A Hydride Route to Ternary Alkali Metal Borides: A Case Study of Lithium Nickel Borides

Ternary lithium nickel borides LiNi₃B_1.8 and Li_2.8Ni₁₆B₈ have been synthesized by using reactive LiH as a precursor. This synthetic route allows better mixing of the precursor powders, thus facilitating rapid preparation of the alkali-metal-containing ternary borides. This method is suitable for “fast screening” of multicomponent systems comprised of elements with drastically different reactivities. The crystal structures of the compounds LiNi₃B_1.8 and Li_2.8Ni₁₆B₈ have been re-investigated by a combination of single-crystal X-ray/synchrotron powder diffraction, solid-state ⁷Li and ¹¹B NMR spectroscopies, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. This has allowed the determination of fine structural details, including the split position of Ni sites and the ordering of B vacancies. Field-dependent and temperature-dependent magnetization measurements are consistent with spin-glass behavior for both samples.     

MH4P6N12 (M=Mg,Ca): New Imidonitridophosphates with an Unprecedented Layered Network Structure Type

Isotypic imidonitridophosphates MH₄P₆N₁₂ (M=Mg, Ca) have been synthesized by high‐pressure/high‐temperature reactions at 8 GPa and 1000 °C starting from stoichiometric amounts of the respective alkaline‐earth metal nitrides, P₃N₅, and amorphous HPN₂. Both compounds form colorless transparent platelet crystals. The crystal structures have been solved and refined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. Rietveld refinement confirmed the accuracy of the structure determination. In order to quantify the amounts of H atoms in the respective compounds, quantitative solid‐state ¹H NMR measurements were carried out. EDX spectroscopy confirmed the chemical compositions. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of NH groups in both structures. The crystal structures reveal an unprecedented layered tetrahedral arrangement, built up from all‐side vertex‐sharing PN₄ tetrahedra with condensed dreier and sechser rings. The resulting layers are separated by metal atoms.     

Synthesis of Nordstrandite and Nordstrandite-Derived Layered Double Hydroxides of Li and Al: A Comparative Study with the Bayerite Counterpart

The layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of Li and Al can be synthesized from the four polymorphs of Al(OH)₃, namely gibbsite, bayerite, nordstrandite, and doyleite. The crystal structure of this class of compounds depends on the type of the precursor used due to their topotactic reaction mechanism. While the LDHs derived from gibbsite and bayerite yield different crystal structures, the incorporation of Li into nordstrandite was expected to yield new LDH structures different from those derived from gibbsite and bayerite. The structure of nordstrandite derived LDHs were however identical to that derived from the bayerite counterpart. The absence of symmetry in the interlayer of nordstrandite (C₁) makes it unsuitable to accommodate the intercalating anions with different molecular symmetries. To make the interlayer gallery suitable for the anions, the metal hydroxide layers of the nordstrandite translate, transforming nordstrandite to bayerite. The bayerite with site symmetries O_h and C₂ stabilizes the anions in the interlayer by hydrogen bonding. The transformation of nordstrandite to bayerite, when soaked in lithium salt solution is, therefore, a manifestation of the intercalating anions.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Lithium Motion of Li8SeN2 and Li8TeN2

The compounds Li₈EN₂ with E = Se, Te were obtained in form of orange microcrystalline powders from reactions of Li₂E with Li₃N. Single crystal growth of Li₈SeN₂ additionally succeeded from excess lithium. The crystal structures were refined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction as well as X‐ray and neutron powder diffraction data (I4₁md, No. 109, Z = 4, Se: a = 7.048(1) Å, c = 9.995(1) Å, Te: a = 7.217(1) Å, c = 10.284(1) Å). Both compounds crystallize as isotypes with an anionic substructure motif known from cubic Laves phases and lithium distributed over four crystallographic sites in the void space of the anionic framework. Neutron powder diffraction pattern recorded in the temperature range from 3 K to 300 K and X‐ray diffraction patterns using synchrotron radiation taken from 300 K to 1000 K reveal the structural stability of both compounds in the studied temperature range until decomposition. Motional processes of lithium atoms in the title compounds were revealed by temperature dependent NMR spectroscopic investigations. Those are indicated by significant changes of the ⁷Li NMR signals. Lithium motion starts for Li₈SeN₂ above 150 K whereas it is already present in Li₈TeN₂ at this temperature. Quantum mechanical calculations of NMR spectroscopic parameters reveal clearly different environments of the lithium atoms determined by the electric field gradient, which are sensitive to the anisotropy of charge distribution at the nuclear sites. With respect to an increasing coordination number according to 2 + 1, 3, 3 + 1, and 4 for Li(3), Li(4), Li(2), and Li(1), respectively, the values of the electric field gradients decrease. Different environments of lithium predicted by quantum mechanical calculations are confirmed by ⁷Li NMR frequency sweep experiments at low temperatures.     

