Reactivity of Binary Mixtures of La(III) Oxide and Cu(II) Oxalate or Nitrate and Synthesis of La(III) Cuprate

Reactivity of mixtures of La(III) oxide and Cu(II) oxalate/nitrate in hydrated as well as anhydrous state was studied using TG, DTA and XRD. Cu(II) oxide formed in the endothermic decomposition of mixture containing hydrated Cu(II) nitrate and La(III) oxide could not form La₂CuO₄ while Cu(II) oxide formed in the exothermic decomposition of mixture containing hydrated/anhydrous Cu(II) oxalate and La(III) oxide reacts with La(III) oxide and develops the phases CuLaO₃ and La₂CuO₄. The maximum reactivity with respect to the formation of La₂CuO₄phase was observed in mixture containing anhydrous Cu(II) oxalate. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

High pressure induced coordination evolution in chain compound Li2CuO2

Using diamond anvil cell technique with angle dispersive X-ray diffraction (ADXD) of synchrotron radiation and electrical conductivity measurements, we have observed that CuO₂ chain compound Li₂CuO₂ transforms from ambient orthorhombic symmetry into a new phase at above 5.4 GPa and room temperature. The new phase was found to be of monoclinic structure with an increased oxygen coordination number of Cu²⁺ from four at ambient to six at high pressure that provides a structural basis of the evolution of principle physical properties. The high pressure phase of Li₂CuO₂ is discussed in line with the first principle calculations.     

Reactivity of binary mixtures of Cu(II) oxalate and La(III) oxalate

Reactivity of binary mixtures of oxalates of Cu(II) and La(III) was studied by observing their thermal behaviours in decomposition using TG, DTA and XRD techniques to set the temperature conditions for preparations of various composites of oxides of Cu(II) and La(III). In the thermal behaviour it was found that the decomposition of Cu(II) oxalate is not affected while that of La(III) oxalate is drastically affected in the case of all the mixtures. The decomposition temperature at which La(III) oxide is formed is lowered by 250 K in the case of all the mixtures while the complete decomposition occurred at 723 K only in the case of mixtures containing excess Cu(II) oxalate.At 823 K La₂CuO₄ phase is developed in all the mixtures while -La and Cu₂La phases are also detected in mixtures containing excess Cu(II) oxalate. Therefore, the temperature 823 K was found to be suitable to prepare various composites viz. La₂CuO₄, La₂CuO₄·La₂O₃ and La₂CuO₄·CuO to study their electrical properties.Authors are thankful to the authorities of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, for providing the funds for research project and to Professor A. V. Phadke, Department of Geology, University of Poona, for valuable discussion.     

纯相Li2MnO3薄膜的制备及作为锂离子电池正极材料的电化学行为

采用固相烧结法制备了纯相Li₂MnO₃正极材料及靶材,采用脉冲激光沉积（PLD）法在氧气气氛、不同温度下沉积了Li₂MnO₃薄膜. 通过X射线衍射（XRD）和拉曼（Raman）光谱表征了薄膜的晶体结构,采用扫描电镜（SEM）观察薄膜形貌及厚度,利用电化学手段测试了Li₂MnO₃薄膜作为锂离子电池正极材料性能. 结果表明,PLD 方法制备的纯相Li₂MnO₃薄膜随着沉积温度升高薄膜结晶性变好. 25 ℃沉积的薄膜难以可逆充放电,400 ℃沉积的薄膜具有较高的电化学活性和循环稳定性. 相对于粉末材料,400与600 ℃制备的Li₂MnO₃薄膜电极平均放电电位随着循环次数的衰减速率明显低于相应的粉体材料.     

Molecular structure of nickel(II) and copper(II) N,N′-ethylene-bis(acetylacetoneiminates) MO2N2C12H18 according to gas-phase electron diffraction data and quantum-chemical calculations

The molecular structure of nickel(II) and copper(II) N,N′-ethylene-bis(acetylacetoneiminates), NiO₂N₂C₁₂H₁₈ and CuO₂N₂C₁₂H₁₈, at 442(5) K and 425(5)K, respectively. Both molecules have C ₂ symmetry with a nearly planar MN₂O₂ coordination site and internuclear distances r _h1(M-O) = 1.862(10)/1.923(17) Å and r _h1(M-N) = 1.879(10)/1.947(18) Å for Ni(acacen) and Cu(acacen), respectively. The structure of free molecules is close to the structure of molecules in crystal. The DFT/3LYP quantum-chemical calculations (CEP-31G and 6-31G* basis sets) gave a molecular structure that agreed satisfactorily with the one found in experiment. The low-spin ¹ A and high-spin ³ A states of the Ni(acacen) molecule were considered. It was found that a change in multiplicity caused significant changes in the geometrical and electronic structure of the MN₂O₂ coordination site. As shown by experiment and calculations for the NiO₂N₂C₁₂H₁₈ molecule, the low-spin ¹ A state is the ground state. The internal rotation of CH₃(CN) and CH₃(CO) methyl groups was studied by the 3LYP/CEP-31G method. It was shown that steric hindrances led to a high rotation barrier of the CH₃(CN) group.     

