Thermodynamics and kinetics of electrochemical Li+ intercalation in pyrophyllite

The possibility of directly using the natural mineral pyrophyllite for the efficient generation of Li⁺ intercalation current is demonstrated experimentally. The dependences of changes in the Gibbs energy and the entropy of the intercalation reaction on the degree of the guest lithium load are analyzed. A distinctive feature of the intercalation kinetics in Li _x Al₂(OH)₂[Si₂O₅]₂ is the anomalously high diffusion coefficients of lithium cations at x > 0.3.     

Selective Lithium Adsorption of Silicon Oxide Coated Lithium Aluminum Layered Double Hydroxide Nanocrystals and Their Regeneration

Silicon oxide-coated lithium aluminum layered double hydroxide (Li_xAl₂-LDH@SiO₂) nanocrystals (NCs) are investigated to selectively separate lithium cations in aqueous lithium resources. We directly synthesized Li_xAl₂-LDH NC arrays by oxidation of aluminum foil substrate under a urea and lithium solution. Various lithium salts, including Cl⁻, CO₃²⁻, NO₃⁻, and SO₄²⁻, were applied in aqueous solution to confirm the anion effect on the captured and released lithium quantity of the Li_xAl₂-LDH NCs. In a 5% solution of sulfate ions mix with lithium chloride, the Li_xAl₂-LDH NCs separated a larger quantity of lithium than in other anion conditions. To enhance regeneration stability and lithium selectivity, thin layers of SiO₂ were coated onto the Li_xAl₂-LDH nanostructure arrays for inhibition of nanostructure destruction after desorption of lithium cations in hot water. The Li_xAl₂-LDH@SiO₂ nanostructures showed enhanced properties for lithium adsorption, including increase of stable regeneration cycles from three to five cycles, and they showed high lithium selectivity in the Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ cation mixed aqueous resource. Our nanostructured LDH lithium adsorbents would provide a facile and efficient application for cost-efficient and large-scale lithium production.     

Anion intercalation and exchange in Al(OH)3-derived compounds

Precipitation of Al³⁺ at pH = 10 in excess Li₂CO₃ leads to an anion exchanging compound, [Al₂Li(OH)₆]⁺₂CO²⁻₃. This compound exhibits, compared to [Mg₃Al(OH)₈]⁺₂CO²⁻₃, a higher degree of size selectivity in anion exchange. The structure of the [Al₂Li(OH)₆]⁺ layers is gibbsite-like, with a (110) diffraction feature at d = 4.35 Å indicating a pronounced Al³⁺ ordering. As claimed originally by Serna et al., the structure is [Al₂Li(OH)₆]⁺A^z−_1/z rather than [Al₂(OH)₆]Li⁺A^z−_1/z, with the Li⁺ coordinated in the octahedral positions left vacant by Al³⁺. This emerges from the details of a lithium-leaching process, which proposedly leads to a novel compound, [Al₂H(OH)₆]⁺A^z−_1/z.     

Intercalation compounds of aluminum hydroxide

Crystalline aluminum trihydroxides Al(OH)₃ (gibbsite, baverite, and nordstrandite) can serve as layered intercalation matrices in which metal salts are arranged in a specific way. Small cations (lithium, magnesium, and transition metals) lie in the octahedral voids of aluminum hydroxide layers, and water molecules are located between the layers. This localization of small cations gives rise to the molecular sieve effect, where alkaline and alkaline earth cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, etc.), which are large relative to the octahedral voids, are not intercalated into aluminum trihydroxides. In the first step of lithium salt intercalation, the cations, the anions, and the water molecules are incorporated into the interlayer space of aluminum hydroxide with subsequent transition of lithium into the voids of the layer. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 40, No. 5, pp. 832–848, September-October, 1999.     

