Kinetic analysis of the thermal stability of lithium silicates (Li4SiO4 and Li2SiO3)

The kinetics describing the thermal decomposition of Li₄SiO₄ and Li₂SiO₃ have been analysed. While Li₄SiO₄ decomposed on Li₂SiO₃ by lithium sublimation, Li₂SiO₃ was highly stable at the temperatures studied. Li₄SiO₄ began to decompose between 900 and 1000 °C. However, at 1100 °C or higher temperatures, Li₄SiO₄ melted, and the kinetic data of its decomposition varied. The activation energy of both processes was estimated according to the Arrhenius kinetic theory. The energy values obtained were −408 and −250 kJ mol⁻¹ for the solid and liquid phases, respectively. At the same time, the Li₄SiO₄ decomposition process was described mathematically as a function of a diffusion-controlled reaction into a spherical system. The activation energy for this process was estimated to be −331 kJ mol⁻¹. On the other hand, Li₂SiO₃ was not decomposed at high temperatures, but it presented a very high preferential orientation after the heat treatments.     

Icosahedral Li clusters in the structures of Li33.3Ba13.1Ca3 and Li18.9Na8.3Ba15.3

The intermetallic phases Li_33.3Ba_13.1Ca₃ and Li_18.9Na_8.3Ba_15.3 have been prepared and their crystal structures have been determined. According to single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, both compounds crystallize in new structure types with trigonal unit cells (Li_33.3Ba_13.1Ca₃: R3¯c, a=19.9127(4) Å, c=90.213(3) Å, Z=18, V=30,978(1) Å³ and Li_18.9Na_8.3Ba_15.3: P3¯, a=20.420(3) Å, c=92.914(19), Z=18, V=33,550(10) Å³). The first compound can be described as a complicated variant of the arsenic structure. The second has similar packing of the Ba atoms but differs from the Ca-containing phase in the packing of the light elements. Both compounds contain icosahedron-based polytetrahedral clusters, typical for Li-rich phases, e.g. Ba₁₉Li₄₄.     

A neutron diffraction study of the d and d lithium garnets Li3Nd3W2O12 and Li5La3Sb2O12

The garnets Li₃Nd₃W₂O₁₂ and Li₅La₃Sb₂O₁₂ have been prepared by heating the component oxides and hydroxides in air at temperatures up to 950 °C. Neutron powder diffraction has been used to examine the lithium distribution in these phases. Both compounds crystallise in the space group with lattice parameters a=12.46869(9) Å (Li₃Nd₃W₂O₁₂) and a=12.8518(3) Å (Li₅La₃Sb₂O₁₂). Li₃Nd₃W₂O₁₂ contains lithium on a filled, tetrahedrally coordinated 24d site that is occupied in the conventional garnet structure. Li₅La₃Sb₂O₁₂ contains partial occupation of lithium over two crystallographic sites. The conventional tetrahedrally coordinated 24d site is 79.3(8)% occupied. The remaining lithium is found in oxide octahedra which are linked via a shared face to the tetrahedron. This lithium shows positional disorder and is split over two positions within the octahedron and occupies 43.6(4)% of the octahedra. Comparison of these compounds with related d⁰ and d¹⁰ phases shows that replacement of a d⁰ cation with d¹⁰ cation of the same charge leads to an increase in the lattice parameter due to polarisation effects.     

Effect of sintering on the ionic conductivity of garnet-related structure Li5La3Nb2O12 and In- and K-doped Li5La3Nb2O12

