Crystal chemistry and stability of "Li7La3Zr2O12" garnet: a fast lithium-ion conductor

Recent research has shown that certain Li-oxide garnets with high mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrochemical stability are excellent fast Li-ion conductors. However, the detailed crystal chemistry of Li-oxide garnets is not well understood, nor is the relationship between crystal chemistry and conduction behavior. An investigation was undertaken to understand the crystal chemical and structural properties, as well as the stability relations, of Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12) garnet, which is the best conducting Li-oxide garnet discovered to date. Two different sintering methods produced Li-oxide garnet but with slightly different compositions and different grain sizes. The first sintering method, involving ceramic crucibles in initial synthesis steps and later sealed Pt capsules, produced single crystals up to roughly 100 μm in size. Electron microprobe and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurements show small amounts of Al in the garnet, probably originating from the crucibles. The crystal structure of this phase was determined using X-ray single-crystal diffraction every 100 K from 100 K up to 500 K. The crystals are cubic with space group Ia3?d at all temperatures. The atomic displacement parameters and Li-site occupancies were measured. Li atoms could be located on at least two structural sites that are partially occupied, while other Li atoms in the structure appear to be delocalized. (27)Al NMR spectra show two main resonances that are interpreted as indicating that minor Al occurs on the two different Li sites. Li NMR spectra show a single narrow resonance at 1.2-1.3 ppm indicating fast Li-ion diffusion at room temperature. The chemical shift value indicates that the Li atoms spend most of their time at the tetrahedrally coordinated C (24d) site. The second synthesis method, using solely Pt crucibles during sintering, produced fine-grained Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12) crystals. This material was studied by X-ray powder diffraction at different temperatures between 25 and 200 °C. This phase is tetragonal at room temperature and undergoes a phase transition to a cubic phase between 100 and 150 °C. Cubic "Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12)" may be stabilized at ambient conditions relative to its slightly less conducting tetragonal modification via small amounts of Al(3+). Several crystal chemical properties appear to promote the high Li-ion conductivity in cubic Al-containing Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12). They are (i) isotropic three-dimensional Li-diffusion pathways, (ii) closely spaced Li sites and Li delocalization that allow for easy and fast Li diffusion, and (iii) low occupancies at the Li sites, which may also be enhanced by the heterovalent substitution Al(3+) ? 3Li.     

First-principles density functional calculation of electrochemical stability of fast Li ion conducting garnet-type oxides

The research and development of rechargeable all-ceramic lithium batteries are vital to realize their considerable advantages over existing commercial lithium ion batteries in terms of size, energy density, and safety. A key part of such effort is the development of solid-state electrolyte materials with high Li(+) conductivity and good electrochemical stability; lithium-containing oxides with a garnet-type structure are known to satisfy the requirements to achieve both features. Using first-principles density functional theory (DFT), we investigated the electrochemical stability of garnet-type Li(x)La(3)M(2)O(12) (M = Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, Sb, Bi; x = 5 or 7) materials against Li metal. We found that the electrochemical stability of such materials depends on their composition and structure. The electrochemical stability against Li metal was improved when a cation M was chosen with a low effective nuclear charge, that is, with a high screening constant for an unoccupied orbital. In fact, both our computational and experimental results show that Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12) and Li(5)La(3)Ta(2)O(12) are inert to Li metal. In addition, the linkage of MO(6) octahedra in the crystal structure affects the electrochemical stability. For example, perovskite-type La(1/3)TaO(3) was found, both experimentally and computationally, to react with Li metal owing to the corner-sharing MO(6) octahedral network of La(1/3)TaO(3), even though it has the same constituent elements as garnet-type Li(5)La(3)Ta(2)O(12) (which is inert to Li metal and features isolated TaO(6) octahedra).     

Ce0.35Zr0.55La0.10O1.95对低贵金属Pt-Rh型三效催化剂性能的影响

采用共沉淀技术制备了Ce0.35Zr0.55La0.10O1.95固溶体, 其织构和结构性能以及氧化还原性能分别采用BET、XRD和程序升温(TP)技术进行了表征. 制备了低贵金属Pt-Rh型三效催化剂, 考察了Ce0.35Zr0.55La0.10O1.95对催化剂性能的影响. XRD和BET的结果表明, 经600 ℃焙烧5 h后, Ce0.35Zr0.55La0.10O1.95具有与Ce0.50Zr0.50O2相似的立方结构和高的比表面积；经1000 ℃焙烧5 h后, 仍能保持稳定的立方结构和47.25 m2•g−1的比表面积, 表现出优越的织构性能和高的热稳定性. H2-TPR和O2-TPO的结果表明, Ce0.35Zr0.55La0.10O1.95具有比Ce0.50Zr0.50O2更好的氧化还原性能. 和含Ce0.50Zr0.50O2的催化剂相比, 含Ce0.35Zr0.55La0.10O1.95的催化剂具有较宽的工作窗口, 优越的低温起燃性能, 较强的水气变换能力；催化剂经1000 ℃高温水热老化5 h后, 仍具有良好的催化活性, 表现出了优异的抗老化性能.     