Optical properties of green-blue-emitting Ca-α-Sialon:Ce,Li phosphors for white light-emitting diodes (LEDs)

Ce³⁺,Li⁺-codoped Ca-α-Sialon phosphors with the formula [Ca_(1−2x)Ce_xLi_x]_m/2Si_12−(m+n)Al_m+nO_nN_16−n (0≤x≤0.25, 0.5≤m≤3.5, and 0.16≤n≤2.0) have been synthesized by gas pressure sintering (GPS). The effects of the activator concentration and the overall composition of host lattice on the phase evolution, morphology, and optical properties were investigated. The single-phase Ca-α-Sialon:Ce³⁺,Li⁺ can be synthesized at x<0.1, 1.0≤m≤2.5, and n≤1.2. The synthesized powders exhibit a relatively dispersive and uniform morphology. Under the near UV excitation, the bright green-blue emission centered at 500-518 nm is observed. The photoluminescence can be tailored by controlling Ce³⁺ concentration and the overall composition of the α-Sialon host lattice. With increasing the Ce concentration and m value both excitation and emission bands show a red shift, which perfectly matches with the near-UV LEDs in the range of 360-410 nm. The strongest luminescence is achieved at x=0.08-0.1, m=2.0-2.5, and n=1.0. Simultaneously, the highest quantum efficiency and better thermal stability are also present.     

Nonstoichiometric Compounds Based on Manganese(III, IV) Oxides with the Birnessite Structure

Nonstoichiometric manganese(III, IV) oxides with the layered birnessite structure were analyzed in terms of the model expressed by the general formula Mn_{1 - q}O,OH)₂(Mn,R)_2q (O,OH,H₂O)_6q ,in which the first part reflects the composition of layers, the second part, the composition of the interlayer spaces of the structure, and q is the coefficient characterizing the relative content of vacant positions in the layers. As R⁺ (R^{2 +}) ions, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, Sr^{2 +}, Ba^{2 +}, and Ag⁺ were taken. The H form of birnessite has a particular composition. Experimental data show that metal ions participate in ion exchange with OH groups in the birnessite structure. The increased content of the Li⁺ and Ag⁺ ions in birnessite is attributed to their increased participation in the ion exchange M⁺ + HO-Mn arr; 4 H⁺ + MO-Mn. As the heat treatment temperature is increased, Mn^{3 +} ions are accumulated in the interlayer spaces of the structure, and, above 350°C, the positions of these ions become regular, with transition from the layered birnessite structure to the tunnel structure.     

A single crystal X-ray and powder neutron diffraction study on NASICON-type Li1+xAlxTi2−x(PO4)3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) crystals: Implications on ionic conductivity

Single crystals of NASICON-type material Li_1+xTi_2−xAl_x(PO₄)₃ (LATP) with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5 were successfully grown using long-term sintering techniques. Sample material was studied by chemical analysis, single crystal X-ray and neutron diffraction. The Ti⁴⁺ replacement scales very well with the Al³⁺ and Li⁺ incorporation. The additional Li⁺ thereby enters the M3 cavity of the NASICON framework at x, y, z ∼ (0.07, 0.34, 0.09) and is regarded to be responsible for the enhanced Li⁺ conduction of LATP as compared to Al-free LTP. Variations in structural parameters, associated with the Ti⁴⁺ substitution with Al³⁺ + Li⁺ will be discussed in detail in this paper.     

The novel arsenate Na4Co7−xAl2/3x(AsO4)6 (x = 1.37): crystal structure,charge‐distribution and bond‐valence‐sum investigations

The title compound, tetrasodium cobalt aluminium hexaarsenate, Na₄Co_7−xAl_2/3x(AsO₄)₆ (x = 1.37), is isostructural with K₄Ni₇(AsO₄)₆; however, in its crystal structure, some of the Co²⁺ ions are substituted by Al³⁺ in a fully occupied octahedral site (site symmetry 2/m) and a partially occupied tetrahedral site (site symmetry 2). A third octahedral site is fully occupied by Co²⁺ ions only. One of the two independent tetrahedral As atoms and two of its attached O atoms reside on a mirror plane, as do two of the three independent Na⁺ cations, all of which are present at half‐occupancy. The proposed structural model based on a careful investigation of the crystal data is supported by charge‐distribution (CHARDI) analysis and bond‐valence‐sum (BVS) calculations. The correlation between the X‐ray refinement and the validation results is discussed.     