Crystal chemistry and crystallography of the SrR2CuO5 (R=lanthanides) phases

The crystal chemistry and crystallography of the compounds SrR₂CuO₅ (Sr-121, R=lanthanides) were investigated using the powder X-ray Rietveld refinement technique. Among the 11 compositions studied, only R=Dy and Ho formed the stable SrR₂CuO₅ phase. SrR₂CuO₅ was found to be isostructural with the “green phase”, BaR₂CuO₅. The basic structure is orthorhombic with space group Pnma. The lattice parameters for SrDyCuO₅ are a=12.08080(6) Å, b=5.60421(2) Å, c=7.12971(3) Å, V=482.705(4) Å³, and Z=8; and for the Ho analog are a=12.03727(12) Å, b=5.58947(7) Å, c=7.10169(7) Å, V=477.816(9) Å³, and Z=8. In the SrR₂CuO₅ structure, each R is surrounded by seven oxygen atoms, forming a monocapped trigonal prism (RO₇). The isolated CuO₅ group forms a distorted square pyramid. Consecutive layers of prisms are stacked in the b-direction. Bond valence calculations imply that residual strain is largely responsible for the narrow stability of the SrR₂CuO₅ phases with R=Dy and Ho only. X-ray powder reference diffraction patterns for SrDy₂CuO₅ and SrHo₂CuO₅ were determined.     

Li4Ti5O12/(Cu+C)复合材料的制备及电化学性能

以Li₄Ti₅O₁₂,Cu(CH₃COO)₂·H₂O和C₆H₁₂O₆为前驱体,化学沉积与热分解结合合成锂离子电池负极材料Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/(Cu+C)。采用X-射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、恒流充放电、循环伏安和电化学阻抗方法表征样品的结构、形貌和电化学性能。结果表明,Li₄Ti₅O₁₂表面包覆的Cu与C提高了Li₄Ti₅O₁₂电极材料的导电率,其循环性能和倍率性能得到有效地改善。在0.5C、1C和3C倍率下,经过50次充放电循环,放电比容量分别为168.2、160、140.6 mAh·g^-1,其容量保持率分别为88.7%、84.4%、71.2%。电化学阻抗测试表明,表面包覆的Cu与C使其电荷转移阻抗大幅度减少。     

Synthesis and phase transition of Li-Mn-O spinels with high Li/Mn ratio by thermo-decomposition of LiMnC2O4(Ac)

LiMnC₂O₄(Ac) precursor in which Li⁺ and Mn²⁺ were amalgamated in one molecule was prepared by solid-state reaction at room-temperature using manganese acetate, lithium hydroxide and oxalic acid as raw materials. By thermo-decomposition of LiMnC₂O₄(Ac) at various temperatures, a series of Li_1+y[Mn_2−xLi_x]_16dO₄ spinels were prepared with Li₂MnO₃ as impurities. The structure and phase transition of these spinels were investigated by XRD, TG/DTA, average oxidation state of Mn and cyclic voltammeric techniques. Results revealed that the Li-Mn-O spinels with high Li/Mn ratio were unstable at high temperature, and the phase transition was associated with the transfer of Li⁺ from octahedral 16c sites to 16d sites. With the sintering temperature increasing from 450 to 850 °C, the phase structure varied from lithiated-spinel Li₂Mn₂O₄ to Li₄Mn₅O₁₂-like to LiMn₂O₄-like and finally to rock-salt LiMnO₂-like. A way of determining x with average oxidation state of Mn and the content of Li₂MnO₃ was also demonstrated.     

