Lithium‐Ion Endohedral Fullerene (Li+@C60) Dopants in Stable Perovskite Solar Cells Induce Instant Doping and Anti‐Oxidation

Herein, we report use of [Li⁺@C₆₀]TFSI^? as a dopant for spiro‐MeOTAD in lead halide perovskite solar cells. This approach gave an air stability nearly 10‐fold that of conventional devices using Li⁺TFSI^?. Such high stability is attributed to the hydrophobic nature of [Li⁺@C₆₀]TFSI^? repelling moisture and absorbing intruding oxygen, thereby protecting the perovskite device from degradation. Furthermore, [Li⁺@C₆₀]TFSI^? could oxidize spiro‐MeOTAD without the need for oxygen. The encapsulated devices exhibited outstanding air stability for more than 1000 h while illuminated under ambient conditions.     

Solvation Structure with Enhanced Anionic Coordination for Stable Anodes in Lithium-Oxygen Batteries

Li-O₂ batteries have garnered much attention due to their high theoretical energy density. However, the irreversible lithium plating/stripping on the anode limits their performance, which has been paid little attention. Herein, a solvation-regulated strategy for stable lithium anodes in tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (G4) based electrolyte is attempted in Li-O₂ batteries. Trifluoroacetate anions (TFA⁻) with strong Li⁺ affinity are incorporated into the lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI)/G4 electrolyte to attenuate the Li⁺-G4 interaction and form anion-dominant solvates. The bisalt electrolyte with 0.5 M LiTFA and 0.5 M LiTFSI mitigates G4 decomposition and induces an inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). This contributes to decreased desolvation energy barrier from 58.20 to 46.31 kJ mol⁻¹, compared with 1.0 M LiTFSI/G4, for facile interfacial Li⁺ diffusion and high efficiency. It yields extended lifespan of 120 cycles in Li-O₂ battery with a limited Li anode (7 mAh cm⁻²). This work gains comprehensive insights into rational electrolyte design for Li-O₂ batteries.     

Polysiloxane-based Electrolytes: Influence of Salt Type and Polymer Chain Length on the Physical and Electrochemical Properties

An oligo/poly(methyl(2-(tris(2-H methoxyethoxy)silyl)ethyl)siloxane)), 390EO, and 2550EO, were synthesized. Dilute electrolyte solutions of 390EO and 2550EO were prepared using LiTFSI, LiFSI, and LiPF₆. The influence of the length of the siloxane polymer chain, salt type, and Si-tripodand centers at the side chain on ionic conductivity, t_Li⁺, and physical properties were examined. Both electrolyte systems showed high values of t_Li⁺ (0.35 for 2550EO/LiTFSI and 0.64 for 390EO/LiTFSI). Alternatively 390EO/LiPF₆ and 2550EO/LiPF₆ displayed high t_Li⁺ values of 0.61 and 0.44, respectively, while 390EO/LiFSI displayed the smallest t_Li+ (0.25). To clarify the role played by the Li⁺ environment in Li⁺ transport, the solvation states of electrolytes were examined. It was observed that anion solvation can be achieved using siloxane-based solvent in all systems. Walden plot analysis demonstrates that ionic diffusion was not controlled by either macroviscosity/microviscosity in the siloxane-based polymer electrolytes. Ions instead move along a relatively smooth ion-pathway without complete full segmental reorientation in 2550EO as a result of decoupling and high ion solvation behavior. Conversely, in 390EO, ions might move to available sites by a jumping after decoupling with low ion solvation behavior. Consequently, a high t _Li⁺ was achieved, and the oxidative stability of the salt was ensured.     

Novel synthesis of high-surface-area ordered mesoporous TiO2 with anatase framework for photocatalytic applications

Ordered mesoporous TiO₂ materials with an anatase frameworks have been synthesized by using a cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (C₁₆TMABr) as a structure-directing agent and soluble peroxytitanates as Ti precursor through a self-assembly between the positive charged surfactant S⁺ and the negatively charged inorganic framework I^? (S⁺I^? type). The low-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the as-prepared mesoporous TiO₂ materials indicates a hexagonal mesostructure. XRD and transmission electron microscopy results and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms measurements indicate that the calcined mesoporous TiO₂ possesses an anatase crystalline framework having a maximum pore size of 6.9 nm and a maximum Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area of 284 m² g^?1. This ordered mesoporous anatase TiO₂ also demonstrates a high photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue under ultraviolet irradiation.     