Li+ cation coordination in [Li2(CF3SO3)2(diglyme)] and [Li3(C2F3O2)3(diglyme)]

The title compounds, poly­[[[bis(2‐methoxy­ethyl) ether]­lithium(I)]‐di‐μ₃‐tri­fluoro­methanesulfonato‐lithium(I)], [Li₂(CF₃SO₃)₂(C₆H₁₄O₃)]_n, and poly­[[[bis(2‐methoxy­ethyl) ether]­lithium(I)]‐di‐μ₃‐tri­fluoro­acetato‐dilithium(I)‐μ₃‐tri­fluoro­acetato], [Li₃(C₂F₃O₂)₃(C₆H₁₄O₃)]_n, consist of one‐dimensional polymer chains. Both structures contain five‐coordinate Li⁺ cations coordinated by a tridentate diglyme [bis(2‐methoxy­ethyl) ether] mol­ecule and two O atoms, each from separate anions. In both structures, the [Li(diglyme)X₂]^? (X is CF₃SO₃ or CF₃CO₂) fragments are further connected by other Li⁺ cations and anions, creating one‐dimensional chains. These connecting Li⁺ cations are coordinated by four separate anions in both compounds. The CF₃SO₃^? and CF₃CO₂^? anions, however, adopt different forms of cation coordination, resulting in differences in the connectivity of the structures and solvate stoichiometries.     

Loss of metallicity in metal rich lithium oxide clusters

Mixed lithium-lithium oxide aggregates are experimentally obtained from unimolecular evaporative cascades starting at metal rich Li _p ⁺ (Li₂O)_n species and ending with the stoichiometric limit Li⁺(Li₂O)_n, for several sizes of the oxide part (Li₂O)_n with 0 ≤ n ≤ 8. The results show evidence of the vanishing of the properties of the quantum metallic droplet i.e. shell closing and odd-even alternation, portrayed in the dissociation energy, with increasing size of the oxide component. The competition between monomer and dimer lithium evaporation from the heated metal rich Li _p ⁺ (Li₂O)_n species points out the influence of the perturbation induced by the oxide component on the mixed metal oxide clusters.     

An alkoxide cluster with 18 Li+ ions encapsulating two borate anions, [(tBuO)12Li18(BO3)2]

The title compound, bis­(borato)­dodeca(tert‐butoxo)­octa­deca­lithium, [Li₁₈(BO₃)₂(C₄H₉O)₁₂], is formulated conveniently as [{(^tBuOLi)₃(Li₃BO₃)}₂(^tBuOLi)₆]. A central 12‐membered ring and two outer six‐membered rings are formed by alternating Li⁺ cations and alkoxide O atoms. Sandwiched between the central ring and each of the outer rings is a planar array of three further Li⁺ cations surrounding a [BO₃]³⁻ anion. Thus, the mol­ecule consists of a cationic [Li₁₈(O^tBu)₁₂]⁶⁺ cage encapsulating two borate anions. This compound is the first example of a structurally characterized polynuclear lithium borate, and a rare case of a lithium alkoxide cage with nuclearity greater than eight. All the alkoxide ligands are triply bridging, and the lithium ions have trigonal‐planar, trigonal‐pyramidal and fourfold coordination, all with major distortions from regular coordination geometry.     

Thermal analysis of hydrotalcite synthesised from aluminate solutions

The aluminate hydrotalcites are proposed to have either of the following formulas: Mg₄Al₂(OH)₁₂(CO₃ ²⁻)·xH₂O or Mg₄Al₂(OH)₁₂(CO₃ ²⁻, SO₄ ²⁻)·xH₂O. A pure hydrotalcite phase forms when magnesium chloride and aluminate solutions are mixed at a 1:1 volumetric ratio at pH 14. The synthesis of the aluminate hydrotalcites using seawater results in the formation of an impurity phase bayerite. Two decomposition steps have been identified for the aluminate hydrotalcites: (1) removal of interlayer water (230 °C) and (2) simultaneous dehydroxylation and decarbonation (330 °C). The dehydration of bayerite was observed at 250 °C. X-ray diffraction techniques determined that the synthesis of aluminate hydrotalcite with seawater and a volumetric ratio of 4.5 results in very disordered structures. This was shown by a reduction in the mass loss associated with the removal of interlayer water due to the reduction of interlayer sites caused by the misalignment of the metal-hydroxyl layers.     