Garnet-structure related metal oxides with the nominal chemical composition of Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂, In-substituted Li_5.5La₃Nb_1.75In_0.25O₁₂ and K-substituted Li_5.5La_2.75K_0.25Nb₂O₁₂ were prepared by solid-state reactions at 900, 950, and 1000 °C using appropriate amounts of corresponding metal oxides, nitrates and carbonates. The powder XRD data reveal that the In- and K-doped compounds are isostructural with the parent compound Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂. The variation in the cubic lattice parameter was found to change with the size of the dopant ions, for example, substitution of larger In³⁺(r_CN6: 0.79 Å) for smaller Nb⁵⁺ (r_CN6: 0.64 Å) shows an increase in the lattice parameter from 12.8005(9) to 12.826(1) Å at 1000 °C. Samples prepared at higher temperatures (950, 1000 °C) show mainly bulk lithium ion conductivity in contrast to those synthesized at lower temperatures (900 °C). The activation energies for the ionic conductivities are comparable for all samples. Partial substitution of K⁺ for La³⁺ and In³⁺ for Nb⁵⁺ in Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂ exhibits slightly higher ionic conductivity than that of the parent compound over the investigated temperature regime 25-300 °C. Among the compounds investigated, the In-substituted Li_5.5La₃Nb_1.75In_0.25O₁₂ exhibits the highest bulk lithium ion conductivity of 1.8×10⁻⁴ S/cm at 50 °C with an activation energy of 0.51 eV. The diffusivity (“component diffusion coefficient”) obtained from the AC conductivity and powder XRD data falls in the range 10⁻¹⁰-10⁻⁷ cm²/s over the temperature regime 50-200 °C, which is extraordinarily high and comparable with liquids. Substitution of Al, Co, and Ni for Nb in Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂ was found to be unsuccessful under the investigated conditions.     

Effect of surface fluorination and conductive additives on the electrochemical behavior of lithium titanate (Li4/3Ti5/3O4) for lithium ion battery

Effect of surface fluorination and conductive additives on the charge/discharge behavior of lithium titanate (Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄) has been investigated using F₂ gas and vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF). Surface fluorination of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ was made using F₂ gas (3 × 10⁴ Pa) at 25-150 °C for 2 min. Charge capacities of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ samples fluorinated at 70 °C and 100 °C were larger than those for original sample at high current densities of 300 and 600 mA/g. Optimum fluorination temperatures of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ were 70 °C and 100 °C. Fibrous VGCF with a large surface area (17.7 m²/g) increased the utilization of available capacity of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ probably because it provided the better electrical contact than acetylene black (AB) between Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ particles and nickel current collector.     

Li ion diffusion in Li4Ti5O12 thin film electrode prepared by PVP sol-gel method

Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin films for rechargeable lithium batteries were prepared by a sol-gel method with poly(vinylpyrrolidone). Interfacial properties of lithium insertion into Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin film were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT). Redox peaks in CV were very sharp even at a fast scan rate of 50 mV s⁻¹, indicating that Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ thin film had a fast electrochemical response, and that an apparent chemical diffusion coefficient of Li⁺ ion was estimated to be 6.8×10⁻¹¹ cm² s⁻¹ from a dependence of peak current on sweep rates. From EIS, it can be seen that Li⁺ ions become more mobile at 1.55 V vs. Li/Li⁺, corresponding to a two-phase region, and the chemical diffusion coefficients of Li⁺ ion ranged from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹ at various potentials. The chemical diffusion coefficients of Li⁺ ion in Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ were also estimated from PITT. They were in a range of 10⁻¹¹-10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹.     

From a 3D protonic conductor VO(H2PO4)2 to a 2D cationic conductor Li4VO(PO4)2 through lithium exchange

A new phase, Li₄VO(PO₄)₂ was synthesized by a lithium ion exchange reaction from protonic phase, VO(H₂PO₄)₂. The structure was determined from neutron and synchrotron powder diffraction data. The exchange of lithium causes a stress, leading to a change in the dimensionality of the structure from 3D to 2D by the displacement of oxygen atoms. Thus, Li₄VO(PO₄)₂ crystallizes in P4/n space group with lattice parameters a=8.8204(1) Å and c=8.7614(2) Å. It consists of double layers [V₂P₄O₁₈]_∞ formed by successive chains of VO₆ octahedra and VO₅ pyramids with isolated PO₄ tetrahedra. The lithium ions located in between the layers promote mobility. Furthermore, the ionic conductivity of 10⁻⁴ S/cm at 550 °C for Li₄VO(PO₄)₂ confirms the mobility of lithium ions in the layers. On the other hand, VO(H₂PO₄)₂ exhibits a conductivity of 10⁻⁴ S/cm at room temperature due to the presence of protons in tunnels.     

