Preparation and structure of alkali metal intercalation compounds

The preparation methods of intercalation compounds fall into four main groups: use of alkali metal solutions in liquid ammonia, organometallic reagents, electrochemical methods, and solid state processes. Each of these will be briefly described and a general comparison of the advantages and disadvantages will be made. Structural problems concern the positions occupied by the guest ions and their mobility from one site to one another in the host structure. The resulting ionic conductivity of the intercalation compounds depends on factors such as the ratio between available and occupied sites in the van der Waals gap, the ionicity of the bonds in the host structure, the site geometry, and the nature of the alkali metal.     

In-situ TEM investigation of MoS_2 upon alkali metal intercalation

Phase transition in two dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS_2) can be induced by several methods and has been investigated for decades. Alkali metal insertion of MoS_2 had been proved an effective method to cause phase transition early in 1970s, and has been gaining renewed interest recently, due to the possible application of MoS_2 in energy storage. The alkali metal intercalation of MoS_2 has been studied by various techniques, among which in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides unique capability of real time resolving the structural evolution of the materials at high spatial resolutions. Here by in-situ TEM technique we investigated the structural evolution of MoS_2 upon lithium and sodium intercalation, along with transformation of the nanosheet and variation of the electron diffraction patterns. The intercalation process is accompanied by emergence of superstructures, which exist in several forms. The ion intercalation results in phase transition of MoS_2 from 2H to 1T, and the driving mechanism of the phase transition are discussed. The work provides a more comprehensive understanding of ion intercalation induced phase transition of MoS_2.     

Structure prediction of high-pressure phases for alkali metal sulfides

For a given chemical system we present a systematic approach to predict structures, which may exist at high pressure, by investigating the global enthalpy landscape. We combine global optimizations, based on empirical potential energy functions, and local optimizations (volume, cell shape, and atomic positions) on both Hartree-Fock and density functional theory level. We predict the existence of high-pressure phases for the alkali metal sulfides of the composition M2S (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs), together with the transition pressures among these phases.     

A method for controlled stoichiometry intercalation of alkali metals in layered metal dichalcogenide crystals

Crystals ofLi_yTiS₂ (0 < y < 1) and2HA_yTaX₂ (A =Li, Na, K; 0 < y < 1; X =S, Se) have been prepared by equilibration of the unintercalated crystals with a source powder of the desired alkali ion stoichiometry via the alkali vapor pressure of the compounds at 400–650°C. Crystals of 1 cm² area were intercalated. The final stoichiometry of the crystals is in good agreement with that expected from the source.     

Synthesis of ternary and quaternary graphite intercalation compounds containing alkali metal cations and diamines

A series of ternary graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) of alkali metal cations (M = Li, Na, K) and diamines [EN (ethylenediamine), 12DAP (1,2-diaminopropane), and DMEDA (N,N-dimethylethylenediamine)] are reported. These include stage 1 and 2 M-EN-GIC (M = Li, d(i) = 0.68-0.84 nm; M = Na, d(i) = 0.68 nm), stage 2 Li-12DAP-GIC (d(i) = 0.83 nm), and stage 1 and 2 Li-DMEDA-GIC (d(i) = 0.91 nm), where d(i) is the gallery height. For M = Li, a perpendicular-to-parallel transition of EN is observed upon evacuation, whereas for M = Na, the EN remains in parallel orientation. Li-12DAP-GIC and Li-DMEDA-GIC contain chelated Li(+) and do not show the perpendicular-to-parallel transition. We also report the quaternary compounds of mixed cations (Li,Na)-12DAP-GIC and mixed amines Na-(EN,12DAP)-GIC, with d(i) values in both cases between those of the ternary end members. (Li,Na)-12DAP-GIC is a solid solution with lattice dimensions dependent on composition, whereas for Na-(EN,12DAP)-GIC, the lattice dimension does not vary with amine content.     

Ternary graphite intercalation compounds associating an alkali metal and an electronegative element or radical

Ternary graphite intercalation compounds associating an alkali metal and an electronegative element are described. The synthesis is more often realized in molten alkali metal media containing the associate electronegative element or radical in the adequate concentration. The intercalated sheets are systematically polylayered. The arrangement along c-axis and the in-plane structures are described. The physical properties of the compounds are precised.     

Facile preparation of graphite intercalation compounds in alkali solution

Graphite intercalation compounds are often prepared by flake graphite, oxidants, inorganic acids, organic acids and intercalated ions which are usually hydrogen protons between the graphene planes. They are also known as the acid-treated graphite intercalation compounds. In this work, alkaline graphite intercalation compounds were prepared by flake graphite, K₂Cr₂O₇, concentrated H₂SO₄ and NaOH, and the morphology and structure were characterized by Electron microscopy and X-ray techniques. The results display that the combination of neutralisation heat and oxidation capability produced by K₂Cr₂O₇ can break the bonds to produce the spaces between the graphene planes and hydroxyl ions also intercalate into the graphene planes to form alkaline graphite intercalation compounds in alkali solution. The morphology and structure of alkaline graphite intercalation compounds are analogous to the ones of the acid-treated graphite intercalation compounds, but the intercalated ions and the expansion volume are different. The results show that the method is an innovation.     