Synthesis of layered cathode material Li[CoxMn1−x]O2 from layered double hydroxides precursors

Cathode materials Li[Co_xMn_1−x]O₂ for lithium secondary batteries have been prepared by a new route—precursor method of layered double hydroxides (LDHs). In situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (TG-MS) were used to monitor the structural transformation during the reaction of CoMn LDHs and LiOH·H₂O: firstly the layered structure of LDHs transformed to an intermediate phase with spinel structure; then the distortion of the structure occurred with the intercalation of Li⁺ into the lattice, resulting in the formation of layered Li[Co_xMn_1−x]O₂ with α-NaFeO₂ structure. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data showed that the Co-O bonding length and the coordination number of Co were close to those of Mn in Li[Co_xMn_1−x]O₂, which indicates that the local environments of the transitional metals are rather similar. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to measure the oxidation state of Co and Mn. The influences of Co/Mn ratio on both the structure and electrochemical property of Li[Co_xMn_1−x]O₂ have been investigated by XRD and electrochemical tests. It has been found that the products synthesized by the precursor method demonstrated a rather stable cycling behavior, with a reversible capacity of 122.5 mAh g⁻¹ for the layered material Li[Co_0.80Mn_0.20]O₂.     

球磨辅助高温固相法制备Li1.0Na0.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2正极材料及其性能

以乙酸盐(乙酸锂、乙酸钠、乙酸钴、乙酸镍、乙酸锰等)为原材料,采用球磨辅助高温固相法制备Li_1.0Na_0.2Ni_0.13Co_0.13Mn_0.54O₂正极材料。借助XRD、SEM等表征材料的结构和形貌,利用循环伏安、恒流充放电、交流阻抗等方法研究材料的电化学性能。结果表明,钠的掺杂导致颗粒表面光滑度降低,形成Na_0.77MnO_2.05新相。0.05C活化过程中,掺钠样品和未掺钠样品首次放电比容量分别为258.4 mAh·g^-1和215.8 mAh·g^-1,库伦效率分别为75.2%和72.8%;2C放电比容量分别为116.3 mAh·g^-1和106.2 mAh·g^-1。研究发现,掺钠可减小首次充放电过程的不可逆容量,提高容量保持率;改善倍率性能与容量恢复特性;降低SEI膜阻抗和电荷转移阻抗;掺钠后样品首次循环就可以基本完成Li₂MnO₃组分向稳定结构的转化,而未掺杂的样品需要两次循环才能逐步完成该过程;XPS结果表明,掺钠样品中Ni²⁺、Co³⁺、Mn⁴⁺所占比例明显提高,改善了样品的稳定性和电化学性能;循环200次后的XRD结果表明掺钠与未掺钠材料在脱嵌锂反应中的相变化过程基本一致,良好有序的层状结构遭到破坏是循环过程中容量衰减的主要原因。     

Synthesis and CO2 capture evaluation of Li2−xKxZrO3 solid solutions and crystal structure of a new lithium-potassium zirconate phase

Solid solutions of lithium and potassium metazirconates Li_2−xK_xZrO₃ (where, 0?x?2) were prepared by coprecipitation. Samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analyses. Results showed that the solubility limits of potassium into Li₂ZrO₃ is x=0.2. Furthermore, at higher potassium concentrations, a new phase was synthesized, Li_2.27K_1.19Zr_2.16O_6.05. For structural studies of this new phase, XRD data were analyzed by Rietveld refinements. Additionally, at high potassium concentrations different phases of ZrO₂ were found, as potassium tends to sublimate. On the other hand, lithium-potassium metazirconate solid solutions, Li_2−xK_xZrO₃, were tested as CO₂ captors. Thermal analyses into a CO₂ flux showed that Li_2−xK_xZr₂O₃ solid solutions present a better CO₂ absorption than Li₂ZrO₃ pure. The differences observed in the CO₂ sorption processes were explained with thermodynamic data.     

Physical properties and electrochemical performance of LiMn2O4 cathode materials prepared by a precipitation method

LiMn₂O₄ powder for lithium-ion batteries was prepared by a precipitation method, and the effects of calcination temperature on the physical properties and electrochemical performance of the samples were investigated by various methods. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the lattice parameter (a) and the unit cell volume (v) decrease with the increasing calcination temperature, and the LiMn₂O₄ sample calcined at 750°C has smaller particle size and higher crystallinity than other samples. The results of the electrochemical experiments showed that the sample calcined at 750°C has larger peak currents, higher initial capacity, and better cycling capability, because of its lower charge-transfer resistance and larger diffusion coefficient of Li⁺ ions than those of other samples.     