Preparation of Anatase Hollow TiO2 Spheres and Their Photocatalytic Activity in the Photodegradation of Chlorpyrifos

Hollow anatase titania (TiO₂) spheres were synthesized using fructose and tetrabutyl titanate (Ti(OC₄H₉)₄, TBT) as the precursors via the conventional hard template method. The morphological, structural and thermal properties of the products were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG‐DTA), Brunauer? Emmett? Teller (BET) surface area analysis and diffuse reflectance ultraviolet visible (DR UV? Vis) spectroscopy. XRD revealed that the hollow TiO₂ prepared was in the anatase phase and the BET surface area measured was about 22 m² g^?1. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized hollow anatase TiO₂ in the photodecomposition of chlorpyrifos was 18.67 % higher than that obtained using commercial TiO₂.     

基于表面优先型相变过程构建TiO_2(B)/锐钛矿异相结纳米纤维及其光催化性能（英文）

近年来,随着光催化研究的逐渐深入,人们发现有效的电荷分离往往是提高半导体光催化材料活性的关键步骤.其中,在多晶相半导体材料中构建异相结结构是提高其活性的最有效途径之一.在TiO_2四种稳定晶相中,Ti O2(B)是发现最晚且研究较少的,并且目前对它的研究主要集中于锂离子电池方面,而在光催化领域中研究较少.然而,该材料特殊的晶相结构带来的各向异性和较大的比表面积都表明其在光催化领域同样具有潜在应用前景.本文通过三步合成法,包括水热过程、离子交换、退火过程,研究了TiO_2(B)向锐钛矿转变的相变过程,同时构建了具有TiO_2(B)/锐钛矿异相结结构的纳米线.在材料退火过程中,通过X射线衍射(XRD)和表面灵敏的紫外拉曼光谱(UV-Raman)分别监测了样品体相和表面相的晶相结构变化过程.发现了XRD与UV-Raman结果的不同步性.同时,通过对样品扫描电镜和透射电镜的形貌表征可知,TiO_2(B)纳米线在退火过程中部分结构发生坍塌,且逐渐转化成锐钛矿相,而相变过程很可能首先发生在坍塌结构处.高分辨电镜结果表明,纳米线中同时存在着TiO_2(B)结构和锐钛矿结构,并形成很好的异相结.根据相结构变化和形貌观察结果,我们推测TiO_2(B)向锐钛矿转变过程为表面优先型的相变过程,即材料表面相先于体相先发生相变过程,由此得到的材料表面相含有较多的锐钛矿,而体相中含有较多的TiO_2(B).为了验证构建的异相结材料的光催化活性,采用光催化产氢和降解污染物双重反应对样品进行了表征.结果发现,单独的TiO_2(B)材料活性较锐钛矿材料相差较多,但其混相结构能较大幅度地提高光催化活性.其中,通过逐渐退火过程形成的体相为24%的TiO_2(B)、表面为100%的锐钛矿相的催化剂活性最高,其产氢活性可达4.82 mmol/(h?g),降解污染物反应速率常数为0.0402 min~(-1).采用光电流测试、电化学阻抗和荧光光谱表征了材料在光催化过程中的载流子动力学行为.结果表明,最优活性的催化剂中体相的异相结结构对光生电荷的分离、传输都起到良好地促进作用,而表面的锐钛矿相主要负责高活性的表面反应,二者共同对高活性的光催化反应起到推动作用.     

