2O3)1-x glasses with AgI concentrations of x=0.5 and 0.7 was studied using 109Ag-NMR. The NMR spectra were analyzed in terms of a superposition of two different contributions. These are associated with Ag ions, which hop on vastly different time scales. The existence of dynamic heterogeneity, i.e. the existence of slow and of fast contributions to the hopping dynamics was directly demonstrated using a four-time stimulated-echo experiment. The results are compatible with an intrinsically exponential response. From measurements of the spectra and of two-time correlation functions a Gaussian distribution of energy barriers, hindering the ionic motion, could be mapped out.     

Ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of three-dimensional hierarchical CuO peachstone-like architectures

Uniform peachstone-like CuO 3D architectures consisting of single-crystal nanosheets have been successfully synthesized by using ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate ([Omim]TA) as capping reagents under the ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal condition. Detailed proofs indicated that the process of crystal growth was dominated by an oriented aggregation and self-assemble growth mechanism. The morphology of CuO evolved from nanoparticles to two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets and three-dimensional (3D) peachstone-like nanostructures. A formation process is proposed to illustrate the growth of peachstone-like CuO crystal. The influence of the ionic liquid cations on the morphology of CuO materials was studied in detail. The cations of the ionic liquids control the morphology of crystals. Additionally, it was also found that the concentration of ionic liquids and the reaction time have direct influences on the morphology of the products. Their optical absorption spectra were also studied. The synthetic strategy could be extended to assemble 3D architectures of other materials.     

Crystal structure and phase transitions of [(C2H5)4N]6Bi8Cl30

A new [(C₂H₅)₄N]₆Bi₈Cl₃₀ crystal of the family of alkylammonium halogenobismuthates was grown. X-ray diffraction studies showed that the crystals are monoclinic, space group C2/m with a = 20.117(5), b = 12.682(3), c = 20.396(5) Å, β = 93.03(3), Z =2. The lattice consists of (C₂H₅)₄N⁺ cations and a new type of Bi₈Cl⁶⁻₃₀ anion. Dielectric studies revealed two closely-lying structural phase transitions around 241 K (on cooling). They were interpreted as due to a freezing of the rotational motions of tetraethylammonium cations.