Effect of surface fluorination and conductive additives on the electrochemical behavior of lithium titanate (Li4/3Ti5/3O4) for lithium ion battery

Effect of surface fluorination and conductive additives on the charge/discharge behavior of lithium titanate (Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄) has been investigated using F₂ gas and vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF). Surface fluorination of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ was made using F₂ gas (3 × 10⁴ Pa) at 25-150 °C for 2 min. Charge capacities of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ samples fluorinated at 70 °C and 100 °C were larger than those for original sample at high current densities of 300 and 600 mA/g. Optimum fluorination temperatures of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ were 70 °C and 100 °C. Fibrous VGCF with a large surface area (17.7 m²/g) increased the utilization of available capacity of Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ probably because it provided the better electrical contact than acetylene black (AB) between Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ particles and nickel current collector.     

Novel method of synthesis of C60F48 with improved yield and selectivity

A novel two-stage method of preparation of C₆₀F₄₈ with 96% purity and 80% yield is reported. A C₆₀ embedded into a MnF₂ matrix is reacted with molecular fluorine under dynamic conditions, i.e. in flow of fluorine gas and with sublimation of volatile products, which results in formation of C₆₀F₃₄-C₆₀F₃₈ mixtures with >90% yield. Subsequent fluorination of the mixture thus obtained in the closed reactor at elevated pressure directly leads to the final product. C₆₀F₄₈ thus synthesized has been characterized by means of EI-MS, MALDI-MS, IR-spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The problems of fullerene burning and degradation in the fluorine atmosphere are discussed.     

Sol-gel synthesis of K3InF6 and structural characterization of K2InC10O10H6F9, K3InC12O14H4F18 and K3InC12O12F18

K₃InF₆ is synthesized by a sol-gel route starting from indium and potassium acetates dissolved in isopropanol in the stoichiometry 1:3, with trifluoroacetic acid as fluorinating agent. The crystal structures of the organic precursors were solved by X-ray diffraction methods on single crystals. Three organic compounds were isolated and identified: K₂InC₁₀O₁₀H₆F₉, K₃InC₁₂O₁₄H₄F₁₈ and K₃InC₁₂O₁₂F₁₈. The first one, deficient in potassium in comparison with the initial stoichiometry, is unstable. In its crystal structure, acetate as well as trifluoroacetate anions are coordinated to the indium atom. The two other precursors are obtained, respectively, by quick and slow evaporation of the solution. They correspond to the final organic compounds, which give K₃InF₆ by decomposition at high temperature. The crystal structure of K₃InC₁₂O₁₄H₄F₁₈ is characterized by complex anions [In(CF₃COO)₄(OH_x)₂]^(5−2x)− and isolated [CF₃COOH_2−x]^(x−1)− molecules with x=2 or 1, surrounded by K⁺ cations. The crystal structure of K₃InC₁₂O₁₂F₁₈ is only constituted by complex anions [In(CF₃COO)₆]³⁻ and K⁺ cations. For all these compounds, potassium cations ensure only the electroneutrality of the structure. IR spectra of K₂InC₁₀O₁₀H₆F₉ and K₃InC₁₂O₁₂F₁₈ were also performed at room temperature on pulverized crystals.     

The reaction of MgCl2·4H2O with CCl2F2

A new reaction of MgCl₂·4H₂O with CCl₂F₂ is investigated by DTA and TG from room temperature to 350 °C. It is observed that MgF₂ was obtained between 252 and 350 °C, Below the temperature, MgCl₂·4H₂O dehydrates and hydrolyzes to MgCl₂ and Mg(OH)Cl, which are the real reactants of the reaction with CCl₂F₂. The formation of MgF₂ is ascribed to the reaction of MgCl₂ and Mg(OH)Cl with HF, which forms by decomposition of CCl₂F₂ with the taking part in of H₂O released from dehydration of hydrated magnesium chloride on the surface of MgCl₂ and Mg(OH)Cl, which catalyzes the decomposition of CCl₂F₂ in this case. Consequently, the reactions are tested in the fluid-bed condition. It is found that MgF₂ formed at temperatures down to 200 °C in a fluid-bed reactor. This reaction may be used as a method of disposing of the environmentally sensitive CCl₂F₂ (rather than release into the atmosphere). It is also a method for the preparation of MgF₂.     

