Investigating ionic mobility in solid solutions of Li x Na1 − x Ta y Nb1 − y O3 via Raman spectroscopy

The ionic mobility in Li _x Na_{1 ? x} Ta _y Nb_{1 ? y} O₃ solid solutions (SSes) is investigated by means of Raman spectroscopy. The average lifetime of an Li⁺ ion in the equilibrium position and the magnitude of the potential barrier are estimated from the temperature dependence of the line width corresponding to the vibrations of Li⁺ cations.     

Manifestation of a ferroelectric-antiferroelectric phase transition in Li<Subscript>0.12</Subscript>Na<Subscript>0.88</Subscript>Ta<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> in its Raman scattering spectra

The ferroelectric-antiferroelectric phase transition in the Li_0.12Na_0.88Ta_0.4Nb_0.6O₃ ceramic solid solution has been studied by the Raman scattering technique. As the temperature approached the transition point from below, we observed an appreciable broadening of the lines associated with the vibrations of the cations occupying octahedral and cubooctahedral cavities of the structure and with the oxygen network vibrations (which implies a substantial increase in disorder on the cation sublattices), as well as a decrease to zero intensity of the 875-cm^?1 line corresponding to stretch vibrations of the bridging oxygen in the BO₆ octahedral anion in the vicinity of the transition. The temperature dependence of the 875-cm_?1 line intensity near the transition was used to study the behavior of the phase transition order parameter η. The behavior of η was found to disagree markedly with the Landau theory of second-order phase transitions. It is shown that discrepancies originate from the increase in disorder in the niobium and tantalum sublattices in the Li_0.12Na_0.88Ta _y Nb_1-y O₃ solid solution system with increasing y. The order of the transition is lowered.     

Concentration-phase transitions in solid solutions Li x Na1 − x Ta0.1Nb0.9O3, Li0.12Na0.88Ta y Nb1 − y O3, and NaTa y Nb1 − y O3 and their manifestations in Raman spectra

Using the Raman-spectroscopy method, we have studied concentration-phase transitions in the solid solutions Li _x Na_{1 ? x} Ta_0.1Nb_0.9O₃, Li_0.12Na_0.88Ta _y Nb_{1 ? y} O₃, and NaTa _y Nb_{1 ? y} O₃ (x = 0?0.16, y = 0–1). It has been revealed that, for the solid solutions Li _x Na_{1 ? x} Ta_0.1Nb_0.9O₃ and Li_0.12Na_0.88Ta _y Nb_{1 ? y} O₃, the concentration-phase transition is a transition between the ferroelectric and antiferroelectric states. It is accompanied by the disappearance from the spectrum of a line that corresponds to stretching bridge vibrations of oxygen atoms along the polar axis, which is forbidden by selection rules in the centrosymmetric phase, and by splitting into two components of a line that corresponds to librational vibrations of oxygen octahedra as a whole, which can be caused by doubling of the unit cell in the antiferroelectric phase. Manifestation and variation of intensities of lines with frequencies 860–873 and 900–905 cm^?1 upon variation of the concentration of tantalum for solid solutions Li_0.12Na_0.88Ta _y Nb_{1 ? y} O₃, and NaTa _y Nb_{1 ? y} O₃ is caused by the formation of polar clusters in the medium, which is centrosymmetric in general due to disordering in the sublattice of niobium and tantalum.     

Chloride spinels: A new group of solid lithium electrolytes

The chloride spinels Li₂MCl₄ with M = Mg, Mn, Fe and Cd show very high lithium ionic conductivity in the solid state. The ionic conductivity in the compounds under investigation was established with the help of emf measurements. The specific conductivities measured by both frequency response analysis and the four probe ac method are 1.3 Ω^?1 · cm^?1 for Li₂CdCl₄, and about 0.9Ω^?1 · cm^?1 for Li₂MnCl₄, Li₂MgCl₄, and Li₂FeCl₄ at 773 K. There are several indications that the ternary chlorides become highly disordered at elevated temperatures. Thus the Arrhenius plots, i.e. In σ · T vs 1/T-curves, exhibit significant bends, the slopes below the transition temperature being considerably higher than those above.     

