Ab initio Studies on Li4+xTi5O12 Compounds as Anode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

The structural and electronic properties of Li_4+xTi₅O₁₂ compounds (with 0≤x≤6)—to be used as anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries—are studied by means of first principles calculations. The results suggest that Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ can be lithiated to the state Li_8.5Ti₅O₁₂, which provides a theoretical capacity that is about 1.5 times higher than that of the compound lithiated to Li₇Ti₅O₁₂. Further insertion of lithium species into the Li_8.5Ti₅O₁₂ lattice results in a clear structural distortion. The small lattice expansion observed upon lithium insertion (about 0.4 % for the lithiated material Li_8.5Ti₅O₁₂) and the retained [Li₁Ti₅]^16dO₁₂ framework indicate that the insertion/extraction process is reversible. Furthermore, the predicted intercalation potentials are 1.48 and 0.05 V (vs Li/Li⁺) for the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/Li₇Ti₅O₁₂ and Li₇Ti₅O₁₂/Li_8.5Ti₅O₁₂ composition ranges, respectively. Electronic‐structure analysis shows that the lithiated states Li_4+xTi₅O₁₂ are metallic, which is indicative of good electronic‐conduction properties.     

catena‐Poly­[[di­aqua­lithium(I)]‐μ‐[9H‐purine‐2,6(1H,3H)‐dionato‐O2:N7]]

In the title compound, [Li(C₅H₃N₄O₂)(H₂O)₂]_n, the coordinate geometry about the Li⁺ ion is distorted tetrahedral and the Li⁺ ion is bonded to N and O atoms of adjacent ligand mol­ecules forming an infinite polymeric chain with Li—O and Li—N bond lengths of 1.901 (5) and 2.043 (6) Å, respectively. Tetrahedral coordination at the Li⁺ ion is completed by two cis water mol­ecules [Li—O 1.985 (6) and 1.946 (6) Å]. The crystal structure is stabilized both by the polymeric structure and by a hydrogen‐bond network involving N—H?O, O—H?O and O—H?N hydrogen bonds.     

Study of solvent effects on the stability constant and ionic mobility of the dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 complex with potassium ion by affinity capillary electrophoresis

The effect of solvent on the strength of noncovalent interactions and ionic mobility of the dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 complex with K⁺ in water/organic solvents was investigated by using affinity capillary electrophoresis. The proportion of organic solvent (methanol, ethanol, propan‐2‐ol, and acetonitrile) in the mixtures ranged from 0 to 100 vol.%. The stability constant, K_KL, and actual ionic mobility of the dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6‐K⁺ complex were determined by the nonlinear regression analysis of the dependence of the effective electrophoretic mobility of dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 on the concentration of K⁺ (added as KCl) in the background electrolyte (25 mM lithium acetate, pH 5.5, in the above mixed hydro–organic solvents). Competitive interaction of the dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 with Li⁺ was observed and quantified in mixtures containing more than 60 vol.% of the organic solvent. However, the stability constant of the dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6‐Li⁺ complex was in all cases lower than 0.5 % of K_KL. The log K_KL increased approximately linearly in the range 1.62–4.98 with the increasing molar fraction of organic solvent in the above mixed solvents and with similar slopes for all four organic solvents used in this study. The ionic mobilities of the dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6‐K⁺ complex were in the range (6.1–43.4) × 10^?9 m² V^?1 s^?1.     

Intermolecular Interactions in Li+‐glyme and Li+‐glyme–TFSA− Complexes: Relationship with Physicochemical Properties of [Li(glyme)][TFSA] Ionic Liquids