Improved Ga-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 garnet-type solid electrolytes for solid-state Li-ion batteries

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) is one of the most competent candidates as a solid electrolyte for next-generation Li-ion batteries. Although the stabilization of the...     

High Li-ion conductivity of Al-free Li7-3xGaxLa3Zr2O12 solid electrolyte prepared by liquid-phase sintering

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Ga-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 (Ga-LLZO) is a promising solid electrolyte because it shows higher Li-ion conductivity than LLZO doped with other cations. In this...     

Reduced zirconium halide clusters in aqueous solution

Reduced hexazirconium halide cluster compounds have good solubility and stability in strongly acidic and/or halide-rich aqueous solutions. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) measurements in aqueous media established that [(Zr6BCl12)(H2O)6]2+/+ and [(Zr6BBr12)(H2O)6]2+/+ exhibited positive half-wave potentials (E1/2 = 0.059V and 0.160 V, respectively) vs the SHE, indicating that these clusters are only modestly reducing. Several new crystalline cluster compounds have been isolated from cold 12 M HCl solutions; the structures of each contain extended hydrogen-bonding water networks. Crystallographic data for these compounds are reported as follows: [Rb0.44(H3O)4.56][(Zr6BCl12)Cl6].19.44H2O (3), cubic, Im3m, a = 13.8962(3) A, Z = 2; (H3O)5[(Zr6BeCl12)Cl6].19H2O (4), cubic, Im3m, a = 13.8956(4) A, Z = 2; (H3O)5[(Zr6MnCl12)Cl6].19H2O (5), cubic, Im3m, a = 14.029(3) A, Z = 2; (H3O)4[(Zr6BCl12)Cl6].12.97H2O (6), tetragonal, P4(2)/mnm, a = 11.5373(2) A, c = 15.7169(4) A, Z = 2; (H3O)4[(Zr6BCl2)Br6].13.13H2O (7), tetragonal, P4(2)/mnm, a = 11.7288(6) A, c = 15.931(1) A, Z = 2.     

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.     

New complexes of zirconium(IV) and hafnium(IV) with heteroscorpionate ligands and the hydrolysis of such complexes to give a zirconium cluster

A series of zirconium and hafnium heteroscorpionate complexes have been prepared by the reaction of MCl4 (M = Zr, Hf) with the compounds [[Li(bdmpza)(H2O)](4)] [bdmpza = bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetate], [[Li(bdmpzdta)(H2O)](4)] [bdmpzdta = bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)dithioacetate], and (Hbdmpze) [bdmpze = 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)ethoxide] (the latter with the prior addition of Bu(n)Li). Under the appropriate experimental conditions, mononuclear complexes, namely, [MCl3(kappa3-bdmpzx)] [x = a, M = Zr (1), Hf (2); x = dta, M = Zr (3), Hf (4); x = e, M = Zr (5), Hf (6)], and dinuclear complexes, namely, [[MCl2(mu-OH)(kappa3-bdmpzx)]2] [x = a, M = Zr (7), Hf (8); x = dta, M = Zr (9); x = e, M = Zr (10)], were isolated. A family of alkoxide-containing complexes of the general formula [ZrCl2(kappa3-bdmpzx)(OR)] [x = a, R = Me (11), Et (12), iPr (13), tBu (14); x = dta, R = Me (15), Et (16), iPr (17), tBu (18); x = e, R = Me (19), Et (20), (i)Pr (21), (t)Bu (22)] was also prepared. Complexes 11-14 underwent an interesting hydrolysis process to give the cluster complex [Zr6(mu3-OH)8(OH)8(kappa2-bdmpza)8] (23). The structures of these complexes have been determined by spectroscopic methods, and the X-ray crystal structures of 7, 8, and 23 were also established.     