A combined X-ray and neutron Rietveld study of the chemically lithiated electrode materials Li2.7V3O8 and Li4.8V3O8

The lithium insertion in the positive electrode material Li_1+αV₃O₈ (α close to 0.1-0.2) includes a phenomenon near 2.6 V (voltage vs. the Li metal electrode), the mechanism being a two-phase process with the transformation from ca. Li_2.9V₃O₈ to ca. Li₄V₃O₈. Near 2.4 V down to 2 V, Li is inserted in a single phase up to ca. Li₅V₃O₈. Chemical Li insertions have been performed in a Li_1.1V₃O₈ precursor prepared at 350 °C and the structures of the products Li_2.7V₃O₈ (before the 2.6 V phenomenon) and Li_4.8V₃O₈ (near the expected maximum) have been studied by a combined Rietveld refinement of X-ray and neutron diffraction data. The structure of Li_4.8V₃O₈ is an ordered derivative of the rock-salt type, with all the Li and V ions in slightly distorted octahedral sites. Li_2.7V₃O₈ has a poor crystallization state and, although the expected V₃O₈ layers are obtained, only a part of the Li sites have been reliably determined. Between adjacent V₃O₈ layers, several unidentified sites are likely weakly occupied, thus giving a markedly disordered character for the structure of the compound formed just before the transition at 2.6 V. The atomic shifts at the transition are briefly discussed.     

Yb3CoSn6 and Yb4Mn2Sn5: New polar intermetallics with 3D open-framework structures

Two new ternary ytterbium transition metal stannides, namely, Yb₃CoSn₆ and Yb₄Mn₂Sn₅, have been obtained by solid-state reactions of the corresponding pure elements in welded tantalum tubes at high temperature. Their crystal structures have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Yb₃CoSn₆ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (no. 63) with cell parameters of a=4.662(2), b=15.964(6), c=13.140(5) Å, V=978.0(6) Å³, and Z=4. Its structure features a three-dimensional (3D) open-framework composed of unusual [CoSn₃] layers interconnected by zigzag Sn chains, forming large tunnels along the c-axis which are occupied by the ytterbium cations. Yb₄Mn₂Sn₅ is monoclinic space group C2/m (no. 12) with cell parameters of a=16.937(2), b=4.5949(3), c=7.6489(7) Å, β=106.176(4)°, V=571.70(8) Å³, and Z=2. It belongs to the Mg₅Si₆ structure type and its anionic substructure is composed of parallel [Mn₂Sn₂] ladders interconnected by unusual zigzag [Sn₃] chains, forming large tunnels along the c-axis, which are filled by the ytterbium cations. Band structure calculations based on density function theory methods were also made for both compounds.     

High-pressure structure of Li2CO3

The high-pressure behavior of Li₂CO₃ is studied up to 25 GPa with synchrotron angle-dispersive powder X-ray diffraction in diamond anvil cells and synthesis using a multi-anvil apparatus. A new non-quenchable hexagonal polymorph (P6₃/mcm, Z=2) occurs above 10 GPa with carbonate groups in a staggered configuration along the c-axis—a=4.4568(2) Å and c=5.1254(6) Å at 10 GPa. Two columns of face-shared distorted octahedra around the Li atoms are linked through octahedral edges. The oxygen atoms are coordinated to one carbon atom and four lithium atoms to form a distorted square pyramid. Splittings of X-ray reflections for the new polymorph observed above about 22 GPa under non-hydrostatic conditions arise from orthorhombic or monoclinic distortions of the hexagonal lattice. The results of this study are discussed in relation to the structural features found in other Me₂CO₃ carbonates (Me: Na, K, Rb, Cs) at atmospheric conditions.     