MAS-NMR investigations of the crystallization behaviour of lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glasses containing P2O5 and TiO2 nucleants

Lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glass of composition (mol%) 20.4Li₂O-4.0Al₂O₃-68.6SiO₂-3.0K₂O-2.6B₂O₃-0.5P₂O₅-0.9TiO₂ was prepared by melt quenching. The glass was then nucleated and crystallized based on differential thermal analysis (DTA) data and was characterized by ²⁹Si, ³¹P, ¹¹B and ²⁷Al MAS-NMR. XRD and ²⁹Si NMR showed that lithium metasilicate (Li₂SiO₃) is the first phase to c form followed by cristobalite (SiO₂) and lithium disilicate (Li₂Si₂O₅). ²⁹Si MAS-NMR revealed a change in the network structure already for the glasses nucleated at 550 °C. Since crystalline Li₃PO₄, as observed by ³¹P MAS-NMR, forms concurrently with the silicate phases, we conclude that crystalline Li₃PO₄ does not act as a nucleating agent for lithium silicate phases. Moreover, ³¹P NMR indicates the formation of M-PO₄ (M=B, Al or Ti) complexes. The presence of BO₃ and BO₄ structural units in all the glass/glass-ceramic samples is revealed through ¹¹B MAS-NMR. B remains in the residual glass and the crystallization of silicate phases causes a reduction in the number of alkali ions available for charge compensation. As a result, the number of trigonally coordinated B (BO₃) increases at the expense of tetrahedrally coordinated B (BO₄). The ²⁷Al MAS-NMR spectra indicate the presence of tetrahedrally coordinated Al species, which are only slightly perturbed by the crystallization.     

Growth of La2CuO4 nanofibers under a mild condition by using single walled carbon nanotubes as templates

La₂CuO₄ nanofibers (ca. 30 nm in diameter and 3 μm in length) have been grown in situ by using single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs; ca. 2 nm in inner diameter; made via cracking CH₄ over the catalyst of Mg_0.8Mo_0.05Ni_0.10Co_0.05O_x at 800 °C) as templates under mild hydrothermal conditions and a temperature around 60 °C. During synthesis, the surfactant poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) and H₂O₂ were added to disperse SWNTs and oxidize the reactants, respectively. The structure of La₂CuO₄ nanofibers was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and their morphologies were observed with field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) at the hydrothermal synthesis lasting for 5, 20 and 40 h, respectively. The La₂CuO₄ crystals grew from needle-like (5 h) through stick-like (20 h) and finally to plate-like (40 h) fibers. Twenty hours is an optimum reaction time to obtain regular crystal fibers. The La₂CuO₄ nanofibers are probably cubic rather than round and may capsulate SWNTs.     

Ab initio structure determination of new compound Li4CaB2O6

A new compound, Li₄CaB₂O₆, has been synthesized by solid-state reaction and its structure has been determined from powder X-ray diffraction data by direct methods. The refinement was carried out using the Rietveld methods and the final refinement converged with R_p=10.4%, R_wp=14.2%, R_exp=4.97%. This compound belongs to the orthorhombic space group Pnnm, with lattice parameters a=9.24036(9) Å, b=8.09482(7) Å, and c=3.48162(4) Å. Fundamental building units are isolated [BO₃]³⁻ anionic groups, which are all parallel to the a-b plane stacked along the c-axis. The Ca atoms are six-coordinated by the O atoms to form octahedral coordination polyhedra, which are joined together through edges along the c-axis, forming infinitely long three-dimensional chains. The Li atoms have a four-fold and a five-fold coordination with O atoms that lead to complex Li-O-Li chains that also extend along the c-axis. The infrared spectrum of Li₄CaB₂O₆ was also studied, which is consistent with the crystallographic study.     

The formation of superconducting oxide phases in the (Bi,Pb)−Sr−Ca−Cu−O System

The crystallization mechanism of superconducting phases in the (Bi,Pb)?Sr?Ca?Cu?O system was determined on the basis of the results of DTA, DTG and TG studies, supplemented by X-ray examination of ceramic powders obtained by the sol-gel method. It has been demonstrated that the factor determining the formation of superconducting phases: Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_x (low-T _c ) and Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x (high-T _c ) is the kinetics of reaction of calcium and strontium carbonates with molten CuBi₂O₄. As a result of the reaction of the bimetallic compound CuBi₂O₄ with SrCO₃ in the liquid phase the compound Bi₂Sr₂CuO₆ is formed. This compound, reacting with calcium and copper oxides, yields superconducting phases: the low-T _c and the high-T _c phase. It has been also observed that an increase in the volume fraction of high-T _c phase in powder subjected to thermal treatment takes place probably due to the repeated disproportionation of low-T _c phase and its repeated synthesis from Bi₂Sr₂CuO₆, CuO and CaO.     