A Raman spectroscopic study on the active site of sodium cations in the structure of Na2Ti3O7 during the adsorption of Sr2+ and Ba2+ cations

A detailed study on the structural deformation of trititanate nanofibers after the adsorption of divalent strontium (Sr) and barium (Ba) cations was conducted by using Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the Raman bands at 309 cm⁻¹ corresponding to very long Ti O bonds (2.2 Å) and at 883 cm⁻¹ corresponding to the very short Ti O bonds (1.7 Å) decreased in intensity after the adsorption of Ba²⁺ and Sr²⁺ cations. Additionally, the band at 922 cm⁻¹ corresponding to an intermediate length Ti O bond was observed to weaken with the adsorption of divalent cations, indicating that the TiO₆ octahedra in Na₂Ti₃O₇ are more regular. These results suggest that the active sodium (Na⁺) cations in Na₂Ti₃O₇ should be located at the corner of the TiO₆ octahedral slabs, i.e. the plane (003). This was further confirmed by a large decrease of diffraction intensity of the plane (003) observed in the XRD pattern. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vibrational,electrical, and structural properties of PVDF–LiBOB solid polymer electrolyte with high electrochemical potential window

Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF)–lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB) solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have been prepared by solution casting. The highest ionic conductivity achieved is 3.4610^?3 S cm^?1. Electrochemical potential window of the SPEs is found around 4.7 V. Interaction between PVDF and LiBOB is studied systematically. The changes of C–C, CF₂, and CH₂ vibration modes with an emerging shoulder are analyzed. At higher salt content, this shoulder becomes more prominent peak at the expense of CF₂ vibration mode. This suggests the possible Li⁺?F coordination. Deconvolution of IR spectra region from 1750 to 1850 cm^?1 has been carried out to estimate the relative percentage of free ions and contact ions. The finding is in good agreement with conductivity and XRD results. When more salt is present, the number of free ions percentage increases and the Full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of (110) plane is broadening. The Li⁺?F interaction breaks the folding patterns of polymer chain and enhances amorphousness domain.     

New Li+ ion conductors in the system Li4SiO4−Li3AsO4

In the system Li₄SiO₄-Li₃AsO₄, Li₄SiO₄ forms a short range of solid solutions containing up to 14 to 20% Li₃AsO ₄, depending on temperature, and γ-Li₃AsO₄ forms a more extensive range of solid solutions containing up to ≈55% Li₄SiO₄. The Li₄SiO₄-Li₃AsO₄ phase diagram has been determined and is of binary eutectic character. The ac conductivity of polycrystalline samples was measured over the range 0 to at least 300°C for nine different compositions. The two solid solution series have much higher conductivity than the pure end-members; maximum conductivity was observed in the γ-Li₃AsO₄ solid solutions containing ≈40 to 55% Li₄SiO₄, with values of $\text{≈2×10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{Ω}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ at 20°C rising to ≈0.02 Ω^?1 cm^?1 at 300°C. These values are comparable to those found in the system Li₄SiO₄-Li₃PO₄. The variation with composition of the Arrhenius prefactor and activation energy has been interpreted in terms of the mechanisms of conduction. Li₃AsO₄ is a poor conductor essentially because the number of mobile Li⁺ ions is very small. This number, and hence the conductivity, increases dramatically on forming solid solutions with Li₄SiO₄, by the creation of interstitial Li⁺ ions. At ≈40 to 55% Li₄SiO₄, the number of mobile Li⁺ ions appears to be optimised. An explanation for the change in activation energy of conduction at ≈290°C in Li₄SiO₄ and at higher temperatures in Li₄SiO₄ solid solutions is given in terms of order-disorder of the Li⁺ ions.     

An inelastic neutron scattering study of C2H2 adsorbed on type 13X zeolites

The inelastic neutron scattering spectra of C₂H₂ and C₂D₂ adsorbed on a Ag⁺ exchanged 13X zeolite (0–800 cm^?1) and of C₂H₂ on the Na⁺ form (0–300 cm^?1) have been obtained. For the Na-13X system no distinct vibrational modes were observed, however for the Ag-13X systems the low frequency intramolecular modes of the adsorbed gas and some of the vibrations of the adsorbed gas relative to the surface have been assigned. From the deuteration shifts it appears that C₂H₂ and C₂D₂, adsorbed on Ag-13X, are non-linear.     