Integrated interface between composite electrolyte and cathode with low resistance enables ultra-long cycle-lifetime in solid-state lithium-metal batteries

We report a three-dimensional(3D)nanofiber-reinforced solid composite electrolyte with a 3D Li⁺-conducting ceramic network of Li_6.25Ga_0.25La₃Zr₂O₁₂(LLZO)nanofibers.Benefiting from the 3D structure,the composite shows a high ionic conductivity of 3.2×10^-4S cm^-1and Li-ion transference number of 0.32 at room temperature.The interfacial resistance between the composite solid electrolyte and cathode is mitigated by creating an integrated interfacial structure,in which the polyethylene oxide(PEO)-lithiumbis(trifluoromethylsulphonyl)imide(LiTFSI)binder and ionic liquids(ILs)form a viscoelastic interface.Therefore,intimate contact,low interfacial impedance,and fast ion-transport between the cathode and the solid electrolyte are simultaneously achieved.Solid-state lithium metal batteries with the Li Fe PO₄ cathode deliver a superior capacity(158.0 m A h g^-1)and significant capacity retention(90.4%retention after 800 cycles)at 60℃.Moreover,the smooth and uniform Li surface after long-term cycling confirms the successful suppression of the dendrite formation.The integrated interfacial structure provides a solution to the interfacial problem and improves the cycling performance in solid-state Li-metal batteries.     

Synthesis and Study of Conductivity of Al-Substituted Li7La3Zr2O12

Russian Journal of Electrochemistry - The method of solid-phase sintering was used to synthesize samples of lithium-conducting Li6.4Al0.2La3Zr2O12 solid electrolyte with a garnet structure. Higher...     

Titanium(IV) and Zirconium(IV) amido complexes derived from the azaoxa macrocycle 3,3-dimethyl-1,5-diaza-8-oxacyclodecane

The novel tridentate azaoxa macrocycle [O(NH)2], 3,3-dimethyl-1,5-diaza-8-oxacyclodecane, can be singly or doubly lithiated with (n)BuLi at the secondary amine N atoms, giving [O(NH)N]Li and [O(N)2]Li2, respectively, and further elaborated with introduction of TMS substituents via reaction with (TMS)Cl. Aminolysis of [Ti(NMe2)2Cl2] or [Zr(NR2)2Cl2(THF)2] with [O(NH)2] in toluene gave the distorted octahedral M[O(NH)N](NR2)Cl2 (M = Ti, R = Me; M = Zr, R = Me or Et), in which the macrocycle functions as a monoanionic ligand via an amido, an amine, and an ether functionality. Salt metathesis of [Zr(NEt2)2Cl2(THF)2] with [O(NH)N]Li in toluene afforded Zr[(O(NH)N)](NEt2)2Cl, the structure of which also confirms tridentate macrocycle coordination via one amido, one amine, and one ether group; in contrast, analogous salt metathesis involving [Zr(NEt2)2Cl2(THF)2] and [O(N)2Li2] gave the "sandwich" complex [(ON2)2Zr], with the macrocycle behaving as a dianionic ligand (Porter, R. M.; et al. Dalton Trans. 2005, 427). Finally, treatment of [O(NH)2] with AlMe3 gave the simple donor-acceptor adduct [O(NH)2]AlMe3, which resisted alkanolysis by prolonged heating. In the presence of MAO the new zirconium, titanium, and aluminum complexes show low activity in the polymerization of ethylene.     

Lithium dimer formation in the Li-conducting garnets Li(5+x)Ba(x)La(3-x)Ta2O12 (0 < x < or =1.6)

The garnet system Li(5+x)Ba(x)La(3-x)Ta2O12 shows an unprecedented Li+ content (x < or = 1.6) and short Li-Li distances of ca 2.44 A between majority occupied sites suggesting that the high Li+ mobility requires a complex cooperative mechanism.     

New lanthanide-containing polytungstates derived from the cyclic P8W48 Anion: {Ln4(H2O)28[K subset P8W48O184(H4W4O12)2Ln2(H2O)10]13-}x, Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd

The reaction of K28Li5H7[P8W48O184].92H2O with early lanthanides under hydrothermal and conventional conditions yields novel structures of the molecular formula Ln4(H2O)28K6Li7[K subsetP8W48O184(H4W4O12)2Ln2(H2O)10] congruent with 57H2O, Ln = La (1), Ce (2, 2a), Pr (3), Nd (4), in which the central cavity of the precursor anion is occupied by lanthanide cations and H4W4O12 moieties. The new heteropolyanions were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, 31P NMR, and X-ray crystallography. All of the crystals are monoclinic, space group C2/m, with lattice constants (A, Epsilon) a = 33.061(3), b = 30.986(3), c = 15.1649(13), beta = 103.607(2), (1); a = 33.0577(16), b = 31.0562(15), c = 15.2320(7), beta = 104.015(2), (2); a = 33.0577(16), b = 31.0562(15), c = 15.2320(7), beta = 104.015(2), (2a); a = 33.007(2), b = 31.060(2), c = 15.2129(10), beta = 104.0140(10), (3); a = 32.913(19), b = 31.155(18), c = 15.135(9), beta = 103.495(11), (4); and Z = 2.     