Structure and electron density analysis of electrochemically and chemically delithiated LiCoO2 single crystals

Single crystals of Li_0.68CoO₂, Li_0.48CoO₂, and Li_0.35CoO₂ were successfully synthesized for the first time by means of electrochemical and chemical delithiation processes using LiCoO₂ single crystals as a parent compound. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study confirmed the trigonal R3¯m space group and the hexagonal lattice parameters a=2.8107(5) Å, c=14.2235(6) Å, and c/a=5.060 for Li_0.68CoO₂; a=2.8090(15) Å, c=14.3890(17) Å, and c/a=5.122 for Li_0.48CoO₂; and a=2.8070(12) Å, c=14.4359(14) Å, and c/a=5.143 for Li_0.35CoO₂. The crystal structures were refined to the conventional values R=1.99% and wR=1.88% for Li_0.68CoO₂; R=2.40% and wR=2.58% for Li_0.48CoO₂; and R=2.63% and wR=2.56% for Li_0.35CoO₂. The oxygen-oxygen contact distance in the CoO₆ octahedron was determined to be shortened by the delithiation from 2.6180(9) Å in LiCoO₂ to 2.5385(15) Å in Li_0.35CoO₂. The electron density distributions of these Li_xCoO₂ crystals were analyzed by the maximum entropy method (MEM) using the present single-crystal X-ray diffraction data at 300 K. From the results of the single-crystal MEM, strong covalent bonding was clearly visible between the Co and O atoms, while no bonding was found around the Li atoms in these compounds. The gradual decrease in the electron density at the Li site upon delithiation could be precisely analyzed.     

Topotactic insertion of lithium in the layered structure Li4VO(PO4)2: The tunnel structure Li5VO(PO4)2

A new V(III) lithium phosphate Li₅VO(PO₄)₂ has been synthesized by electrochemical insertion of lithium into Li₄VO(PO₄)₂. This phase, which crystallizes in the space group I4/mcm, exhibits a tunnel structure closely related to the layered structure of Li₄VO(PO₄)₂ and to the tunnel structure of VO(H₂PO₄)₂. The topotactic reactions that take place during lithium exchange and intercalation, starting from VO(H₂PO₄)₂ and going to the final phase Li₅VO(PO₄)₂ are explained on the basis of the flexible coordinations of V⁴⁺ and V³⁺ species. The electrochemical and magnetic properties of this new phase are also presented and explained on the basis of the structure dimensionality.     

Evolution and characterization of fluorite-like nano-SrBi2Nb2O9 phase in the SrO-Bi2O3-Nb2O5-Li2B4O7 glass system

Transparent glasses of various compositions in the system (100−x)Li₂B₄O₇−x(SrO-Bi₂O₃-Nb₂O₅) (where x=10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60, in molar ratio) were fabricated via splat quenching technique. The glassy nature of the as-quenched samples was established by differential thermal analyses. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopic studies confirmed the amorphous nature of the as-quenched and crystallinity in the heat-treated samples. Fluorite phase formation prior to the perovskite SrBi₂Nb₂O₉ phase was analyzed by both the XRD and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Dielectric and the optical properties (transmission, optical band gap and Urbach energy) of these samples have been found to be compositional dependent. Refractive index was measured and compared with the values predicted by Wemple-Didomemenico and Gladstone-Dale relations. The glass nanocomposites comprising nanometer-sized crystallites of fluorite phase were found to be nonlinear optic active.     

Synthesis and characterization of La4BaCu5O13+δ and La4BaCu5−xMxO13+δ: M=Fe, Co, Ni, Zn

La₄BaCu_5−xM_xO_13+δ: M=Fe, Co, Ni, Zn were prepared by the solid-state route at 1000°C. Solid solution limits of x=1.0(1) [Fe], x=1.1(1) [Co], x=1.56(7) [Ni] and x=0.47(1) [Zn] were determined from XRD and EPMA results. Rietveld refinement of combined XRD/neutron powder diffraction data was carried out on undoped La₄BaCu₅O_13+δ and x=1 for M=Fe, Co, Ni. For La₄BaCu₅O_13+δ, which is an oxygen-deficient perovskite, the presence of square planar CuO₄ groups, disordered over the Cu(2) sites with CuO₅ square pyramids, is indicated, together with, for δ<0, either square planar CuO₄ or square pyramidal CuO₅ and octahedral CuO₆ groups disordered over the Cu(1) sites. For M=Fe, Ni, there was preferential substitution onto the one-fold octahedral site; for M=Co, substitution took place on both the one-fold octahedral and four-fold square pyramidal sites.