Ionic conductivity of pure and doped Li3N

The ionic conductivity of Li₃N crystals doped with various metal ions (magnesium, copper and aluminum) or hydrogen has been investigated. The metal ions have a negative effect on the conductivity whereas hydrogen increases it. The intrinsic Li⁺ ionic conductivity of pure Li₃N is (2·-4)×10^-4Ω^-1cm^-1 at room temperature with an activation energy of 0.26?0.27 eV. Doping with hydrogen to a maximum level of 0.5?1.0 atom% results in a conductivity of 6×10^-3Ω^-1cm^-1 and an activation energy which has been lowered to 0.20 eV. A model is proposed for the action of hydrogen whereby the Li-N bonds next to an NH^2- group are weakened thereby facilatating the creation of Li⁺ Frenkel defects and the vacancy migration. Hydrogen-doped Li₃N is termed an enhanced intrinsic conductor.     

Vibrational spectrum of Li2B4O7 crystals

Polarized IR reflection spectra of Li₂B₄O₇ crystals are studied in a spectral range of 80–1600 cm^?1 and compared with their Raman spectra. Based on the results of the dispersion analysis of the spectra, the frequencies, damping constants, and oscillator strengths of all vibrations are determined. The inversion of frequencies of the longitudinal and transverse vibrations of the A ₁ and E symmetry in a range of 900–1150 cm^?1 is found. Based on the data thus obtained, the effective charges are calculated and the types of chemical bonds are analyzed for structural groups of the Li₂B₄O₇ crystal.     

Raman scattering from 6Li+ and 7Li+ ions in lithium beta-alumina

Raman bands due to translational modes of ⁶Li⁺ and ⁷Li⁺ ions in beta-alumina were found in the frequency range of 340–410 cm^?1, which is much higher than expected from the corresponding values reported for other alkali-metal ions (20–100 cm^?1). Based on a model calculation, it is believed that the large shifts to higher frequencies are due to deviations of the Li⁺ ions from the mirror plane into “pocket sites” formed by oxygen ions above or below the Beevers-Ross sites     

Zur Bildungskinetik der F-Folgezentren in KCl

The process of F-center aggregation under light irradiation, which involves ionic movement at low temperatures (observable down to — 60°C), is not at all understood in its mechanism. It is the aim of this work to evaluate quantitatively the kinetics of this process for different F-aggregate centers. In part I the assoziation of F-centers in KCl crystals with isolated Na⁺ or Li⁺ ions was thoroughly investigated as the clearest model case of F-center-aggregation. The reaction product in these crystals after light irradiation, an F-center associated to a Na⁺ or Li⁺ ion as nearest (100) neighbor (F _A -center), is well established in its model and can be detected by its double peak absorption structure. By optical measurements of the rate of F _A -center formation in dependence on light-intensity, time, Na⁺ or Li⁺-concentration, F→F′ conversion rate and temperature, the kinetics of this reaction could be evaluated in a simple equation of bimolecular type. The analysis leads to the conclusion, that either the anion vacancy or the F′-center must be regarded as a unit of high thermal mobility (activation energy 0·6±0·05 eV, jump frequency about 10² sec^?1 at room temperature) which diffuses randomly in the lattice and can be captured by a Na⁺ or Li⁺ ion.     

Characterization and electrical behavior of new lithium chalcoborate thin films

Thin films obtained with glasses of the B₂S₃Li₂S and B₂S₃Li₂SLiI systems, using a vacuum evaporation technique have been investigated. In each system, amorphous thin films and starting glasses have the same composition and similar conductivities, about 10^?4 and 10^?3Ω^?1cm^?1 respectively at 25°C. The deposition rate was in both cases 140 Å s^?1. However, a thermal treatment at 90°C of the thin films containing lithium iodide enhances the conductivity by a factor of 10 and leads to lower activation energy (0.18 eV). This behavior has been identified as a Phipps effect and can be attributed to a quick ion diffusion along thin film - substrate interface. This interfacial region was found to show unique conduction properties including a very low Li⁺ migration enthalpy.     