Influence of Zn(II) adsorption on the photocatalytic activity and the production of H2O2 over irradiated TiO2

The photocatalytic activity of semiconductor oxides, in particular TiO₂ powders or colloids, is a complex function of bulk (light absorption and scattering, charge carrier mobility and recombination rate) and surface (structure, defects and reconstruction, charge, presence of adsorbate, surface recombination centers) properties. Among surface modifications, the inner sphere surface complexation of metal cations can change the surface charge of the metal oxide, thus changing the surface activity coefficient of ionic substrates, the band edge positions, as well as the mechanism and kinetic of interfacial electron transfer by blocking surface trapping sites for photogenerated carriers (≡Ti?OH). In this work we show that in anatase/water systems under band-gap irradiation, both the organic substrate (formate) oxidation initiated by photogenerated valence band holes and the formation of hydrogen peroxide from O₂ reduction (by conduction band electrons) is strongly influenced by the presence of Zn²⁺ cations. Depending on the pH, the formate oxidation rate can be enhanced or nearly completely inhibited. The observed result can be rationalized by considering the fraction of ≡Ti?OH surface sites blocked by inner sphere complexation of Zn²⁺ as a function of pH. When this fraction is low, the more positive surface charge favors formate oxidation, whereas when the fraction is high the almost complete blockage of ≡Ti?OH surface sites by Zn²⁺ stops almost entirely formate oxidation. Interestingly, the surface complexation of Zn²⁺ is accompanied by an increasing production of H₂O₂ during formate degradation in the presence of O₂. Zn(II) cations are not complexed by peroxide/superoxide species derived from O₂ reduction. When ≡Ti?OH sites are blocked by Zn²⁺, the complexation on the TiO₂ surface of peroxide/superoxide species is inhibited, hindering their further transformation. The results presented demonstrate that the combined effect of pH and surface complexation of redox inert cations greatly influences both the oxidative and reductive processes during the photocatalytic process over TiO₂.     

Synthesis of anatase TiO2 in a vinyl-containing ionic liquid and its enhanced photocatalytic activity

TiO₂ microspheres were synthesized by the sol–gel method using the ionic liquid (IL) 1-vinyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (VPIM⁺I^?) as a reaction medium, then calcined at 500 °C. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The phase of TiO₂ microspheres is anatase, and VPIM⁺I^? is able to favor the growth of anatase phase and prevents the collapse of small pores. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂-IL was tested by degradation of 2-nitrophenol under UV light illumination. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂-IL was higher than that of samples prepared in the reaction medium without VPIM⁺I^?.     

Enhanced Surface Interactions Enable Fast Li+ Conduction in Oxide/Polymer Composite Electrolyte

Li⁺‐conducting oxides are considered better ceramic fillers than Li⁺‐insulating oxides for improving Li⁺ conductivity in composite polymer electrolytes owing to their ability to conduct Li⁺ through the ceramic oxide as well as across the oxide/polymer interface. Here we use two Li⁺‐insulating oxides (fluorite Gd_0.1Ce_0.9O_1.95 and perovskite La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_2.55) with a high concentration of oxygen vacancies to demonstrate two oxide/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)‐based polymer composite electrolytes, each with a Li⁺ conductivity above 10^?4 S cm^?1 at 30 °C. Li solid‐state NMR results show an increase in Li⁺ ions (>10 %) occupying the more mobile A2 environment in the composite electrolytes. This increase in A2‐site occupancy originates from the strong interaction between the O^2? of Li‐salt anion and the surface oxygen vacancies of each oxide and contributes to the more facile Li⁺ transport. All‐solid‐state Li‐metal cells with these composite electrolytes demonstrate a small interfacial resistance with good cycling performance at 35 °C.     

Interfacial Speciation Determines Interfacial Chemistry: X-ray-Induced Lithium Fluoride Formation from Water-in-salt Electrolytes on Solid Surfaces

Super-concentrated “water-in-salt” electrolytes recently spurred resurgent interest for high energy density aqueous lithium-ion batteries. Thermodynamic stabilization at high concentrations and kinetic barriers towards interfacial water electrolysis significantly expand the electrochemical stability window, facilitating high voltage aqueous cells. Herein we investigated LiTFSI/H₂O electrolyte interfacial decomposition pathways in the “water-in-salt” and “salt-in-water” regimes using synchrotron X-rays, which produce electrons at the solid/electrolyte interface to mimic reductive environments, and simultaneously probe the structure of surface films using X-ray diffraction. We observed the surface-reduction of TFSI⁻ at super-concentration, leading to lithium fluoride interphase formation, while precipitation of the lithium hydroxide was not observed. The mechanism behind this photoelectron-induced reduction was revealed to be concentration-dependent interfacial chemistry that only occurs among closely contact ion-pairs, which constitutes the rationale behind the “water-in-salt” concept.     