Synthesis and structure determination of seven ternary bismuthides: crystal chemistry of the RELi3Bi2 family (RE = La–Nd,Sm, Gd,and Tb)

Zintl phases are renowned for their diverse crystal structures with rich structural chemistry and have recently exhibited some remarkable heat‐ and charge‐transport properties. The ternary bismuthides RELi₃Bi₂ (RE = La–Nd, Sm, Gd, and Tb) (namely, lanthanum trilithium dibismuthide, LaLi₃Bi₂, cerium trilithium dibismuthide, CeLi₃Bi₂, praseodymium trilithium dibismuthide, PrLi₃Bi₂, neodymium trilithium dibismuthide, NdLi₃Bi₂, samarium trilithium dibismuthide, SmLi₃Bi₂, gadolinium trilithium dibismuthide, GdLi₃Bi₂, and terbium trilithium dibismuthide, TbLi₃Bi₂) were synthesized by high‐temperature reactions of the elements in sealed Nb ampoules. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis shows that all seven compounds are isostructural and crystallize in the LaLi₃Sb₂ type structure in the trigonal space group Pm1 (Pearson symbol hP6). The unit‐cell volumes decrease monotonically on moving from the La to the Tb compound, owing to the lanthanide contraction. The structure features a rare‐earth metal atom and one Li atom in a nearly perfect octahedral coordination by six Bi atoms. The second crystallographically unique Li atom is surrounded by four Bi atoms in a slightly distorted tetrahedral geometry. The atomic arrangements are best described as layered structures consisting of two‐dimensional layers of fused LiBi₄ tetrahedra and LiBi₆ octahedra, separated by rare‐earth metal cations. As such, these compounds are expected to be valance‐precise semiconductors, whose formulae can be represented as (RE³⁺)(Li¹⁺)₃(Bi³⁻)₂.     

Structural and Electrochemical Study of Vanadium‐Doped TiO2 Ramsdellite with Superior Lithium Storage Properties for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Titanium‐oxide‐based materials are considered attractive and safe alternatives to carbonaceous anodes in Li‐ion batteries. In particular, the ramsdellite form TiO₂(R) is known for its superior lithium‐storage ability as the bulk material when compared with other titanates. In this work, we prepared V‐doped lithium titanate ramsdellites with the formula Li_0.5Ti_1?xV_xO₂ (0≤x≤0.5) by a conventional solid‐state reaction. The lithium‐free Ti_1?xV_xO₂ compounds, in which the ramsdellite framework remains virtually unaltered, are easily obtained by a simple aqueous oxidation/ion‐extraction process. Neutron powder diffraction is used to locate the Li channel site in Li_0.5Ti_1?xV_xO₂ compounds and to follow the lithium extraction by difference‐Fourier maps. Previously delithiated Ti_1?xV_xO₂ ramsdellites are able to insert up to 0.8 Li⁺ per transition‐metal atom. The initial gravimetric capacities of 270 mAh g^?1 with good cycle stability under constant current discharge conditions are among the highest reported for bulk TiO₂‐related intercalation compounds for the threshold of one e^? per formula unit.     

Direct Observation of Defect-Aided Structural Evolution in a Nickel-Rich Layered Cathode

Ni-rich LiNi_1−x−yMn_xCo_yO₂ (NMC) layered compounds are the dominant cathode for lithium ion batteries. The role of crystallographic defects on structure evolution and performance degradation during electrochemical cycling is not yet fully understood. Here, we investigated the structural evolution of a Ni-rich NMC cathode in a solid-state cell by in situ transmission electron microscopy. Antiphase boundary (APB) and twin boundary (TB) separating layered phases played an important role on phase change. Upon Li depletion, the APB extended across the layered structure, while Li/transition metal (TM) ion mixing in the layered phases was detected to induce the rock-salt phase formation along the coherent TB. According to DFT calculations, Li/TM mixing and phase transition were aided by the low diffusion barriers of TM ions at planar defects. This work reveals the dynamical scenario of secondary phase evolution, helping unveil the origin of performance fading in Ni-rich NMC.     