The determination of Li+ mobility in solid electrolyte Li1.3Al0.1Zn0.1Ti1.8P3O12 in view of ionic diffusivity and conductivity

Nasicon-type solid electrolyte Li_1.3Al_0.1Zn_0.1Ti_1.8P₃O₁₂ was prepared by citric acid-assisted acrylamide polymerisation gel method. X-ray diffraction pattern showed that the introduction of Zn²⁺ in the parent matrix Li_1+x Al _x Ti_2?x P₃O₁₂ made it easier to get high-purity rhombohedral structure (space group $ R\overline 3 C $ ) Li_1.3Al_0.1Zn_0.1Ti_1.8P₃O₁₂ without the evidence of impurity secondary phase. The Li⁺ kinetics were investigated by complex impedance in bulk pellet and ionic conductivity in battery-type composite cathode, respectively. Grain-interior resistance measured by galvanostatic intermittent titration technique, potential step chronoamperometry, and AC impedance spectroscopy at 20 °C varies in the range 1.2–1.95?×?10^?4?S?cm^?1, which is in good agreement with that obtained by complex impedance method 1.5?×?10^?4?S?cm^?1.     

Preparation and characterization of sodium binary system (NaI–Na3PO4) inorganic solid electrolyte

New binary inorganic salt such as sodium iodide (NaI)–sodium phosphate (Na₃PO₄) has a great potential to be used as a solid electrolyte, and this solid electrolyte system exhibits high ionic conductivity up to 10^?4 S cm^?1. The solid electrolyte compounds were prepared by mechanical milling followed by pelletizing and sintering at low temperature. The electrical conductivity study was carried out as a function of NaI concentration by impedance spectroscopy technique and the maximum conductivity of (1.02?±?0.19)?×?10^?4 S cm^?1 at room temperature was obtained for the composition 0.50 NaI:0.50 Na₃PO₄. The increase in conductivity is probably due to the increase in number of mobile charge carriers through the conducting pathway provided by tetrahedral structures of Na₃PO₄. The presence of P–O and PO₄ ^3? bands was detected by the infrared technique Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy had been shifted indicating changes in polyhedral structure which in turn led to the formation of conducting channel by corner sharing or through edges. The mobility of the charge carriers in the various compositions of the binary system was investigated by using ²³Na magic angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance. The narrowing of the line width ²³Na spectra in the optimum composition of the binary NaI–Na₃PO₄ system can be assigned to Na population with higher ion mobility. X-ray diffraction technique revealed that the addition of NaI resulted in reducing the crystallinity of the samples. Field emission scanning electron microscopy micrographs revealed finer microstructure of the milling samples with grains growth formation and densification upon sintering.     

Transport processes in heavy metal fluoride glasses

Na self-diffusion, Li self-diffusion, Na⁺–Li⁺ ion exchange, electrical conductivity, and mechanical relaxation have been studied below T_g on glasses of the system ZrF₄–BaF₂–LaF₃–AF (A=Na, Li), with A=10, 20, 30 mol%. Compared to the transport mechanism in alkali-containing silicate glasses, the mechanisms in these non-oxide glasses are anomalous. Thus the self-diffusion coefficient of Na decreases with increasing NaF content, whereas that of Li increases with increasing LiF content. Both the electrical conductivity and the Na⁺–Li⁺ ion exchange reach a minimum at ≈ 20 mol% LiF, and the mechanical relaxation shows one peak for the 20 and 30 mol% LiF-glasses and two peaks for the glass with 10 mol% LiF, evidencing both a contribution of F⁻ and Li⁺ ions to the transport. Moreover, the presence of the three partially interacting mobile species F⁻, Na⁺, Li⁺ obviously leads to an anionic–cationic mixed ion effect. Applying the Nernst–Einstein equation to the Li⁺ transport in LiF-containing glasses shows that its mechanism is dissimilar to that in oxide glasses. Calculated short jump distances possibly can be interpreted as an Li⁺ movement via energetically suitable sites near F⁻ ions. Likewise the Nernst–Planck model, successfully applied to the ionic transport in mixed alkali silicate glasses, obviously does also not hold for the present heavy metal fluoride glasses.     