Structural characterization of CeO(2)-ZrO(2)/TiO(2) and V(2)O(5)/CeO(2)-ZrO(2)/TiO(2) mixed oxide catalysts by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, HREM, and other techniques

Structural characteristics of CeO(2)-ZrO(2)/TiO(2) (CZ/T) and V(2)O(5)/CeO(2)-ZrO(2)/TiO(2) (V/CZ/T) mixed oxide catalysts have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area, Raman spectroscopy (RS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM) techniques. The CeO(2)-ZrO(2) (1:1 mole ratio) solid solution was deposited over a finely powdered TiO(2) support by a deposition precipitation method. A nominal 5 wt % V(2)O(5) was impregnated over the calcined (773 K) CZ/T mixed oxide carrier by a wet impregnation technique. The obtained CZ/T and V/CZ/T samples were further subjected to thermal treatments from 773 to 1073 K to understand the dispersion and temperature stability of these materials. In the case of CZ/T samples, the XRD results suggest the formation of different cubic and tetragonal Ce-Zr-oxide phases, Ce(0.75)Zr(0.25)O(2), Ce(0.6)Zr(0.4)O(2), Ce(0.5)Zr(0.5)O(2), and Ce(0.16)Zr(0.84)O(2) in varying proportions depending on the treatment temperature. With increasing calcination temperature from 773 to 1073 K, the intensity of the lines pertaining to cubic Ce(0.6)Zr(0.4)O(2) and Ce(0.5)Zr(0.5)O(2) phases increased at the expense of cubic Ce(0.75)Zr(0.25)O(2), indicating more incorporation of zirconia into the ceria lattice. The TiO(2) was mainly in the anatase form whose crystallite size also increased with increasing treatment temperature. A better crystallization and more incorporation of zirconia into the ceria lattice was noted when CZ/T was impregnated with V(2)O(5). However, no crystalline V(2)O(5) could be seen from both XRD and RS measurements. In particular, a preferential formation of CeVO(4) compound and an intense tetragonal Ce(0.16)Zr(0.84)O(2) phase were noted beyond 873 K. The HREM results indicate, in the case of CZ/T samples, a well-dispersed Ce-Zr-oxide of the size approximately 5 nm over the bigger crystals ( approximately 40 nm) of TiO(2) when treated at 873 K. The exact structural features of these crystals as determined by digital diffraction analysis of experimental images reveal that the Ce-Zr-oxides are mainly in the cubic fluorite geometry and the TiO(2) is in anatase form. A better crystallization of Ce-Zr-oxides ( approximately 8 nm) over the surface of bigger crystals of TiO(2) was noted at 1073 K. A further enhancement in the crystallite size and zirconia-rich tetragonal phase was noted in the case of V/CZ/T samples. Further, the structure of CeVO(4) formed was also clearly identified in conformity with XRD and RS results.     

Study of Surface Reaction of Spinel Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) during the First Lithium Insertion and Extraction Processes Using Atomic Force Microscopy and Analytical Transmission Electron Microscopy

Spinel lithium titanate (Li(4)Ti(5)O(12), LTO) is a promising anode material for a lithium ion battery because of its excellent properties such as high rate charge-discharge capability and life cycle stability, which were understood from the viewpoint of bulk properties such as small lattice volume changes by lithium insertion. However, the detailed surface reaction of lithium insertion and extraction has not yet been studied despite its importance to understand the mechanism of an electrochemical reaction. In this paper, we apply both atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the changes in the atomic and electronic structures of the Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) surface during the charge-discharged (lithium insertion and extraction) processes. The AFM observation revealed that irreversible structural changes of an atomically flat Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) surface occurs at the early stage of the first lithium insertion process, which induces the reduction of charge transfer resistance at the electrolyte/Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) interface. The TEM observation clarified that cubic rock-salt crystal layers with a half lattice size of the original spinel structure are epitaxially formed after the first charge-discharge cycle. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) observation revealed that the formed surface layer should be α-Li(2)TiO(3). Although the transformation of Li(4)Ti(5)O(12) to Li(7)Ti(5)O(12) is well-known as the lithium insertion reaction of the bulk phase, the generation of surface product layers should be inevitable in real charge-discharge processes and may play an effective role in the stable electrode performance as a solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI).     