Homoleptic Tetrakis(silyl) Complexes of Pd0 and Pt0 Featuring Metal‐Centred Heterocubane Structures: Evidence for the Existence of the Corresponding Mononuclear PdI and PtI Complexes

We report on the first homoleptic tetrakis(silyl) complexes of zerovalent Group 10 metals. The compounds [MLi₄{Si(3,5‐Me₂pz)₃}₄] (M=Pd and Pt; 3,5‐Me₂pz=3,5‐dimethylpyrazolyl) exhibit very appealing metal‐centred heterocubane structures with the central d¹⁰ metal atoms surrounded by four silicon and four lithium atoms. Both compounds were characterised in detail, including X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods such as ⁷Li,²⁹Si and ⁷Li,¹⁹⁵Pt HMQC. Cyclic voltammetry studies, in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, revealed that the corresponding mononuclear cationic d⁹‐M^I and dicationic d⁸‐M^II complexes are accessible by stepwise one‐electron oxidation of the title compounds. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) investigations provided evidence for the existence of the corresponding paramagnetic palladium(I) and platinum(I) complexes.     

Two alkali metal chlorites,LiClO2 and KClO2

The structures of tetragonal (P4₂/ncm) lithium chlorite, LiClO₂, and orthorhombic (Cmcm) potassium chlorite, KClO₂, have been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analyses. In LiClO₂, the Li atom is at a site of symmetry, while in KClO₂, the K atom is at a site with 2/m symmetry. In both compounds, the unique Cl and O atoms are at sites with mm and m symmetry, respectively. The structure of LiClO₂ consists of layers of Li⁺ cations coordinated by ClO₂⁻ anions. In contrast, the structure of KClO₂ contains pseudo‐layers of K⁺ and ClO₂⁻ ions containing four short K—O distances. The Li⁺ and K⁺ cations are surrounded by four and eight chlorite O atoms in tetrahedral and distorted cubic coordination environments, respectively.     

Syntheses and Characterization of 1,4‐Phenylenebisphosphonates,A[HO3PC6H4PO3H2] (A = Li,K, Rb,Cs, Tl,Ag and NH4) and Crystal Structure of 1,4‐Phenylenebisphosphonic Acid

Seven 1,4‐phenylenebisphosphonates of monovalent ions, A(HO₃PC₆H₄PO₃H₂) (A = Li, K, Rb, Cs, Tl, Ag and NH₄), were synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, spectroscopic and thermal methods. These compounds and the reported sodium analogue have four structure types. The sodium compound, one‐dimensional lithium compound and pillared‐layered cesium compounds have different structure types, whereas the potassium, rubidium, thallium, ammonium and silver compounds have a pillared ladder‐like structure. They undergo initial thermal decomposition in the range of 120–270 °C. Moreover, the single crystal X‐ray structure of 1,4‐phenylenebisphosphonic acid was determined.     

Dilithium (citrate) crystals and their relatives

New compounds of the type LiMHC₆H₅O₇ (M = Li, Na, K, Rb) have been prepared from the metal carbonates and citric acid in solution. The crystal structures have been solved and refined using laboratory powder X‐ray diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. The compounds crystallize in the triclinic space group P and are nearly isostructural. The structures are lamellar, with the layers in the ab plane. The boundaries of the layers consist of hydrophobic methylene groups and very strong intermolecular O—H…O hydrogen bonds. The O…O distances range from 2.666 Å for M = Li to 2.465 Å for M = Rb. The Li—O bonds exhibit significant covalent character, while the heavier M—O bonds are ionic. The Li atoms are four‐, five‐, or six‐coordinate, while the coordination numbers of the larger cations are higher, i.e. eight for Na and nine for K and Rb. The citrate anion occurs in the trans,trans conformation, one of the two low‐energy conformations of an isolated citrate anion. The crystal structure of LiRbHC₆H₅O₇·H₂O was also solved and refined. It consists of the same layers as in the anhydrous M = Rb compound, with interlayer water molecules and a different hydrogen‐bonding pattern.     

An Anti CuO2‐type Metal Hydride Square Net Structure in Ln2M2As2Hx (Ln=La or Sm,M=Ti,V, Cr,or Mn)

Using a high pressure technique and the strong donating nature of H^?, a new series of tetragonal La₂Fe₂Se₂O₃‐type layered mixed‐anion arsenides, Ln₂M₂As₂H_x, was synthesized (Ln=La or Sm, M=Ti, V, Cr, or Mn; x≈3). In these compounds, an unusual M₂H square net, which has anti CuO₂ square net structures accompanying two As^3? ions, is sandwiched by (LaH)₂ fluorite layers. Notably, strong metal–metal bonding with a distance of 2.80 Å was confirmed in La₂Ti₂As₂H_2.3, which has metallic properties. In fact, these compounds are situated near the boundary between salt‐like ionic hydrides and transition‐metal hydrides with metallic characters.     