The stabilization energies (ΔE_form) calculated for the formation of the Li⁺ complexes with mono‐, di‐ tri‐ and tetra‐glyme (G1, G2, G3 and G4) at the MP2/6‐311G** level were ?61.0, ?79.5, ?95.6 and ?107.7 kcal mol^?1, respectively. The electrostatic and induction interactions are the major sources of the attraction in the complexes. Although the ΔE_form increases by the increase of the number of the O???Li contact, the ΔE_form per oxygen atom decreases. The negative charge on the oxygen atom that has contact with the Li⁺ weakens the attractive electrostatic and induction interactions of other oxygen atoms with the Li⁺. The binding energies calculated for the [Li(glyme)]⁺ complexes with TFSA^? anion (glyme=G1, G2, G3, and G4) were ?106.5, ?93.7, ?82.8, and ?70.0 kcal mol^?1, respectively. The binding energies for the complexes are significantly smaller than that for the Li⁺ with the TFSA^? anion. The binding energy decreases by the increase of the glyme chain length. The weak attraction between the [Li(glyme)]⁺ complex (glyme=G3 and G4) and TFSA^? anion is one of the causes of the fast diffusion of the [Li(glyme)]⁺ complex in the mixture of the glyme and the Li salt in spite of the large size of the [Li(glyme)]⁺ complex. The HOMO energy level of glyme in the [Li(glyme)]⁺ complex is significantly lower than that of isolated glyme, which shows that the interaction of the Li⁺ with the oxygen atoms of glyme increases the oxidative stability of the glyme.     

A lithium‐organic framework as a fluorescent sensor for detecting aluminum (III) ion

Due to the low coordination number and the relatively weak coordination ability, it is a great challenge to introduce Li⁺ into the construction of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Here, one Li‐based metal–organic framework (Li‐MOF), [Li₄L(DMF)₂]_n ( HNU‐31 ), is constructed by the assembly of LiNO₃ and 5‐(bis(4‐carboxybenzyl)amino)isophthalic acid (H₄L) ligand, which possesses a 3D framework, and can be serve as a luminescent sensor for detecting Al³⁺ ion with the detection limit of 4 × 10^?6 M.     

High capacity and cycling stability of poly(diaminoanthraquinone) as an organic cathode for rechargeable lithium batteries

Poly(1,5‐diaminoanthraquinone) is synthesized by oxidative polymerization of diaminoanthraquinone monomers and investigated as an organic host for Li‐storage reaction. Benefiting from its high density of redox‐active, Li⁺‐associable benzoquinone groups attached to conducting polyaniline backbones, this polymer undergoes its cathodic reaction predominately through Li⁺‐insertion/extraction processes, delivering a very high reversible capacity of 285 mAh g^?1. In addition, the PDAQ polymer cathode exhibits an excellent rate capability (125 mAh g^?1 at 800 mA g^?1) and a considerable cyclability with a capacity retention of ～160 mAh g^?1 over 200 cycles, possibly serving as a sustainable, high capacity Li⁺ host cathode for Li‐ion batteries. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 235–238     

Structural Characterisation of the Li Argyrodites Li7PS6 and Li7PSe6 and their Solid Solutions: Quantification of Site Preferences by MAS‐NMR Spectroscopy

Li₇PS₆ and Li₇PSe₆ belong to a class of new solids that exhibit high Li⁺ mobility. A series of quaternary solid solutions Li₇PS_6?xSe_x (0≤x≤6) were characterised by X‐ray crystallography and magic‐angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS‐NMR) spectroscopy. The high‐temperature (HT) modifications were studied by single‐crystal investigations (both F$\bar 4$ 3m, Z=4, Li₇PS₆: a=9.993(1) Å, Li₇PSe₆: a=10.475(1) Å) and show the typical argyrodite structures with strongly disordered Li atoms. HT‐Li₇PS₆ and HT‐Li₇PSe₆ transform reversibly into low‐temperature (LT) modifications with ordered Li atoms. X‐ray powder diagrams show the structures of LT‐Li₇PS₆ and LT‐Li₇PSe₆ to be closely related to orthorhombic LT‐α‐Cu₇PSe₆. Single crystals of the LT modifications are not available due to multiple twinning and formation of antiphase domains. The gradual substitution of S by Se shows characteristic site preferences closely connected to the functionalities of the different types of chalcogen atoms (S, Se). High‐resolution solid‐state ³¹P NMR is a powerful method to differentiate quantitatively between the distinct (PS_4?nSe_n)^3? local environments. Their population distribution differs significantly from a statistical scenario, revealing a pronounced preference for P? S over P? Se bonding. This preference, shown for the series of LT samples, can be quantified in terms of an equilibrium constant specifying the melt reaction Se_P+S^2??S_P+Se^2?, prior to crystallisation. The ⁷⁷Se MAS‐NMR spectra reveal that the chalcogen distributions in the second and third coordination sphere of the P atoms are essentially statistical. The number of crystallographically independent Li atoms in both LT modifications was analysed by means of ⁶Li{⁷Li} cross polarisation magic angle spinning (CPMAS).     