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of synthetic phlogopite and lepidolite samples

In the present work, our aim is to decipher the cationic ordering in the octahedral and tetrahedral sheets of two Al-rich synthetic materials, namely, phlogopites of nominal composition K(Mg_3-xAl_x)[Al_1+xSi_3-xO₁₀](OH)_yF_2-y and lepidolites in the system trilithionite–polylithionite with composition K (Li_xAl_3-x)[Al_4-2xSi_2xO₁₀](OH)_yF_2-y, by directly probing the aluminium distribution through ²⁷Al and ¹⁷O magic-angle spinning, multiple-quantum magic-angle spinning, and ²⁷Al-²⁷Al double-quantum single-quantum nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. Notably, ²⁷Al-²⁷Al double-quantum single-quantum magic-angle spinning NMR spectra, recorded at 9.34 and/or 20.00 T, show the spatial proximity or avoidance of the Al species inside or between the sheets. In both studied minerals, the ensemble of NMR data suggests a preference for ^[4]Al in the tetrahedral sheet to occupy position close to the ^[6]Al of the octahedral sheets.     

Impact of the alkali cation on the electrocatalytic oxidation of urea and benzyl alcohol on nickel electrode

The effect of electrolyte alkali metal cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, or K⁺) on the electro-oxidation of urea and benzyl alcohol on NiOOH catalyst has been investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry in the presence of an electrolyte containing LiOH, NaOH, or KOH. The catalytic activity toward the electro-oxidation of urea and benzyl alcohol was found to increase in the sequence Li⁺ < Na⁺ < K⁺. This activity's difference is partly caused by different surface blockage abilities by OH–M⁺(H₂O)_x (M: Li, Na, K) clusters, which is similar to many electrocatalytic reactions on Pt reported previously, additionally, incorporation of various cations to the catalyst may induce the activities difference as well.     

Comparative analysis of the state of lithium and sodium atoms in water clusters

Structures and energetic characteristics of Li(H₂O) _n and Li⁺(H₂O) _n clusters with n = 1–6, 19, and 27 determined in the second order of the Møller-Plesset perturbation theory with 6–31++G(d,p) basis set are analyzed. The electron density redistribution, which takes place upon the electron addition to a Li⁺(H₂O) _n cluster, is found to be provided by hydrogen-bonded water molecules: initially almost neutral molecules, which are most distant from lithium, become negatively charged. The calculated energies of the electron capture by Li⁺(H₂O) _n clusters are approximated with the appropriate electrostatic model, and estimates of the lithium ionization energy in water clusters of various sizes are found. Similar estimates obtained earlier for sodium are made more accurate.     

Thermal Responsive Ion Selectivity of Uranyl Peroxide Nanocages: An Inorganic Mimic of K+ Ion Channels

An actinyl peroxide cage cluster, Li_48+mK₁₂(OH)_m[UO₂(O₂)(OH)]₆₀ (H₂O)_n (m≈20 and n≈310; U₆₀), discriminates precisely between Na⁺ and K⁺ ions when heated to certain temperatures, a most essential feature for K⁺ selective filters. The U₆₀ clusters demonstrate several other features in common with K⁺ ion channels, including passive transport of K⁺ ions, a high flux rate, and the dehydration of U₆₀ and K⁺ ions. These qualities make U₆₀ (a pure inorganic cluster) a promising ion channel mimic in an aqueous environment. Laser light scattering (LLS) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies revealed that the tailorable ion selectivity of U₆₀ clusters is a result of the thermal responsiveness of the U₆₀ hydration shells.     

Aluminum-27 NMR studies of alcoholic (2-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium aluminate solutions

²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy is a power tool for investigation of the aluminate species existing in both aqueous and non-aqueous solutions. Aluminum-27 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy also can be used to determine thermodynamic properties of complexes in the solution. In this report, ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize species present in alkaline alcoholic aluminate solutions. (2-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium (2-EHTMA) hydroxide was used as base. In solution of CH₃OH and H₂O in a mole ratio of 64:1 it was possible to detect five signals by aluminum-27 NMR, indicating formation of [Al(OH)_4−n(CH₃OH)_n]⁽ⁿ⁻¹⁾⁺ (n = 0,1, 2, 3 and 4) species. Aluminum-27 NMR spectroscopy has also used for investigation of the species present in the ethanolic 2-HETMA aluminate solutions. The equilibrium constants for the formation of aluminate complexes were also determined for both methanolic and ethanolic aluminate solutions. Aluminum-27 NMR spectra of propanolic and butanolic 2-HETMA aluminate solutions were also studied.     

