Microscopic access to long-range diffusion parameters of the fast lithium ion conductor Li7BiO6 by solid state 7Li stimulated echo NMR

Li self-diffusion in rhombohedral Li7BiO6, being a promising basic material for cathodes of rechargeable ion batteries, is studied by means of 7Li stimulated echo NMR. Using the pulse sequence introduced by Jeener and Broekaert, a spin-alignment echo is created whose amplitude decay is recorded as a function of mixing time. The so-obtained two-time correlation functions follow stretched exponential behavior and lead to decay rates which can be identified directly with microscopic Li motional correlation rates (tau(-1)). Using a jump distance of about 0.2 nm, this results in a diffusion coefficient (D) of about 0.5 x 10(-16) m(2) s(-1) at 294 K. The activation energy turned out to be 0.53(3) eV which is in very good agreement with recently obtained results by means of dc-conductivity measurements probing long-range diffusion parameters. This shows that stimulated echo NMR, due to its inherent time scale, gives microscopic access to long-range transport. The prefactor tau(0)(-1) of the corresponding Arrhenius law lies in the typical range of phonon frequencies, tau(0)(-1) = 3 x 10(12) s(-1).     

Extremely slow Li ion dynamics in monoclinic Li(2)TiO(3)-probing macroscopic jump diffusion via(7)Li NMR stimulated echoes

A thorough understanding of ion dynamics in solids, which is a vital topic in modern materials and energy research, requires the investigation of diffusion properties on a preferably large dynamic range by complementary techniques. Here, a polycrystalline sample of Li(2)TiO(3) was used as a model substance to study Li motion by both (7)Li spin-alignment echo (SAE) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ac-conductivity measurements. Although the two methods do probe Li dynamics in quite different ways, good agreement was found so that the Li diffusion parameters, such as jump rates and the activation energy, could be precisely determined over a dynamic range of approximately eleven decades. For example, Li solid-state diffusion coefficients D(σ) deduced from impedance spectroscopy range from 10(-23) m(2) s(-1) to 10(-12) m(2) s(-1) (240-835 K). These values are in perfect agreement with the coefficients D(SAE) deduced from SAE NMR spectroscopy. As an example, D(SAE) = 2 × 10(-17) m(2) s(-1) at 433 K and the corresponding activation energy determined by NMR amounts to 0.77(2) eV (400-600 K). At room temperature D(σ) takes a value of 3 × 10(-21) m(2) s(-1).     

Resolving the different silicon clusters in Li12Si7 by 29Si and (6,7)Li solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Structural signatures: The analysis of Si-Si and Si-Li connectivities by solid-state NMR spectroscopy allows the different types of silicon clusters to be discriminated in the model lithium silicide compound Li(12)Si(7) (see picture, Si clusters red and blue, Li ions gray). The results provide new NMR spectroscopic strategies with which to differentiate and study the structures formed in silicon-based electrode materials.     

Microscopic Li self-diffusion parameters in the lithiated anode material Li4 + xTi5O12 (0 < or = x < or = 3) measured by 7Li solid state NMR

The microscopic Li diffusion parameters in the lithiated spinel Li4 + xTi5O12, which is on its way to become a commercially used anode material in Li ion batteries, are probed for the first time via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.     

Structure and dynamics of the fast lithium ion conductor "Li7La3Zr2O12"

The solid lithium-ion electrolyte "Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12)" (LLZO) with a garnet-type structure has been prepared in the cubic and tetragonal modification following conventional ceramic syntheses routes. Without aluminium doping tetragonal LLZO was obtained, which shows a two orders of magnitude lower room temperature conductivity than the cubic modification. Small concentrations of Al in the order of 1 wt% were sufficient to stabilize the cubic phase, which is known as a fast lithium-ion conductor. The structure and ion dynamics of Al-doped cubic LLZO were studied by impedance spectroscopy, dc conductivity measurements, (6)Li and (7)Li NMR, XRD, neutron powder diffraction, and TEM precession electron diffraction. From the results we conclude that aluminium is incorporated in the garnet lattice on the tetrahedral 24d Li site, thus stabilizing the cubic LLZO modification. Simulations based on diffraction data show that even at the low temperature of 4 K the Li ions are blurred over various crystallographic sites. This strong Li ion disorder in cubic Al-stabilized LLZO contributes to the high conductivity observed. The Li jump rates and the activation energy probed by NMR are in very good agreement with the transport parameters obtained from electrical conductivity measurements. The activation energy E(a) characterizing long-range ion transport in the Al-stabilized cubic LLZO amounts to 0.34 eV. Total electric conductivities determined by ac impedance and a four point dc technique also agree very well and range from 1 × 10(-4) Scm(-1) to 4 × 10(-4) Scm(-1) depending on the Al content of the samples. The room temperature conductivity of Al-free tetragonal LLZO is about two orders of magnitude lower (2 × 10(-6) Scm(-1), E(a) = 0.49 eV activation energy). The electronic partial conductivity of cubic LLZO was measured using the Hebb-Wagner polarization technique. The electronic transference number t(e-) is of the order of 10(-7). Thus, cubic LLZO is an almost exclusive lithium ion conductor at ambient temperature.     