A First‐Cycle Coulombic Efficiency Higher than 100 % Observed for a Li2MO3 (M=Mo or Ru) Electrode

The lithiation/de‐lithiation behavior of a ternary oxide (Li₂MO₃, where M=Mo or Ru) is examined. In the first lithiation, the metal oxide (MO₂) component in Li₂MO₃ is lithiated by a conversion reaction to generate nano‐sized metal (M) particles and two equivalents of Li₂O. As a result, one idling Li₂O equivalent is generated from Li₂MO₃. In the de‐lithiation period, three equivalents of Li₂O react with M to generate MO₃. The first‐cycle Coulombic efficiency is theoretically 150 % since the initial Li₂MO₃ takes four Li⁺ ions and four electrons per formula unit, whereas the M component is oxidized to MO₃ by releasing six Li⁺ ions and six electrons. In practice, the first‐cycle Coulombic efficiency is less than 150 % owing to an irreversible charge consumption for electrolyte decomposition. The as‐generated MO₃ is lithiated/de‐lithiated from the second cycle with excellent cycle performance and rate capability.     

Solid Polymer Electrolyte Based on Pluronic P123 Triblock Copolymer‐Siloxane Organic‐Inorganic Hybrid

A novel organic‐inorganic hybrid electrolyte based on poly(ethylene oxide)‐poly(propylene oxide)‐poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer (Pluronic P123) complexed with LiClO₄ via the co‐condensation of an epoxy trialkoxysilane and tetraethylorthosilicate was prepared. Characterization was made by a variety of techniques including powder X‐ray diffraction, AC impedance, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and multinuclear solid state NMR measurements. The hybrid with [O]/[Li] = 16 exhibited a mesophase with a certain degree of ordering, which arose by the self‐assembly of P123 with the silica network. The P123 triblock copolymer acts as a structure‐directing surfactant to organize with silica networks and as a polymer matrix to dissolve alkali lithium salts as well. The DSC results indicated the formation of transient crosslinking between Li⁺ ions and the ether oxygens of the EO and PO segments, resulting in an increase the T_g with increasing salt concentrations. Variable temperature ⁷Li‐{¹H} MAS NMR spectra revealed the presence of two different local environments for lithium cations, probably due to the lithium cations in the polymer‐rich domain and in the silica‐rich domain, respectively. A combination of XRD and conductivity results suggests that the drastically enhanced conductivity for the ordered hybrid electrolyte is closely related to the formation of mesophase, which may provide unique Li⁺ conducting pathways.     

Fluorine‐Doped Antiperovskite Electrolyte for All‐Solid‐State Lithium‐Ion Batteries

A fluorine‐doped antiperovskite Li‐ion conductor Li₂(OH)X (X=Cl, Br) is shown to be a promising candidate for a solid electrolyte in an all‐solid‐state Li‐ion rechargeable battery. Substitution of F^? for OH^? transforms orthorhombic Li₂OHCl to a room‐temperature cubic phase, which shows electrochemical stability to 9 V versus Li⁺/Li and two orders of magnitude higher Li‐ion conductivity than that of orthorhombic Li₂OHCl. An all‐solid‐state Li/LiFePO₄ with F‐doped Li₂OHCl as the solid electrolyte showed good cyclability and a high coulombic efficiency over 40 charge/discharge cycles.     

Formation of Organolithium Hetero‐Aggregates [Li4Ar2(nBu)2] (Ar=C6H4CH(Me)NMe2‐2) during the Directed ortho‐Lithiation of [1‐(Dimethylamino)ethyl]benzene