Doping of Ceria-Zirconia Solid Solution with Rare-earth Elements

The increasingly restrictive regulations on car exhaust emissions will necessitate the development of a new generation of three way catalysts (TWC) with better performance1. Ceria (CeO2) is the main component of the current TWC: its key role is to compensate the fluctuations in the exhaust stream composition, therefore, allowing to expand the air/fuel(A/F) operating window of catalytic converters2. This property is related to its oxygen storage capacity (OSC), associated to the redox couple Ce4+/Ce3+. However, CeO2 alone is easy to sinter to lost OSC at high temperature3.Ceria-zirconia (CexZr1-xO2) solid solutions by incorporation of Zr4+ in the CeO2 lattice have enhanced OSC and greater thermal stability, which are becoming the key materials for the new generation of TWC4. OSC of ceria-zirconia solid solutions can be further improved by the addition of M3+ dopants5. Besides Ce, other rare-earth elements such as Pr and Tb can vary their oxidation state. Pr and Tb are particularly suitable for making solid solutions with cerium because the known structure of PrO2 and TbO2 is of the cubic fluorite type, and the ionic radii of Pr4+ and Tb4+ are close to that of Ce4+6.In this paper, Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2 (M=Y, La, Pr, Tb) were prepared by co-precipitation technique and characterized by a series of methods. Meanwhile, palladium-only TWCs were prepared by slurry coating and their catalytic activity was evaluated under the condition of simulated exhaust in the lab.XRD and FT-Raman spectra results show Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2 have cubic fluorite structure which keep unchanging at high temperature. The different dopant ion radii brought different effect on the cell parameter of Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that the binding energy of Ce3d, Zr3d and O1s for Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2 rose compared with that for Ce0.6Zr0.4O2, indicating dopant elements changed chemistry environment of solid solutions which was available to improve redox performance From TPR results, doping La can not change redox performance of solid solution, but doping Y decreased reduction temperature. Doping Pr and Tb notably improved redox performance of solid solutions due to appearance of low-temperature reduction peak in TPR profile which come from mobility of bulk oxygen.Compared with Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2, doping Y and La unchanged A/F characteristic of TWCs, but doping Pr and Tb widen A/ F operating window and make HC, CO and NO have higher conversion.The light-off temperature of Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.3La0.1O2 was corresponded to that of Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2.However, the light-off temperatures of Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2 (M=Y, Pr, Tb) were lower than that of Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2, which kept much lower after high temperature treatments. Among Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.3M0.1O2 (M=Y, La, Pr, Tb), Pd/Ce0.6Zr0.3Tb0.1O2 showed wider A/F operating window,higher conversion, lower light-off temperature and better high-temperature resistance     

Surface stabilized nanosized Ce(x)Zr(1-x)O(2) solid solutions over SiO(2): characterization by XRD, Raman, and HREM techniques

Ce(x)Zr(1)(-)(x)O(2) solid solutions deposited over silica surface were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM) techniques in order to understand the role of silica support and the temperature stability of these composite oxides. For the purpose of comparison, an unsupported Ce(x)Zr(1)(-)(x)O(2) was also synthesized and subjected to characterization by various techniques. The Ce(x)Zr(1)(-)(x)O(2)/SiO(2) (CZ/S) (1:1:2 mole ratio based on oxides) was synthesized by depositing Ce(x)Zr(1)(-)(x)O(2) solid solution over a colloidal SiO(2) support by a deposition precipitation method and unsupported Ce(x)Zr(1)(-)(x)O(2) (CZ) (1:1 mole ratio based on oxides) was prepared by a coprecipitation procedure, and the obtained catalysts were subjected to thermal treatments from 773 to 1073 K. The XRD measurements disclose the presence of cubic phases with the composition Ce(0.75)Zr(0.25)O(2) and Ce(0.6)Zr(0.4)O(2) in CZ samples, while CZ/S samples possess Ce(0.75)Zr(0.25)O(2), Ce(0.6)Zr(0.4)O(2), and Ce(0.5)Zr(0.5)O(2) in different proportions. The crystallinity of these phases increased with increasing calcination temperature. The cell a parameter estimations indicate contraction of ceria lattice due to the incorporation of zirconium cations into the CeO(2) unit cell. Raman measurements indicate the presence of oxygen vacancies, lattice defects, and displacement of oxygen ions from their normal lattice positions in both the series of samples. The HREM results reveal, in the case of CZ/S samples, a well-dispersed nanosized Ce-Zr-oxides over the surface of amorphous SiO(2). The structural features of these crystals as determined by digital diffraction analysis of experimental images reveal that the Ce-Zr-oxides are mainly in the cubic geometry and exhibit high thermal stability. Oxygen storage capacity measurements by a thermogravimetric method reveal a substantial enhancement in the oxygen vacancy concentration of CZ/S sample over the unsupported CZ sample.     