7Li, 31P, and 1H pulsed gradient spin-echo (PGSE) diffusion NMR spectroscopy and ion pairing: on the temperature dependence of the ion pairing in Li(CPh3), fluorenyllithium, and Li[N(SiMe3)2] amongst other salts

7Li, 31P, and 1H variable-temperature pulsed gradient spin-echo (PGSE) diffusion methods have been used to study ion pairing and aggregation states for a range of lithium salts such as lithium halides, lithium carbanions, and a lithium amide in THF solutions. For trityllithium (2) and fluorenyllithium (9), it is shown that ion pairing is favored at 299 K but the ions are well separated at 155 K. For 2-lithio-1,3-dithiane (13) and lithium hexamethyldisilazane (LiHMDS 16), low-temperature data show that the ions remain together. For the dithio anion 13, a mononuclear species has been established, whereas for the lithium amide 16, the PGSE results allow two different aggregation states to be readily recognized. For the lithium halides LiX (X = Br, Cl, I) in THF, the 7Li PGSE data show that all three salts can be described as well-separated ions at ambient temperature. The solid state structure of trityllithium (2) is described and reveals a solvent-separated ion pair formed by a [Li(thf)4]+ ion and a bare triphenylmethide anion.     

Li24[MnN3]3N2 and Li5[(Li1-xMnx)N]3, two intermediates in the decomposition path of Li7[MnN4] to Li2[(Li1-xMnx)N]: an experimental and theoretical study

The crystal structure of Li7[Mn(V)N4] was re-determined. Isolated tetrahedral [Mn(V)N4](7-) ions are arranged with lithium cations to form a superstructure of the CaF2 anti-type (P4bar3n, No. 218, a = 956.0(1) pm, Z = 8). According to measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, the manganese (tetrahedral coordination) is in a d(2) S = 1 state. Thermal treatment of Li7[Mn(V)N4] under argon in the presence of elemental lithium at various temperatures leads to Li24[Mn(III)N3]3N2, Li5[(Li1-xMnx)N]3, and Li2[(Li1-xMn(I)x)N], respectively. Li24[Mn(III)N3]3N2 (P3bar1c, No. 163, a = 582.58(6) pm, c = 1784.1(3) pm, Z = 4/3) crystallizes in a trigonal unit cell, containing slightly, but significantly nonplanar trigonal [MnN3](6-) units with C3v symmetry. Measurements of the magnetic susceptibility reveal a d(4) S = 1 spin-state for the manganese (trigonal coordination). Nonrelativistic spin-polarized DFT calculations with different molecular models lead to the conclusion that restrictions in the Li-N substructure are responsible for the distortion from planarity of the [Mn(III)N3](6-). Li5[(Li1-xMnx)N]3 (x = 0.59(1), P6bar2m, No. 189, a = 635.9(3) pm, c = 381.7(2) pm, Z = 1) is an isotype of Li5[(Li1-xNix)N]3 with manganese in an average oxidation state of about +1.6. The crystal structure is a defect variant of the alpha-Li3N structure type with the transition metal in linear coordination by nitrogen. Li2[(Li1-xMn(I)x)N] (x = 0.67(1), P6/mmm, No. 191, a = 371.25(4) pm, c = 382.12(6) pm, Z = 1) crystallizes in the alpha-Li3N = Li2[LiN] structure with partial substitution of the linearly nitrogen-coordinated Li-species by manganese(I). Measurements of the magnetic susceptibility are consistent with manganese (linear coordination) in a low-spin d(6) S = 1 state.     