(R)‐[1‐(Dimethylamino)ethyl]benzene reacts with nBuLi in a 1:1 molar ratio in pentane to quantitatively yield a unique hetero‐aggregate ( 2 a ) containing the lithiated arene, unreacted nBuLi, and the complexed parent arene in a 1:1:1 ratio. As a model compound, [Li₄(C₆H₄CH(Me)NMe₂‐2)₂(nBu)₂] ( 2 b ) was prepared from the quantitative redistribution reaction of the parent lithiated arene Li(C₆H₄CH(Me)NMe₂‐2) with nBuLi in a 1:1 molar ratio. The mono‐Et₂O adduct [Li₄(C₆H₄CH(Me)NMe₂‐2)₂(nBu)₂(OEt₂)] ( 2 c ) and the bis‐Et₂O adduct [Li₄(C₆H₄CH(Me)NMe₂‐2)₂(nBu)₂(OEt₂)₂] ( 2 d ) were obtained by re‐crystallization of 2 b from pentane/Et₂O and pure Et₂O, respectively. The single‐crystal X‐ray structure determinations of 2 b – d show that the overall structural motifs of all three derivatives are closely related. They are all tetranuclear Li aggregates in which the four Li atoms are arranged in an almost regular tetrahedron. These structures can be described as consisting of two linked dimeric units: one Li₂Ar₂ dimer and a hypothetical Li₂nBu₂ dimer. The stereochemical aspects of the chiral Li₂Ar₂ fragment are discussed. The structures as observed in the solid state are apparently retained in solution as revealed by a combination of cryoscopy and ¹H, ¹³C, and ⁶Li NMR spectroscopy.     

Chirale Gallium‐ und Indium‐Alkoxometallate

Chiral Gallium and Indium Alkoxometalates Li₂(S)‐BINOLate ((S)‐BINOL = (S)‐(–)‐2,2′‐Dihydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl) generated by dilithiation of (S)BINOL with two equivalents ⁿBuLi was reacted with GaCl₃ und InCl₃ in THF to the alkoxometalates [{Li(THF)₂}{Li(THF)}₂{Ga((S)‐BINOLate)₃}] ( 1 ) and [{Li(THF)₂}₂{Li(THF)}{In((S)‐BINOLate)₃}] · [{Li(THF)₂}{Li(THF)}₂{In((S)‐ BINOLate)₃}]₂ ( 3 ), respectively. 1 and 3 crystallize from THF/toluene mixtures as 1 · 2 toluene and 3 · 8 toluene. The treatment of PhCH₂GaCl₂ with Li₂(S)‐BINOLate in THF under reflux, followed by recrystallization of the product from DME gives the gallate [{Li(DME)}₃{Ga((S)BINOLate)₃}] · 1.5 THF ( 2 · 1.5 THF). 1 – 3 were characterized by NMR, IR and MS techniques. In addition, 1 · 2 toluene, 2 · 1.5 THF and 3 · 8 toluene were investigated by X‐ray structure analyses. According to them, a distorted octahedral coordination sphere around the group 13 metal was formed, built‐up by three BINOLate ligands. The three Li⁺ counter ions act as bridging units by metal‐oxygen coordination. The coordination sphere of the Li⁺ ions was completed, depending on the available space, by one or two THF ligands ( 1 · 2 toluene, 3 · 8 toluene) and one DME ligand ( 2 · 1.5 THF), respectively. The sterical dominance of the BINOLate ligands can be shown by the almost square‐planar coordination of the Li⁺ ions in 2 · 1.5 THF giving a small twisting angle of only 17°.     

Untersuchungen zur Kristallstruktur von Lithium‐dodecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborat aus wäßriger Lösung: Li2(H2O)7[B12H12]