Electrochemical performance of LiMSnO4 (M=Fe, In) phases with ramsdellite structure as anodes for lithium batteries

LiMSnO₄ (M=Fe, In) compounds were synthesized by high temperature solid-state reaction method and the electrochemical studies were carried out vs. lithium metal. Lithium is reversibly intercalated and deintercalated in LiFeSnO₄ with a constant capacity of ∼90 mAh/g. In situ X-ray diffraction data show that ramsdellite structure is stable for lithium intercalation and deintercalation in LiFeSnO₄. Galvanostatic discharge/charge of LiFeSnO₄ in the voltage window 0.05-2.0 V shows a reversible capacity of ∼100 mAh/g. The observed capacity in LiFeSnO₄ is due to the two processes involving alloying/dealloying of Li_4.4Sn and formation/decomposition of Li₂O. In contrast, the new isotypic oxide LiInSnO₄ does not exhibit any lithium intercalation due to the absence of mixed valence for indium. Its reversible capacity is strongly dependent on the voltage window. LiInSnO₄ exhibits severe capacity fading on cycling in the voltage window 0.05-2.0 V, but shows a stable capacity of ∼90 mAh/g in the voltage range 0.75-2.0 V.     

Structure and properties of ordered Li2IrO3 and Li2PtO3

The structures of Li₂MO₃ (M=Ir, Pt) can be derived from the well-known Li-ion battery cathode material, LiCoO₂, through ordering of Li⁺ and M⁴⁺ ions in the layers that are exclusively occupied by cobalt in LiCoO₂. The additional cation ordering lowers the symmetry from rhombohedral (R-3m) to monoclinic (C2/m). Unlike Li₂RuO₃ no evidence is found for a further distortion of the structure driven by formation of metal-metal bonds. Thermal analysis studies coupled with both ex-situ and in-situ X-ray diffraction measurements show that these compounds are stable up to temperatures approaching 1375 K in O₂, N₂, and air, but decompose at much lower temperatures in forming gas (5% H₂:95% N₂) due to reduction of the transition metal to its elemental form. Li₂IrO₃ undergoes a slightly more complicated decomposition in reducing atmospheres, which appears to involve loss of oxygen prior to collapse of the layered Li₂IrO₃ structure. Electrical measurements, UV-visible reflectance spectroscopy and electronic band structure calculations show that Li₂IrO₃ is metallic, while Li₂PtO₃ is a semiconductor, with a band gap of 2.3 eV.     

Mössbauer spectra as a “fingerprint” in tin-lithium compounds: Applications to Li-ion batteries

Several Li-Sn crystalline phases, i.e. Li₂Sn₅, LiSn, Li₇Sn₃, Li₅Sn₂, Li₁₃Sn₅, Li₇Sn₂ and Li₂₂Sn₅ were prepared by ball-milling and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. The analysis of the Mössbauer hyperfine parameters, i.e. isomer shift (δ) and quadrupole splitting (Δ), made it possible to define two types of Li-Sn compounds: the Sn-richest compounds (Li₂Sn₅, LiSn) and the Li-richest compounds (Li₇Sn₃, Li₅Sn₂, Li₁₃Sn₅, Li₇Sn₂, Li₂₂Sn₅). The isomer shift values ranged from 2.56 to 2.38 mm s⁻¹ for Li₂Sn₅, LiSn and from 2.07 to 1.83 mm s⁻¹ for Li₇Sn₃, Li₅Sn₂, Li₁₃Sn₅, Li₇Sn₂ and Li₂₂Sn₅, respectively. A Δ−δ correlation diagram is introduced in order to identify the different phases observed during the electrochemical process of new Sn-based materials. This approach is illustrated by the identification of the phases obtained at the end of the first discharge of η-Cu₆Sn₅ and SnB_0.6P_0.4O_2.9.     

Yb5Ni4Sn10 and Yb7Ni4Sn13: New polar intermetallics with 3D framework structures

The title compounds have been obtained by solid state reactions of the corresponding pure elements at high temperature, and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Yb₅Ni₄Sn₁₀ adopts the Sc₅Co₄Si₁₀ structure type and crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4/mbm (No. 127) with cell parameters of a=13.785(4) Å, c=4.492 (2) Å, V=853.7(5) Å³, and Z=2. Yb₇Ni₄Sn₁₃ is isostructural with Yb₇Co₄InGe₁₂ and crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4/m (No. 83) with cell parameters of a=11.1429(6) Å, c=4.5318(4) Å, V=562.69(7) Å³, and Z=1. Both structures feature three-dimensional (3D) frameworks based on three different types of one-dimensional (1D) channels, which are occupied by the Yb atoms. Electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) indicate that both compounds are metallic. These results are in agreement with those from temperature-dependent resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements.     