Solid state NMR method for the determination of 3D zeolite framework/sorbate structures: 1H/29Si CP MAS NMR study of the high-loaded form of p-xylene in ZSM-5 and determination of the unknown structure of the low-loaded form

A general protocol is described for structure determinations of organic sorbate-zeolite complexes based on the selective, through-space, distance-dependent transfer of magnetization from protons in selectively deuterated organics to framework silicon nuclei. The method was developed using the known structure of the high-loaded ZSM-5/p-xylene complex containing p-xylene-d(6) or p-xylene-d(4). It was then applied to determine the unknown structure of the low-loaded ZSM-5/p-xylene complex using NMR alone. For the high-loaded complex improved data were obtained below 273 K, where slow motions and exchange processes of the p-xylene are eliminated. The general approach was validated by the exact agreement of the experimental (1)H-(29)Si CPMAS spectra obtained at a specific contact time and the complete 24-line spectra simulated using 1/T(CP) vs M(2) correlations from only the six clearly resolved resonances. For the low-loaded complex the (29)Si resonances were assigned at 267 K, and variable contact time CP experiments were carried out between 243 and 173 K using the same specifically deuterated p-xylenes. All possible locations and orientations of the p-xylene guests were sampled, and those solutions that gave acceptable linear 1/T(CP) vs M(2) correlations were selected. The optimum p-xylene location in this temperature range was determined to be in the channel intersection with the long molecular axis parallel to [0,1,0] (ring center fractional coordinates {-0.009, 0.250, 0.541}) with the ring plane oriented at an angle of 30 +/- 3 degrees about the crystallographic b axis. A subsequent single-crystal X-ray study confirmed this predicted structure.     

Lead hydro sodalite [Pb2(OH)(H2O)3]2[Al3Si3O12]2: synthesis and structure determination by combining X-ray rietveld refinement, 1H MAS NMR FTIR and XANES spectroscopy

Ion exchange of the sodium hydro sodalites [Na3(H2O)4]2-[Al3Si3O12]2 [Na4(H3O2)]2[Al3Si3O12]2 and [Na4(OH)]2[Al3Si3O12]2 with aqueous Pb(NO3)2 solutions yielded, whichever reactant sodalite phase was used, the same lead hydro sodalite, [Pb2(OH)-(H2O)3]2[Al3Si3O12]2. Thus, in the case of the non-basic reactant [Na3(H2O)4]2-[Al3Si3O12]2 an overexchange occurs with respect to the number of nonframework cationic charges. Rietveld structure refinement of the lead hydro sodalite based on powder X-ray diffraction data (cubic, a = 9.070 A, room temperature, space group P43n) revealed that the two lead cations within each polyhedral sodalite cage form an orientationally disordered dinuclear [Pb2(micro-OH)(micro-H2O)(H2O)2]3+ complex. Due to additional lead framework oxygen bonds the coordination environment of each metal cation (CN 3+3) is approximately spherical, and clearly the lead 6s electron lone pair is stereochemically inactive. This is also suggested by the absence of a small peak at 13.025 keV, attributed in other Pb2+-O compounds to an electronic 2p-6s transition, in the PbL3 edge XANES spectrum. 1H MAS NMR and FTIR spectra show that the hydrogen atoms of the aqua hydroxo complex (which could not be determined in the Rietveld analysis) are involved in hydrogen bonds of various strengths.     

(C4N3H15)[(BO2)2(GeO2)4]: the first organically templated 3D borogermanate showing 1D 12-rings, large channels, and a novel zeolite-type framework topology constructed from Ge8O24 and B2O7 cluster units

The first organically templated 3D borogermanate with a novel zeolite-type topology, (C4N3H15)[(BO2)2(GeO2)4] FJ-17, has been solvothermally synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), TGA, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 6.967(1) A, b = 10.500(1) A, c = 20.501(1) A, beta = 90.500(3) degrees , V = 1499.68(8) A3, and Z = 4. The framework topology of this compound is the previously unknown topology with the vertex symbols 3.4.3.9.3.8(2) (vertex 1), 3.8.3.4.6(2).9(2) (vertex 2), 3.8(2).4.6(2).6(2).8 (vertex 3), 4.8.4.8.8(3).12 (vertex 4), 4.8.4.8.8(2).12 (vertex 5), and 3.8.4.6(2).6.8(2) (vertex 6). The structure is constructed from Ge8O24 and B2O7 clusters. The Ge8O24 cluster contains eight GeO4 tetrahedra that share vertices; the B2O7 unit is composed of two BO4 tetrahedra sharing a vertex. The cyclic Ge8O24 clusters connect to each other through vertices to form a 2D layer with 8,12-nets. The adjacent layers are further linked by the dimeric B2O7 cluster units, resulting in a 3D framework with 12- and 8-ring channels along the a and b axes, respectively. In addition, there is a unique B2GeO9 3-ring in the structure.     