Electronic Band Structure and Madelung Potential Study of the Nickelates La(2)NiO(4), La(3)Ni(2)O(7), and La(4)Ni(3)O(10)

Tight-binding electronic band structures and Madelung potentials were calculated for La(2)NiO(4), La(3)Ni(2)O(7), and La(4)Ni(3)O(10) to examine why a metal-to-metal transition occurs in the nickelate Ln(4)Ni(3)O(10) (Ln = La, Nd, Pr). La(4)Ni(3)O(10) and La(3)Ni(2)O(7) are each found to have two hidden one-dimensional (1D) Fermi surfaces, which suggests that both compounds should possess a charge density wave instability. Factors leading to hidden 1D Fermi surfaces in the e(g) block bands of the nickelates were discussed.     

On the influence of the vacancy distribution on the structure and ionic conductivity of A-site-deficient Li(x)Sr(x)La(2/3-x)TiO3 perovskites

The crystal structure and dielectric properties of slowly cooled A-site-deficient perovskites Li(x)Sr(x)La(2/3-x)□(1/3-x)TiO(3) (0.04 ≤ x ≤ 0.33) have been investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), impedance spectroscopy, and (7)Li NMR techniques. In this series, nominal vacancies decrease with Li content, but the total amount of A-site vacancies, n(t) = Li + □, participating in conduction processes remains basically constant. Rietveld analysis of the XRD patterns showed a change of symmetry from orthorhombic to tetragonal when the lithium and strontium contents increased above x = 0.08 and from tetragonal to cubic above x = 0.16. Structural modifications are mainly due to the cation vacancy ordering along the c axis, which disappear gradually when the lithium content increases. In agreement with the structural information, two lithium signals with different quadrupole constants are detected in (7)Li NMR spectra of orthorhombic/tetragonal phases, which have been associated with lithium in two crystallographic z/c = 0 and 1/2 planes of perovskites. In cubic samples, only a single narrow component, indicative of mobile species, was detected. Lithium motion was thermally activated, with activation energies going from 0.35 to 0.38 eV. Evolution of the bulk dc-conductivity preexponential factors along the series showed a maximum that has been first related to the dependence of lithium hopping on the lithium and vacancy concentrations. Finally, changes in the vacancy ordering, produced along the series, affect the dimensionality of the conductivity, indicating that not only the amount of vacancies but also its distribution are relevant.     

Excision of zirconium iodide clusters from highly cross-linked solids

Highly cross-linked cluster precursors KZr6I14B, Zr6I12B, KZr6I14C, and Zr6I12C were, successfully excised in deoxygenated water, and the resulting red aqueous solutions of clusters exhibit better kinetic stability with respect to decomposition than their chloride and bromide analogues. On traversing the Cl-->I series, NMR measurements show increasing deshielding of the interstitial atoms (Z = B, C) in Zr6ZX12 clusters and cyclic voltammetry reveals increasingly positive reduction potentials for the [(Zr6BX12)(H2O)6]+ ions. Several new cluster complexes have been crystallized from aqueous or methanolic solutions. Crystallographic data for these compounds are as follows: [(Zr6BI12)(H2O)6]Ix11.7(H2O) (1), triclinic, P1, a = 10.2858(7) A, b = 11.3045(8) A, c = 20.808(1) A, alpha = 77.592(1) degrees, beta = 79.084(1) degrees, gamma = 77.684(1) degrees, Z = 2; [(Zr6BI12)]+[I(CH3OH)6]- (2), hexagonal, R3, a = 17.706(1) A, c = 13.910(1) A, Z = 3, [(Zr6CI12)(H2O)6]I(2).4(H2O) (3), triclinic, P1, a = 10.1566(5) A, b = 10.4513(5) A, c = 10.7549(6) A, alpha = 117.552(1) degrees, beta = 96.443(1) degrees, gamma = 96.617(1) degrees, Z = 1.