Studies of lithium and sodium complexation by silicon podand solvents

The complex formation of lithium and sodium ions with silicon podand solvents: phenyl-tris(1,4-dioxapentyl) silane (PhSi23) and ethyl-tris(1,4-dioxapentyl) silane (EtSi23) has been studied by FTIR, ¹H-, ¹³C-, ⁷Li- and ²³Na NMR. The far FTIR spectra show that the Li⁺ cations fluctuate very fast whereas Na⁺ cations are still localised between the oxygen atoms of the oxaalkyl chains. The ⁷Li NMR spectra prove that one Li⁺ cation can be coordinated not only by one but also two silicon podand molecules. The concentration dependence of the molar conductivity of LiClO₄ in the podand solvents indicates charge transfer between ion clusters.     

Complex formation of O-carboxymethylcalix[4]resorcinolarene with alkaline metal and ammonium ions

Complex formation of 3,5,10,12,17,19,24,26-octa(carboxymethoxy)-1,8,15,22-tetraundecylcalix[4]arene (H₈X) with Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and NH₄ ⁺ ions was studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and pH-metry in water—DMSO solutions. Binding of one cation occurs during the stepped deprotonation of four carboxymethyl groups in H₈X. The K⁺ ion was found to be bound more efficiently than Li⁺ and Na⁺. The further deprotonation to the penta- and hexaanion leads to the coordination with two cations. The most stable binuclear complex is formed with the Li⁺ ion.     

Fast Li-ion Storage and Dynamics in TiO2 Nanoparticle Clusters Probed by Smart Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy

Anatase TiO₂ is a promising material for Li-ion (Li⁺) batteries with fast charging capability. However, Li⁺ (de)intercalation dynamics in TiO₂ remain elusive and reported diffusivities span many orders of magnitude. Here, we develop a smart protocol for scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) with in situ optical microscopy (OM) to enable the high-throughput charge/discharge analysis of single TiO₂ nanoparticle clusters. Directly probing active nanoparticles revealed that TiO₂ with a size of ≈50 nm can store over 30 % of the theoretical capacity at an extremely fast charge/discharge rate of ≈100 C. This finding of fast Li⁺ storage in TiO₂ particles strengthens its potential for fast-charging batteries. More generally, smart SECCM-OM should find wide applications for high-throughput electrochemical screening of nanostructured materials.     

Complexation thermodynamics of some alkali-metal cations with 1,13-bis(8-quinolyl)-1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxatridecane in Acetonitrile

The interaction of 1,13-bis(8-quinolyl)-1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxatridecane (Kryptofix5) with alkali-metal cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) in aprotic medium (acetonitrile) has been investigated. Conductance measurements demonstrated that 1:1 metal cation:ligand stoichiometries are found with these cations in this solvent. ⁷Li and ²³Na NMR experiments were carried out by titration of the metal cation solutions with Kryptofix5 solution in CD₃CN + CH₃CN at 298 K. Thermodynamic parameters of complexation for this ligand and alkali-metal cations in acetonitrile at 278–308 K were derived from titration conductometry. The highest stability is found for sodium complex. The complexation sequence, based on the value of log K at 278–308 K was found to be Na⁺ > K⁺ > Li⁺.     

Synthesis and adsorption investigations of zeolites MCM-22 and MCM-49 modified by alkali metal cations

Ion exchange was made on MCM-22 and MCM-49 zeolites with different Si/Al molar ratios, with Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cs⁺ ions and the study of the influence of alkali metal cations on CO₂ adsorption properties was performed. The degree of ion-exchange decreased for larger cations (Cs⁺) apparently due to steric hindrances. The exchange with different cations led to a decrease in the surface area and the micropore volume. Our study shows that the adsorption capacity of the tested zeolites depends significantly on the nature and the concentration of the charge-compensating cations. The highest CO₂ adsorption capacity was obtained on the MWW zeolites with the lowest Si/Al molar ratio and the Li⁺ or K⁺ cations.     