An Anti CuO2‐type Metal Hydride Square Net Structure in Ln2M2As2Hx (Ln=La or Sm,M=Ti,V, Cr,or Mn)

Using a high pressure technique and the strong donating nature of H⁻, a new series of tetragonal La₂Fe₂Se₂O₃‐type layered mixed‐anion arsenides, Ln₂M₂As₂H_x, was synthesized (Ln=La or Sm, M=Ti, V, Cr, or Mn; x≈3). In these compounds, an unusual M₂H square net, which has anti CuO₂ square net structures accompanying two As³⁻ ions, is sandwiched by (LaH)₂ fluorite layers. Notably, strong metal–metal bonding with a distance of 2.80 Å was confirmed in La₂Ti₂As₂H_2.3, which has metallic properties. In fact, these compounds are situated near the boundary between salt‐like ionic hydrides and transition‐metal hydrides with metallic characters.     

Alkali Metal and Alkaline Earth Metal Complexes with the Bis(borane‐diphenylphosphanyl)amido Ligand – Synthesis,Structures, and Catalysis for Ring‐Opening Polymerization of ϵ‐Caprolactone

The syntheses of lithium and alkaline earth metal complexes with the bis(borane‐diphenylphosphanyl)amido ligand ( 1 ‐ H ) of molecular formulas [{κ²‐N(PPh₂(BH₃))₂}Li(THF)₂] ( 2 ) and [{κ³‐N(PPh₂(BH₃))₂}₂M(THF)₂] [(M = Ca ( 3 ), Sr ( 4 ), Ba ( 5 )] are reported. The lithium complex 2 was obtained by treatment of bis(borane‐diphenylphosphanyl)amine ( 1 ‐ H ) with lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in a 1:1 molar ratio via the silylamine elimination method. The corresponding homoleptic alkaline earth metal complexes 3 – 5 were prepared by two synthetic routes – first, the treatment of metal bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and protio ligand 1 ‐ H via the elimination of silylamine, and second, through salt metathesis reaction involving respective metal diiodides and lithium salt 2 . The molecular structures of lithium complex 2 and barium complex 5 were established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. In the solid‐state structure of 2 , the lithium ion is ligated by amido nitrogen atoms and hydrogen atoms of the BH₃ group in κ²‐coordination of the ligand 1 resulting in a distorted tetrahedral geometry around the lithium ion. However, in complex 5 , κ³‐coordination of the ligand 1 was observed, and the barium ion adopted a distorted octahedral arrangement. The metal complex 5 was tested as catalyst for the ring opening polymerization of ?‐caprolactone. High activity for the barium complex 5 towards ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ?‐caprolactone with a narrow polydispersity index was observed. Additionally, first‐principle calculations to investigate the structure and coordination properties of alkaline earth metal complexes 3 – 5 as a comparative study between the experimental and theoretical findings were described.     

LiBC3: a new borocarbide based on graphene and heterographene networks

Li–B–C alloys have attracted much interest because of their potential use in lithium‐ion batteries and superconducting materials. The formation of the new compound LiBC₃ [lithium boron tricarbide; own structure type, space group P m 2, a = 2.5408 (3) Å and c = 7.5989 (9) Å] has been revealed and belongs to the graphite‐like structure family. The crystal structure of LiBC₃ presents hexagonal graphene carbon networks, lithium layers and heterographene B/C networks, alternating sequentially along the c axis. According to electronic structure calculations using the tight‐binding linear muffin‐tin orbital‐atomic spheres approximations (TB–LMTO–ASA) method, strong covalent B—C and C—C interactions are established. The coordination polyhedra for the B and C atoms are trigonal prisms and for the Li atoms are hexagonal prisms.     

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.     