Infrared absorption of aligned H−Na+H− complexes in Kcl crystals

The localized vibrations of a complex in KCl consisting of a triangular array of two H^? ions and one Na⁺ ion in substitutional, neighboring positions have been observed in infrared absorption. As one would expect for such a molecule, five modes are observed: two longitudinal modes at 365 and 508 cm^-1, two complanar transverse modes along <110> at 459 and 562 cm^?1, and one transverse mode along <100> at 551 cm^?1.     

Enhanced electrical properties of polyethylene oxide (PEO) + polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP):Li<Superscript>+</Superscript> blended polymer electrolyte films with addition of Ag nanofiller

Polymer blended films of polyethylene oxide (PEO)?+?polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP):lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) embedded with silver (Ag) nanofiller in different concentrations have been synthesized by a solution casting method. The semi-crystalline nature of these polymer films has been confirmed from their X-ray diffraction (XRD) profiles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman analysis confirmed the complex formation of the polymer with dopant ions. Dispersed Ag nanofiller size evaluation study has been done using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. It was observed that the conductivity increases when increasing the Ag nanofiller concentration. On the addition of Ag nanofiller to the polyethylene oxide (PEO)?+?polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP):Li⁺ electrolyte system, it was found to result in the enhancement of ionic conductivity. The maximum ionic conductivity has been set up to be 1.14?×?10^?5 S cm^?1 at the optimized concentration of 4 wt% Ag nanofiller-embedded (45 wt%) polyethylene oxide (PEO)?+?(45 wt%) polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP):(10 wt%) Li⁺ polymer electrolyte nanocomposite at room temperature. Polyethylene oxide (PEO)?+?polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP):Li⁺ +Ag nanofiller (4 wt%) cell exhibited better performance in terms of cell parameters. This is ascribed to the presence of flexible matrix and high ionic conductivity. The applicability of the present 4 wt% Ag nanofiller-dispersed polyethylene oxide (PEO)?+?polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP):Li⁺ polymer electrolyte system could be suggested as a potential candidate for solid-state battery applications. Dielectric constants and dielectric loss behaviours have been studied.     

Spectroscopic properties, energy transfer and structural analysis of Sr2CeO4:M+ and Sr2CeO4:Eu3+, M+ (M+ = Li+, Na+, K+)

The room-temperature luminescent emission characteristics of Sr₂CeO₄:M⁺ and Sr₂CeO₄:Eu³⁺,M⁺ (M⁺ = Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) have been investigated under UV excitation. By introducing appropriate alkali metal cations dopants (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) into the crystalline lattice, not only emission color of the blue-white-emitting Sr₂CeO₄ doped with low Eu³⁺ content can be tuned to green, but also the red emission intensity of Sr₂CeO₄ doped with high Eu³⁺ concentration is strengthened significantly. The relevant mechanisms have been elucidated in detail.     

Temperature investigations of Raman spectra of stoichiometric and congruent lithium niobate crystals

In the temperature range 100–450 K, we have investigated Raman spectra of congruent and stoichiometric LiNbO₃ crystals. We have found that, in this temperature range, frequencies and widths of all the spectral lines depend linearly on temperature. However, the width of the line that corresponds to vibrations of the A₁(TO) symmetry of Li⁺ ions depends on temperature much more weakly than the width of the line that corresponds to vibrations of the A₁(TO) symmetry of Nb⁵⁺ ions. This fact indicates that the anharmonicity of vibrations of Nb⁵⁺ ions along the polar axis is much stronger compared to vibrations of Li⁺ ions. It is likely that this anharmonicity is noticeably contributed by O^2? ions, which are characterized by an anharmonic potential, vibrations of which, according to calculations from first principles, are mixed with vibrations of Nb⁵⁺ ions. The anharmonicity of vibrations of O^2? ions is evidenced by a strong temperature dependence of the width of the line that corresponds to vibrations of the A₁(TO) symmetry of O^2? ions perpendicularly to the polar axis. We have found that the temperature dependence of the intensity of lines that correspond to fundamental vibrations is nonmonotonic. At the same time, the temperature dependence of the intensity of “superfluous lines” is strictly linear. It is likely that this behavior of the intensities of lines of fundamental vibrations is related to the occurrence of clusters and microstructures in the crystal structure.