Hydrogen storage over alkali metal hydride and alkali metal hydroxide composites

Alkali metal hydroxide and hydride composite systems contain both protic(H bonded with O) and hydridic hydrogen. The interaction of these two types of hydrides produces hydrogen. The enthalpy of dehydrogenation increased with the increase of atomic number of alkali metals,i.e.,-23 kJ/molH2 for LiOH-LiH, 55.34 kJ/molH2 for NaOH-NaH and 222 kJ/molH2 for KOH-KH. These thermodynamic calculation results were consistent with our experimental results. H2 was released from LiOH-LiH system during ball milling. The dehydrogenation temperature of NaOH-NaH system was about 150℃; whereas KOH and KH did not interact with each other during the heating process. Instead, KH decomposed by itself. In these three systems, NaOH-NaH was the only reversible hydrogen storage system, the enthalpy of dehydrogenation was about 55.65 kJ/molH2, and the corresponding entropy was ca. 101.23 J/(molH2 K), so the temperature for releasing 1.0 bar H2 was as high as 518℃, showing unfavorable thermodynamic properties. The activation energy for hydrogen desorption of NaOH-NaH was found to be57.87 kJ/mol, showing good kinetic properties.     

Hydrogen storage over alkali metal hydride and alkali metal hydroxide composites

Alkali metal hydroxide and hydride composite systems contain both protic(H bonded with O) and hydridic hydrogen. The interaction of these two types of hydrides produces hydrogen. The enthalpy of dehydrogenation increased with the increase of atomic number of alkali metals,i.e.,-23 kJ/molH2 for LiOH-LiH, 55.34 kJ/molH2 for NaOH-NaH and 222 kJ/molH2 for KOH-KH. These thermodynamic calculation results were consistent with our experimental results. H2 was released from LiOH-LiH system during ball milling. The dehydrogenation temperature of NaOH-NaH system was about 150℃; whereas KOH and KH did not interact with each other during the heating process. Instead, KH decomposed by itself. In these three systems, NaOH-NaH was the only reversible hydrogen storage system, the enthalpy of dehydrogenation was about 55.65 kJ/molH2, and the corresponding entropy was ca. 101.23 J/(molH2 K), so the temperature for releasing 1.0 bar H2 was as high as 518℃, showing unfavorable thermodynamic properties. The activation energy for hydrogen desorption of NaOH-NaH was found to be57.87 kJ/mol, showing good kinetic properties.     

准东高钠煤热解过程中钠的迁移特性实验研究

针对新疆准东煤田高钠煤(简称准东高钠煤)在发电锅炉燃烧时遇到结渣黏污严重的问题,基于立式管式炉热解,利用电感耦合等离子体-原子发射光谱(ICP-AES)、X射线衍射(XRD)以及扫描电镜-能谱(SEM-EDX)等检测手段,分析了准东高钠煤在不同热解温度下碱金属钠的析出特性、赋存形态以及热解半焦的微观形貌.利用Fact sage 6.1化学热力学平衡计算软件分析了碱金属的析出形式.结果表明,准东高钠煤中的碱金属钠在热解过程中有部分析出,开始的析出温度为600 ℃,当热解温度达900 ℃时,碱金属钠的析出率为40.2%;碱金属钠在热解过程中主要以NaCl的形式析出;热解温度低于900 ℃时,没有熔融态物质生成.     

Bond lengths in alkali metal oxides

Bond length-bond strength correlations have been examined for oxygen bonded to Li, Na, K, and Rb. It is shown that, compared to those observed in ternary and other crystals, the bond lengths in the binary oxides are anomalously long by an amount that increases with atomic number. The effect closely parallels a corresponding diminishing of bond energies previously reported.     

Chemical bond in alkali metal sulfates

In the context of the density functional theory of the local electron density the valence and differential density distribution in crystalline sulfates of M₂SO₄ (M is Li, Rb, and Cs) and double sulfates of MLiSO₄ were calculated using the pseudopotential method in the basis set of numerical atomic pseudo-orbitals. It is shown that in lithium sulfate crystallographically inequivalent oxygen atoms are in different charge states and have a different force of chemical bonding with sulfur. Anions are bonded to each other through lithium atoms that form tetrahedral complexes with oxygen. In rubidium sulfates the electron clouds of the anions overlap and chain structures form. Chemical bonding between the anion and the cation has an ionic nature. These features of the electron structure manifest themselves in double sulfates, where LiO₄ complexes that link the anionic chains also form, and heavy metals serve as cations.     