Nb-doped rutile titanium dioxide nanorods for lithium-ion batteries

Rutile titanium dioxide is a promising negative electrode material for lithium-ion batteries due to low volume change on lithium-ion insertion, fast ion diffusion, and large surface area. However, the low theoretical capacity and conductivity of titanium dioxide has limited its application. In this work, rutile TiO₂ was synthesized using a batch hydrothermal method, and doped with Nb⁵⁺ (3.5 at%). <Potentiodynamic/galvanostatic > cycling in the range 1.0–3.0 V vs Li/Li⁺ was used to determine the Li-ion capacity of the doped and pristine TiO₂ material, and electrochemical cycling was used to measure the extent of conversion from the lithiated to de-lithiated state. The nanoscale structures of the pristine and doped materials were determined by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurements. Cycling in the range 1.0–3.0 V vs Li/Li⁺ showed that Nb⁵⁺ doping into the structure resulted in higher charge capacities. After 100 cycles at 100 mA g⁻¹, the Nb-doped rutile TiO₂ maintained a capacity of ca. 390 mAh g⁻¹, 64% higher than undoped TiO₂. For electrochemical cycling in the range 0.05–3.0 V vs Li/Li⁺, the introduction of Nb⁵⁺ resulted in a higher conversion of rutile TiO₂ from the lithiated to de-lithiated state. The higher capacity of the doped TiO₂ is shown to be mainly due to the smaller particle size, optimized surface area, and orientation of the nanorods.     

Efficient silver modification of TiO2 nanotubes with enhanced photocatalytic activity

In this paper, Ag(CH₃NH₂)₂⁺, Ag(NH₃)₂⁺ and Ag⁺ with different radii have been used as silver sources to find out the distribution of Ag ions on the H-TNT surface, which is critical to the final performance. The influence of this distribution on visible photocatalytic activity is further studied. The results indicate that, when Ag⁺ used as silver source with low concentration, these small sized silver ions mainly distribute on interlayer spacing of H-TNT. After heat-treatment and photo-reduction, the generated silver nanoparticles uniformly embed in the anatase TiO₂ nanotube walls, and bring large interfacial area between Ag particles and TiO₂ nanotubes. The separation effect of photogenerated electron-hole pair in TiO₂ is enhanced by Ag particles, and achieves the best at 0.15 g/L, much higher than P25, TiO₂/0, Ag-N@TiO₂ and Ag-C-N@TiO₂. This paper provides new ideas for the modification of TiO₂ nanotubes.     

Preparation and characterization of nanotube Li-Ti-O by molten salt method

Nanotube Li-Ti-O compound with high surface (198.6 m²·g⁻¹) was prepared by a method involving the treatment of nanotube Na₂Ti₂O₅·H₂O in molten LiNO₃ and characterization by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectra (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG/DTG). Results show that the nanotube Li-Ti-O compound prepared by this method involves two crystal phases: spinel Li₂Ti₂O₄ and anatase Li_xTiO₂ (x < 0.1). Li⁺ exhibits different Li1s binding energy in the two crystal phases. In ambient air, the Li-Ti-O compound adsorbs water easily, and the chemically adsorbed water is difficult to remove below 400°C. Translated from Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2006, 22(12): 2135–2139 [译自: 无机化学学报]     

FTIR and NMR studies of bis(oxaalkyl) sulphates(IV) and their complexes with proton and some metal cations

The complexation of Li⁺ and Na⁺ cations by three bis(oxaalkyl) sulphates(IV) was studied by FTIR and NMR on ¹H, ¹³C, ⁷Li and ²³Na nuclei. The NMR results have proved the formation of complexes and the fluctuation of Li⁺ and Na⁺ cations in respective circular arrangements. In the FTIR spectra of protonated sulphates intense continuous absorptions were observed indicating fast fluctuation of the protons in the respective multiminima potentials. The continuous absorptions in the far infrared region of the FTIR spectra of Li⁺ or Na⁺ complexes with three bis(oxaalkyl) sulphates(IV) indicate fast fluctuations of Li⁺ or Na⁺ cations between O-atoms of the oxaalkyl chains. The independence of the shape of the continua on the length of the oxaalkyl chains, i. e. the number of minima in the multiminima potential, demonstrates that the fluctuation of cations occurs in the respective circular arrangements.