Investigations on the Crystal Structure of Lithium Dodecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborate from Aqueous Solution: Li₂(H₂O)₇[B₁₂H₁₂] By neutralization of an aqueous solution of the acid (H₃O)₂[B₁₂H₁₂] with lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and subsequent isothermic evaporation of the resulting solution to dryness, it was possible to obtain the heptahydrate of lithium dodecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborate Li₂[B₁₂H₁₂] · 7 H₂O (≡ Li₂(H₂O)₇[B₁₂H₁₂]). Its structure has been determined from X‐ray single crystal data at room temperature. The compound crystallizes as colourless, lath‐shaped, deliquescent crystals in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm with the lattice constants a = 1215.18(7), b = 934.31(5), c = 1444.03(9) pm and four formula units in the unit cell. The crystal structure of Li₂(H₂O)₇[B₁₂H₁₂] can not be described as a simple AB₂‐structure type. Instead it forms a layer‐like structure analogous to the well‐known barium compound Ba(H₂O)₆[B₁₂H₁₂]. Characteristic feature is the formation of isolated cation pairs [Li₂(H₂O)₇]²⁺ in which the water molecules form two [Li(H₂O)₄]⁺ tetrahedra with eclipsed conformation, linked to a dimer via a common corner. The bridging oxygen atom (∢(Li‐ O ‐Li) = 112°) thereby formally substitutes Ba²⁺ in Ba(H₂O)₆[B₁₂H₁₂] according to (H₂ O )Li₂(H₂O)₆[B₁₂H₁₂]. A direct coordinative influence of the [B₁₂H₁₂]^2— cluster anions to the Li⁺ cations is not noticeable, however. The positions of the hydrogen atoms of both the water molecules and the [B₁₂H₁₂]^2— units have all been localized. In addition, the formation of B‐H^δ—···^δ+H‐O‐hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and the hydrogen atoms from the anionic [B₁₂H₁₂]^2— clusters is considered and their range and strength is discussed. The dehydratation of the heptahydrate has been investigated by DTA‐TG measurements and shown to take place in two steps at 56 and 151 °C, respectively. Thermal treatment leads to the anhydrous lithium dodecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborate Li₂[B₁₂H₁₂], eventually.     

Lithium‐Doped Silica‐Rich MIL‐101(Cr) for Enhanced Hydrogen Uptake

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) show promising characteristics for hydrogen storage application. In this direction, modification of under‐utilized large pore cavities of MOFs has been extensively explored as a promising strategy to further enhance the hydrogen storage properties of MOFs. Here, we described a simple methodology to enhance the hydrogen uptake properties of RHA incorporated MIL‐101 (RHA‐MIL‐101, where RHA is rice husk ash—a waste material) by controlled doping of Li⁺ ions. The hydrogen gas uptake of Li‐doped RHA‐MIL‐101 is significantly higher (up to 72 %) compared to the undoped RHA‐MIL‐101, where the content of Li⁺ ions doping greatly influenced the hydrogen uptake properties. We attributed the observed enhancement in the hydrogen gas uptake of Li‐doped RHA‐MIL‐101 to the favorable Li⁺ ion‐to‐H₂ interactions and the cooperative effect of silanol bonds of silica‐rich rice‐husk ash incorporated in MIL‐101.     

Low‐oxidation‐potential conducting polymers derived from 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene and dialkoxybenzenes

Monomers derived from 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene and phenylenes with branched or oligomeric ether dialkoxy substituents were prepared with the Negishi coupling technique. Electrooxidative polymerization led to the corresponding dialkoxy‐substituted 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene–phenylene polymers, with extremely low oxidation potentials (E_1/2,p = ?0.16 to ?0.50 V vs Ag/Ag⁺) due to the highly electron‐rich nature of these materials. The polymers were electrochromic, reversibly switching from red to blue upon oxidation, with bandgaps at about 2 eV. The electrochemical behavior of the oligomeric ether‐substituted polymer was investigated in the presence of different metal ions. Films of the polymer exhibited electrochemical recognition for several alkali and alkaline‐earth cations with selectivity in the order Li⁺ > Ba²⁺ > Na⁺ > Mg²⁺. Cyclic voltammetry showed a decrease in the oxidation potential and an improvement in the definition of the voltammetric response, as well as an increase in the overall electroactivity of the polymer films when the concentration of the cations in the medium was increased. These results are discussed in terms of the electrostatic interactions between the complexed cation and the redox center, as well as the diffusion of the ionic species into the polymer matrix. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2164–2178, 2001     

Experimental and Computational Analysis of the Solvent‐Dependent O2/Li+‐O2− Redox Couple: Standard Potentials,Coupling Strength,and Implications for Lithium–Oxygen Batteries

Understanding and controlling the kinetics of O₂ reduction in the presence of Li⁺‐containing aprotic solvents, to either Li⁺‐O₂⁻ by one‐electron reduction or Li₂O₂ by two‐electron reduction, is instrumental to enhance the discharge voltage and capacity of aprotic Li‐O₂ batteries. Standard potentials of O₂/Li⁺‐O₂⁻ and O₂/O₂⁻ were experimentally measured and computed using a mixed cluster‐continuum model of ion solvation. Increasing combined solvation of Li⁺ and O₂⁻ was found to lower the coupling of Li⁺‐O₂⁻ and the difference between O₂/Li⁺‐O₂⁻ and O₂/O₂⁻ potentials. The solvation energy of Li⁺ trended with donor number (DN), and varied greater than that of O₂⁻ ions, which correlated with acceptor number (AN), explaining a previously reported correlation between Li⁺‐O₂⁻ solubility and DN. These results highlight the importance of the interplay between ion–solvent and ion–ion interactions for manipulating the energetics of intermediate species produced in aprotic metal–oxygen batteries.     