Intermediate phases in the dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride/water system

Two intermediate phases have been found in the concentration range between the hexagonal and concentrated cubic phases in the binary system dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (C₁₂TACl)/water. This region in the phase diagram was studied by means of ²H NMR of specifically deuteriated surfactant as well as by ¹⁴N NMR. Below 35°C, an intermediate phase with non-cylindrical aggregates is formed in the concentration range 80 to 84 wt% surfactant, X-ray data from this phase can be indexed to a centred rectangular lattice. In addition, there is a uniaxial phase with a reduced quadrupole splitting. The aggregates comprising the centred rectangular phase were analysed by means of bandshape analysis of the NMR spectra and by small angle X-ray scattering.     

Intermediate nematic phases in binary systems with complex formation

The phase diagrams of some binary systems of smectogenic compounds are presented in which intermediate nematic phases occur over a large concentration range. An attempt has been made to interpret this behaviour in terms of structural differences between the smectic A phases of the components.     

Photoionization of alkali metal clusters

The photoionization cross section for spherical alkali metal clusters is predicted to oscillate as a function of the photon wavenumber with a frequency determined by the diameter of the cluster. The oscillations and other principal features of the photo cross section can be worked out analytically using semiclassical techniques. An accurate numerical calculation with different cluster potentials confirms these results qualitatively. Quantitative details depend sensitively on the actual potential. Hence, properties of the true cluster potential can be inferred from the experimental cross section. This might turn out to be useful for improving theoretical cluster potentials.     

Titanium alkali metal nitrido complexes

Treatment of [(Ti(eta5-C5Me5)(mu-NH))3(mu3-N)] with alkali metal bis(trimethylsilyl)amido reagents in toluene afforded the complexes [M(mu3-N)(mu3-NH)2[Ti3(mu5-C5Me5)3(mu3-N)]]2 (M = Li (2), Na, (3), K (4)). The molecular structures of 2 and 3 have been determined by X-ray crystallographic studies and show two azaheterometallocubane cores [MTi3N4] linked by metal-nitrogen bonds. Reaction of the lithium derivative 2 with chlorotrimethylsilane or trimethyltin chloride in toluene gave the incomplete cube nitrido complexes [Ti3(eta5-C5Me5)3(mu-NH)2(mu-NMMe3)(mu3-N)] (M = Si (5), Sn (6)). A similar reaction with indium(I) or thallium(I) chlorides yielded cube-type derivatives [M(mu3-N)(mu3-NH)2[Ti(eta5-C5Me5)3(mu3-N)] (M=In (7), Tl (8)).     

X-ray study of the thermal intercalation of alkali halides into kaolinite

Intercalation complexes of kaolinite with a series of alkali halides (NaCl (trace amounts), KCl, RbCl, CsCl, NaBr, KBr, CsBr, Kl, Rbl and Csl) were obtained by a thermal solid state reaction between the kaolinite-dimethylsulfoxide intercalation complex and the appropriate alkali halide. The ground mixtures (11 weight ratio) were pressed into disks that were gradually heated up to 250 °C for different times. X-ray diffractograms of the disks were recorded after each thermal treatment. At the end of the thermal treatment the disks were ground and basal spacings of the powders obtained. As a result of thermal treatment, alkali halide ions diffuse into the interlayers, replacing the intercalated dimethylsulfoxide molecules. Such a replacement may take place only if the thermal diffusion of the penetrating species is faster than the evolution of the intercalated organic molecule. With increasing temperature the intercalated salt diffused outside the interlayer space or underwent a thermal hydrolysis which resulted in the evolution of hydrogen halides from the interlayer space. Consequently, the amounts of intercalation complexes decreased at elevated temperatures.     

Two photon states in alkali metal clusters

We study the problem of two-photon absorption in alkali metal clusters: a) by using a sum rule approach for double dipole excitation operators to have some insight on the nature of the corresponding excited states; b) by using a simple random phase approximation [RPA] model to develope an harmonic model for the excited states of the system which allows an explicit prediction for the probability to excite states in the vibrational band build on the surface plasma resonance.     

不同预处理方法对准东高碱煤中碱金属含量测定的影响

以四种不同的准东高碱煤及气化飞灰为研究对象,对高碱煤及气化飞灰中碱金属(Na、K)的赋存形态,以及不同预处理方法(低温灰化法、直接消解法、中国国标法、萃取法及氧弹燃烧法)对准东高碱煤及气化飞灰中碱金属(Na、K)含量测定的影响进行了测试分析。结果表明,准东高碱煤中碱金属Na主要以水溶态形式存在,碱金属K主要以水不溶态形式存在;不同的预处理方法对准东高碱煤中碱金属(Na、K)含量的测定结果影响显著,对于准东高碱煤及气化飞灰中碱金属(Na、K)含量测定,建议采用氧弹燃烧法,萃取法也可以相对准确地反映煤中碱金属Na的含量。