Neutron diffraction and electrochemical studies on LiIrSn4

Large quantities of single phase, polycrystalline LiIrSn₄ have been synthesised from the elements by melting in sealed tantalum tubes and subsequent annealing. LiIrSn₄ crystallises with an ordered version of the PdGa₅ structure: I4/mcm, a=655.62(8), . The lithium atoms were clearly localised from a neutron powder diffraction study: R_P=0.147 and R_F=0.058. Time-dependent electrochemical polarisation techniques, i.e. coulometric titration, chronopotentiometry, chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry were used to study the kinetics of lithium ion diffusion in this stannide. The range of homogeneity (Li_1+ΔδIrSn₄, −0.091?δ?+0.012) without any structural change in the host structure and the chemical diffusion coefficient (∼10⁻⁷-10⁻⁹ cm²/s) point out that LiIrSn₄ is a first example of a large class of intermetallic compounds with lithium and electron mobility. Optimised materials from these ternary lithium alloys may be potential electrode material for rechargeable lithium batteries.     

Ternary lithium stannides LixT3Sn7−x (T=Rh, Ir)

The ternary stannides Li_xRh₃Sn_7−x (x=0.45, 0.64, 0.80) and Li_xIr₃Sn_7−x (x=0.62 and 0.66) were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum tubes in a water-cooled sample chamber of an induction furnace. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction on powders and single crystals. The stannides adopt the cubic Ir₃Ge₇-type structure (space group , Z=4). In this structure type the tin atoms occupy the Wyckoff positions 12d and 16f and form two interpenetrating frameworks consisting of cubes and square antiprisms. The rhodium and iridium atoms center the square antiprisms and are arranged in pairs. With increasing lithium substitution the lattice parameter of Ir₃Sn₇ (936.7) decreases via 932.2 pm (x=0.62) to 931.2 pm (x=0.66), while the Ir-Ir distance remains almost the same (290 pm). A similar trend is observed for the rhodium compounds. The lithium atoms substitute Sn on both framework sites. However, the 16f site shows a substantially larger preference for Li occupation. This is in contrast to the isotypic magnesium based compounds.     

A comparison of the transport properties of lithium-stuffed garnets and the conventional phases Li3Ln3Te2O12

The structures of new phases Li₆CaLa₂Sb₂O₁₂ and Li_6.4Ca_1.4La₂Sb₂O₁₂ have been characterised using neutron powder diffraction. Rietveld analyses show that both compounds crystallise in the space group la3?d and contain the lithium cations in a complex arrangement with occupational disorder across oxide tetrahedra and distorted oxide octahedra, with considerable positional disorder in the latter. Variable temperature neutron diffraction experiments on Li_6.4Ca_1.4La₂Sb₂O₁₂ show the structure is largely invariant with only a small variation in the lithium distribution as a function of temperature. Impedance spectroscopy measurements show that the total conductivity of Li₆CaLa₂Sb₂O₁₂ is several orders of magnitude smaller than related lithium-stuffed garnets with σ=10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹ at 95 °C and an activation energy of 0.82(3) eV. The transport properties of the conventional garnets Li₃Gd₃Te₂O₁₂, Li₃Tb₃Te₂O₁₂, Li₃Er₃Te₂O₁₂ and Li₃Lu₃Te₂O₁₂ have been evaluated and consistently show much lower values of conductivity, σ≤4.4×10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ at 285 °C and activation energies in the range 0.77(4)≤E_a/eV≤1.21(3).     

Yb3Cu6Sn5, Yb5Cu11Sn8 and Yb3Cu8Sn4: crystal structure of three ordered compounds