ACE applied to the quantitative characterization of benzo‐18‐crown‐6‐ether binding with alkali metal ions in a methanol–water solvent system

ACE was applied to the quantitative evaluation of noncovalent binding interactions between benzo‐18‐crown‐6‐ether (B18C6) and several alkali metal ions, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺, in a mixed binary solvent system, methanol–water (50/50 v/v). The apparent binding (stability) constants (K_b) of B18C6–alkali metal ion complexes in the hydro‐organic medium above were determined from the dependence of the effective electrophoretic mobility of B18C6 on the concentration of alkali metal ions in the BGE using a nonlinear regression analysis. Before regression analysis, the mobilities measured by ACE at ambient temperature and variable ionic strength of the BGE were corrected by a new procedure to the reference temperature, 25°C, and the constant ionic strength, 10 mM . In the 50% v/v methanol–water solvent system, like in pure methanol, B18C6 formed the strongest complex with potassium ion (log K_b=2.89±0.17), the weakest complex with cesium ion (log K_b=2.04±0.20), and no complexation was observed between B18C6 and the lithium ion. In the mixed methanol–water solvent system, the binding constants of the complexes above were found to be about two orders lower than in methanol and about one order higher than in water.     

Theoretical study of one‐electron bonds in a series of high‐spin lithium–beryllium–hydrogen clusters: “Valence shell single‐electron repulsion” rule and electron localization function analysis

A series of high‐spin clusters containing Li, H, and Be in which the valence shell molecular orbitals (MOs) are occupied by a single electron has been characterized using ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A first type (⁵Li₂, ⁿ⁺¹LiH_n+ (n = 2–5), ⁸Li₂H) possesses only one electron pair in the lowest MO, with bond energies of ～3 kcal/mol. In a second type, all the MOs are singly occupied, which results in highly excited species that nevertheless constitute a marked minimum on their potential energy surface (PES). Thus, it is possible to design a larger panel of structures (⁸LiBe, ⁷Li₂, ⁸Li, ⁴LiH⁺, ⁶BeH, ⁿ⁺³LiH (n = 3, 4), ⁿ⁺²LiH (n = 4–6), ⁸Li₂H, ⁹Li₂H, ²²Li₃Be₃ and ²²Li₆H), single‐electron equivalent to doublet “classical” molecules ranging from CO to C₆H₆. The geometrical structure is studied in relation to the valence shell single‐electron repulsion (VSEPR) theory and the electron localization function (ELF) is analyzed, revealing a striking similarity with the corresponding structure having paired electrons. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Experimental and Computational Analysis of the Solvent‐Dependent O2/Li+‐O2− Redox Couple: Standard Potentials,Coupling Strength,and Implications for Lithium–Oxygen Batteries

Understanding and controlling the kinetics of O₂ reduction in the presence of Li⁺‐containing aprotic solvents, to either Li⁺‐O₂^? by one‐electron reduction or Li₂O₂ by two‐electron reduction, is instrumental to enhance the discharge voltage and capacity of aprotic Li‐O₂ batteries. Standard potentials of O₂/Li⁺‐O₂^? and O₂/O₂^? were experimentally measured and computed using a mixed cluster‐continuum model of ion solvation. Increasing combined solvation of Li⁺ and O₂^? was found to lower the coupling of Li⁺‐O₂^? and the difference between O₂/Li⁺‐O₂^? and O₂/O₂^? potentials. The solvation energy of Li⁺ trended with donor number (DN), and varied greater than that of O₂^? ions, which correlated with acceptor number (AN), explaining a previously reported correlation between Li⁺‐O₂^? solubility and DN. These results highlight the importance of the interplay between ion–solvent and ion–ion interactions for manipulating the energetics of intermediate species produced in aprotic metal–oxygen batteries.