Closed and open-shell atomic oxygen on silver: two distinct patterns of the O<Subscript>1s</Subscript> binding energy and X-ray absorption O <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis>-edge spectra as revealed by density functional theory

The electronic structure of atomic oxygen adsorbed species is studied by means of the density functional theory in the context of the ethylene epoxidation on the silver surface. The adsorbed oxygen species are modeled by the Ag₂O molecule either in its closed (¹A₁) or open-shell states (³B₁ and ¹B₁). In both open-shell states the 1s level appears to be lower than that in ¹A₁ by about 2 eV. This is apparently a sequence of the separation of electron pair, occupying the *-type highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), decreasing the electron density at the oxygen center. Such variation of the O_1s level for closed and open-shell Ag₂O states seems to explain the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data concerning two distinct atomic oxygen species on silver surface having the O_1s binding energy of about 528 and 530 eV, called nucleophilic and electrophilic oxygen, respectively. The X-ray absorption O K-edge spectra (XANES) calculated for two types of the Ag₂O states by means of multiple-scattered-X-based approach appears to be in a qualitative agreement with those experimentally recorded for nucleophilic and electrophilic oxygen.     

Reply to the ‘Comment on “Uncommon structural and bonding properties in Ag16B4O10” by A. Lobato,Miguel Á. Salvadó, and J. Manuel Recio,Chem. Sci., 2021, 12, DOI: 10.1039/D1SC02152D

Where are the excess electrons in Ag₁₆B₄O₁₀?

Ag₁₆B₄O₁₀ features an exotic scheme of chemical bonding and extends the growing family of subvalent silver oxides. These findings constitute a new general and intrinsic facet of the chemistry of silver, which has not been fully understood, yet, and definitely deserves to be analysed from different perspectives. Against this background, we distinctly appreciate the efforts made by A. Lobato, Miguel Á. Salvadó, and J. Manuel Recio (LSR) in studying these phenomena at the example of the title compound.¹ While the computational results presented in the Comment article well comply with those published in our original paper,² the interpretations follow different routes. Whereas LSR focus on the analogy of pattern of the Electron Localization Function (ELF) in position space in the title compound with those found in elemental silver, we interpreted the electronic structure of Ag₁₆B₄O₁₀, both in position and reciprocal space, also considering the interactions between cationic and anionic partial structures.     

Modulating the framework negative charge density in the system [BDT-TTP*+]/[Re6S5Cl9(1-)]/[Re6(S/Se)6Cl8(2-)]/[Re6S7Cl7(3-)]: templating by isosteric cluster anions of identical symmetry and shape, variations of incommensurate band filling, and electronic structure in 2D metals

A series of 2D metals, beta-(BDT-TTP)6[Re6Se6Cl8] x (CHCl2-CHCl2)2, 2; beta-(ST-TTP)6[Re6S6Cl8] x (CH2Cl-CHCl2)2, 3; beta-(BDT-TTP)7[Re6S6Cl8]0.5[Re6S7Cl7]0.5 x (CH2Cl2), 4; beta-(BDT-TTP)7[Re6Se6Cl8]0.5[Re6S7Cl7]0.5 x (CH2Cl2), 5; beta-(BDT-TTP)8[Re6S7Cl7] x (CH2Cl2)4, 6 (BDT-TTP and ST-TTP are 2,5-bis(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene and 2-(1,3-diselenol-2-ylidene)-5(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene, respectively) is reported to have one single beta-slab layered topology despite successive increases of the cluster anion negative charge. The charge density within the templating composite inorganic-neutral molecule slab is shown to remain above a threshold of ca. one negative charge per square nanometer, that is, for cluster anions with two negative charges and higher. Conversely, discrete stacks are shown to be stabilized instead in the semiconducting salts (BDT-TTP)2[Re6S5Cl9], 1 where the cluster anion bears one negative charge only. The electronic structure of salts 2-6 is shown to be very stable and kept almost intact across the series. The templating strategy is shown to fulfill its anticipated potential for deliberate installment of incommensurate band fillings in molecular metals. The deliberate admixture of the 6:1 and 8:1 structures yields novel phases with a 7:1 stoichiometry with the anticipated crystal and electronic structures. The action at the organic-inorganic interface triggered by changing the anion charge yet keeping its shape and volume identical, which ultimately governs the shape of the unit cell, is of paramount importance in defining the Fermi surface of these metallic salts. The present BDT-TTP salts thus provide a series of materials with strongly related but subtly different Fermi surfaces worthy of many physical studies. Shubnikov-de Haas measurements are expected to be particularly interesting since they are especially sensitive to the details of the Fermi surface.