Yb₃Cu₆Sn₅, Yb₅Cu₁₁Sn₈ and Yb₃Cu₈Sn₄ compounds were prepared in sealed Ta crucibles by induction melting and subsequent annealing. The crystal structures of Yb₃Cu₆Sn₅ and Yb₅Cu₁₁Sn₈ were determined from single crystal diffractometer data: Yb₃Cu₆Sn₅, isotypic with Dy₃Co₆Sn₅, orthorhombic, Immm, oI28, a=4.365(1) Å, b=9.834(3) Å, c=12.827(3) Å, Z=2, R=0.019, 490 independent reflections, 28 parameters; Yb₅Cu₁₁Sn₈ with its own structure, orthorhombic, Pmmn, oP48, a=4.4267(6) Å, b=22.657(8) Å, c=9.321(4) Å, Z=2, R=0.047, 1553 independent reflections, 78 parameters. Both compounds belong to the BaAl₄-derived defective structures, and are closely related to Ce₃Pd₆Sb₅ (oP28, Pmmn). The crystal structure of Yb₃Cu₈Sn₄, isotypic with Nd₃Co₈Sn₄, was refined from powder data by the Rietveld method: hexagonal, P6₃mc, hP30, a=9.080(1) Å, c=7.685(1) Å, Z=2, R_wp=0.040. It is an ordered substitution derivative of the BaLi₄ type (hP30, P6₃/mmc). All compounds show strong Cu-Sn bonds with a length reaching 2.553(3) Å in Yb₅Cu₁₁Sn₈.     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of Li,Cr-containing molybdates Li3Cr(MoO4)3, LiCr(MoO4)2 and Li1.8Cr1.2(MoO4)3

Single crystals of LiCr(MoO₄)₂, Li₃Cr(MoO₄)₃ and Li_1.8Cr_1.2(MoO₄)₃ were grown by a flux method during the phase study of the Li₂MoO₄-Cr₂(MoO₄)₃ system at 1023 K. LiCr(MoO₄)₂ and Li₃Cr(MoO₄)₃ single phases were synthesized by solid-state reactions. Li₃Cr(MoO₄)₃ adopts the same structure type as Li₃In(MoO₄)₃ despite the difference in ionic radii of Cr³⁺ and In³⁺ for octahedral coordination. Li₃Cr(MoO₄)₃ is paramagnetic down to 7 K and shows a weak ferromagnetic component below this temperature. LiCr(MoO₄)₂ is isostructural with LiAl(MoO₄)₂ and orders antiferromagnetically below 20 K. The magnetic structure of LiCr(MoO₄)₂ was determined from low-temperature neutron diffraction and is based on the propagation vektor . The ordered magnetic moments were refined to 2.3(1) μ_B per Cr-ion with an easy axis close to the [1 1 1¯] direction. A magnetic moment of 4.37(3) μ_B per Cr-ion was calculated from the Curie constant for the paramagnetic region.The crystal structures of the hitherto unknown Li_1.8Cr_1.2(MoO₄)₃ and LiCr(MoO₄)₂ are compared and reveal a high degree of similarity: In both structures MoO₄-tetrahedra are isolated from each other and connected with CrO₆ and LiO₅ via corners. In both modifications there are Cr₂O₁₀ fragments of edge-sharing CrO₆-octahedra.     

Revised phase diagram of Li2MoO4-ZnMoO4 system, crystal structure and crystal growth of lithium zinc molybdate

Orthorhombic lithium zinc molybdate was first chosen and explored as a candidate for double beta decay experiments with ¹⁰⁰Mo. The phase equilibria in the system Li₂MoO₄-ZnMoO₄ were reinvestigated, the intermediate compound Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ of the α-Cu₃Fe₄(VO₄)₆ (lyonsite) type was found to be nonstoichiometric: Li_2−2xZn_2+x(MoO₄)₃ (0≤x≤0.28) at 600 °C. The eutectic point corresponds to 650 °C and 23 mol% ZnMoO₄, the peritectic point is at 885 °C and 67 mol% ZnMoO₄. Single crystals of the compound were prepared by spontaneous crystallization from the melts and fluxes. In the structures of four Li_2−2xZn_2+x(MoO₄)₃ crystals (x=0; 0.03; 0.21; 0.23), the cationic sites in the face-shared octahedral columns were found to be partially filled and responsible for the compound nonstoichiometry. It was first showed that with increasing the x value and the number of vacancies in M3 site, the average M3-O distance grows and the lithium content in this site decreases almost linearly. Using the low-thermal-gradient Czochralski technique, optically homogeneous large crystals of lithium zinc molybdate were grown and their optical, luminescent and scintillating properties were explored.