The Crystal Chemistry of Lithium in the Alluaudite Structure: A Study of the (Na1−xLix)CdIn2(PO4)3 Solid Solution (x=0 to 1)

Several compounds of the (Na_1−xLi_x)CdIn₂(PO₄)₃ solid solution were synthesized by a solid-state reaction in air, and pure alluaudite-like compounds were obtained for x=0.00, 0.25, and 0.50. X-ray Rietveld refinements indicate the occurrence of Cd²⁺ in the M(1) site, and of In³⁺ in the M(2) site of the alluaudite structure. This non-disordered cationic distribution is confirmed by the sharpness of the infrared absorption bands. The distribution of Na⁺ and Li⁺ on the A(1) and A(2)′ crystallographic sites cannot be accurately assessed by the Rietvled method, probably because the electronic densities involved in the Na⁺→Li⁺ substitution are very small. A comparison with the synthetic alluaudite-like compounds, (Na_1−xLi_x)MnFe₂(PO₄)₃, indicates the influence of the cations occupying the M(1) and M(2) sites on the coordination polyhedra morphologies of the A(1) and A(2)′ crystallographic sites.     

Changes in the composition of the solvation shell of lithium ions in γ-butyrolactone upon addition of 15-crown-5 as studied by quantum chemistry

Quantum chemical modeling of Li⁺ ion transfer from the solvation shell of γ-butyrolactone (GBL) as the solvent to the cavity of 15-crown-5 (15C5) macrocyclic ligand was carried out. Calculations were performed using the PBE nonempirical density functional and an extended basis for the SBK pseudopotential. The solvation energy was included in the framework of the polarizable continuum model. The calculated geometric parameters of GBL and 15C5 molecules are in good agreement with experimental X-ray data. The energies and structures of the Li(GBL) _n ⁺ (n = 1–5) complexes and Li(GBL) _m (15C5)⁺ (m = 0–3) mixed complexes were calculated. The binding energy of the fifth GBL molecule is low; therefore, the Li⁺ ion is mainly surrounded by four GBL molecules. The formation of mixed complexes by consecutive displacement of GBL molecules from the solvation shell of the lithium ion leads to structures with the coordination number 5. The equilibrium constants of these processes were used to determine the dependence of the composition of the solvation complexes on the concentration of 15C5 in the system. The concentrations of the Li(15C5)⁺ and Li(GBL)(15C5)⁺ complexes appeared to be comparable. The revealed structural features of the Li⁺ solvation complexes in the GBL-15C5 system were used to analyze the operating efficiency of lithium power sources.     

Synthesis of New Lithium Ionic Conductor Thio-LISICON—Lithium Silicon Sulfides System

The new lithium ionic conductors, thio-LISICON (LIthium SuperIonic CONductor), were found in the ternary Li₂S-SiS₂-Al₂S₃ and Li₂S-SiS₂-P₂S₅ systems. Their structures of new materials, Li_4+xSi_1−xAl_xS₄ and Li_4−xSi_1−xP_xS₄ were determined by X-ray Rietveld analysis, and the electric and electrochemical properties were studied by electronic conductivity, ac conductivity and cyclic voltammogram measurements. The structure of the host material, Li₄SiS₄ is related to the γ-Li₃PO₄-type structure, and when the Li⁺ interstitials or Li⁺ vacancies were created by the partial substitutions of Al³⁺ or P⁵⁺ for Si⁴⁺, large increases in conductivity occur. The solid solution member x=0.6 in Li_4−xSi_1−xP_xS₄ showed high conductivity of 6.4×10^-4 S cm⁻¹ at 27°C with negligible electronic conductivity. The new solid solution, Li_4−xSi_1−xP_xS₄, also has high electrochemical stability up to ∼5 V vs Li at room temperature. All-solid-state lithium cells were investigated using the Li_3.4Si_0.4P_0.6S₄ electrolyte, LiCoO₂ cathode and In anode.