Boride-based nano-laminates with MAX-phase-like behaviour

MAX-phases being usually composed of transition metals, group A elements and carbon/nitrogen are considered interesting materials for many applications because of their tremendous bulk modulus, “reversible” plasticity, and machinability. This is mainly due to their unique kind of bonding comprising covalent, ionic as well as metallic bonds providing “easy” planes of rupture and deformability due to the layered crystal structures.In transition metal boride systems, similar types of bonding are available. In particular the W₂B₅-structure type and its stacking variations allow the synthesis of strongly layered crystal structures exhibiting unique delamination phenomena.The paper presents ab initio calculations showing the similarities of bonding between the ternary carbides and the corresponding ternary or quaternary borides. Formation of boride-based nano-laminates from auxiliary liquid phases, from the melt as well as during sintering and precipitation from supersaturated solid solutions will be discussed by means of SEM and TEM studies. The role of impurities weakening the interlayer bonding will be addressed in particular. The pronounced cleavage parallel to the basal plane gives rise for crack deflection and pull-out mechanisms if the laminates are dispersed in brittle matrices such as boron carbide, silicon carbide or other transition metal borides.     

Developing a Hetero‐Alkali‐Metal Chemistry of 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidide (TMP): Stoichiometric and Structural Diversity within a Series of Lithium/Sodium,Lithium/Potassium and Sodium/Potassium TMP Compounds

Studied extensively in solution and in the solid state, Li(TMP) (TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidide) is an important utility reagent popular as a strongly basic, weakly nucleophilic tool for C? H metallation. Recently, there has been a surge in interest in mixed metal derivatives containing the bulky TMP anion. Herein, we start to develop hetero (alkali metal) TMP chemistry by reporting the N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA)‐hemisolvated sodium–lithium cycloheterodimer [(tmeda)Na(μ‐tmp)₂Li], and its TMEDA‐free variant [{Na(μ‐tmp)Li(μ‐tmp)}_∞], which provides a rare example of a crystallographically authenticated polymeric alkali metal amide. Experimental observations suggest that the former is a kinetic intermediate en route to the latter thermodynamic product. Furthermore, a third modification, the mixed potassium–lithium‐rich cycloheterotrimer [(tmeda)K(μ‐tmp)Li(μ‐tmp)Li(μ‐tmp)], has also been synthesised and crystallographically characterised. On moving to the bulkier tridentate donor N,N,N′,N′′,N′′‐pentamethyldiethylenediamine (PMDETA), the additional ligation forces the sodium–lithium and potassium–dilithium ring species to open giving the acyclic arc‐shaped complexes [(pmdeta)Na(μ‐tmp)Li(tmp)] and [(pmdeta)K(μ‐tmp)Li(μ‐tmp)Li(tmp)], respectively. Completing the series, the potassium–lithium and potassium–sodium derivatives [(pmdeta)K(μ‐tmp)₂M] (M=Li, Na) have also been isolated as closed structures with a distinctly asymmetric central MN₂K ring. Collectively, these seven new bimetallic compounds display five distinct structural motifs, four of which have never hitherto been witnessed in TMP chemistry and three of which are unprecedented in the vast structural library of alkali metal amide chemistry.     

Lithium and beryllium hypophosphites

The structures of monoclinic (C2/m) lithium di­hydrogenphosphate, LiH₂PO₂, and tetragonal (P4₁2₁2) beryllium bis(di­hydrogenphosphate), Be(H₂PO₂)₂, have been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The structures consist of layers of hypophosphite anions and metal cations in tetrahedral coordination by O atoms. Within the layers, the anions bridge four Li⁺ and two Be²⁺ cations, respectively. In LiH₂PO₂, the Li atom lies on a twofold axis and the H₂PO₂⁻ anion has the PO₂ atoms on a mirror plane. In Be(H₂PO₂)₂, the Be atom lies on a twofold axis and the H₂PO₂⁻ anion is in a general position.     

DABCOnium: An Efficient and High‐Voltage Stable Singlet Oxygen Quencher for Metal–O2 Cells

Singlet oxygen (¹O₂) causes a major fraction of the parasitic chemistry during the cycling of non‐aqueous alkali metal‐O₂ batteries and also contributes to interfacial reactivity of transition‐metal oxide intercalation compounds. We introduce DABCOnium, the mono alkylated form of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), as an efficient ¹O₂ quencher with an unusually high oxidative stability of ca. 4.2 V vs. Li/Li⁺. Previous quenchers are strongly Lewis basic amines with too low oxidative stability. DABCOnium is an ionic liquid, non‐volatile, highly soluble in the electrolyte, stable against superoxide and peroxide, and compatible with lithium metal. The electrochemical stability covers the required range for metal–O₂ batteries and greatly reduces ¹O₂ related parasitic chemistry as demonstrated for the Li–O₂ cell.