The mercury chromates Hg6Cr2O9 and Hg6Cr2O10—Preparation and crystal structures, and thermal behaviour of Hg6Cr2O9

The basic mercury(I) chromate(VI), Hg₆Cr₂O₉ (=2Hg₂CrO₄·Hg₂O), has been obtained under hydrothermal conditions (200 °C, 5 days) in the form of orange needles as a by-product from reacting elemental mercury and K₂Cr₂O₇. Hydrothermal treatment of microcrystalline Hg₆Cr₂O₉ in demineralised water at 200 °C for 3 days led to crystal growth of red crystals of the basic mercury(I, II) chromate(VI), Hg₆Cr₂O₁₀ (=2Hg₂CrO₄·2HgO). The crystal structures were solved and refined from single crystal X-ray data sets. Hg₆Cr₂O₉: space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z=4, a=7.3573(12), b=8.0336(13), , 3492 structure factors, 109 parameters, R[F²>2σ(F²)]=0.0371, wR(F² all)=0.0517; Hg₆Cr₂O₁₀: space group Pca2₁, Z=4, a=11.4745(15), b=9.4359(12), , 3249 structure factors, 114 parameters, R[F²>2σ(F²)]=0.0398, wR(F² all)=0.0625. Both crystal structures are made up of an intricate mercury-oxygen network, subdivided into single building blocks [O-Hg-Hg-O] for the mercurous compound, and [O-Hg-Hg-O] and [O-Hg-O] for the mixed-valent compound. Hg₆Cr₂O₉ contains three different Hg₂²⁺ dumbbells, whereas Hg₆Cr₂O₁₀ contains two different Hg₂²⁺ dumbbells and two Hg²⁺ cations. The Hg^I-Hg^I distances are characteristic and range between 2.5031(15) and 2.5286(9) Å. All Hg₂²⁺ groups exhibit an unsymmetrical oxygen environment. The oxygen coordination of the Hg²⁺ cations is nearly linear with two tightly bonded O atoms at distances around 2.07 Å. For both structures, the chromate(VI) anions reside in the vacancies of the Hg-O network and deviate only slightly from the ideal tetrahedral geometry with average Cr-O distances of ca. 1.66 Å. Upon heating at temperatures above 385 °C, Hg₆Cr₂O₉ decomposes in a four-step mechanism with Cr₂O₃ as the end-product at temperatures above 620 °C.     

Investigation of reactions between [60]fullerene and molecular fluorine in a CoF2 matrix

Fluorination of [60]fullerene dispersed in a CoF₂ matrix with molecular fluorine was studied. The reaction was carried out in a mass spectrometer. The partial pressures of volatile products were continuously monitored at the constant fluorine inlet. The differences in the activation barriers of subsequent fluorination from C₆₀ to C₆₀F₄₄ were estimated. The conditions, at which C₆₀F₁₈ and C₆₀F₃₆ were formed selectively, were found. Based on a comparison between the fluorination of pure C₆₀ and C₆₀ dispersed in CoF₂ matrix, the role of a matrix in the selectivity of this process was elucidated.     

Fluorination of poly(p-phenylene) using TbF4 as fluorinating agent

The fluorination using TbF₄ as fluorinating agent was successfully performed on poly(p-phenylene). The method allows the fluorine content of the polymer to be controlled and the formation of structural defects, such as dangling bonds, to be significantly decreased by comparison with the direct fluorination using pure F₂ gas. The aromatic character of the phenyl ring is partly maintained through the fluorination contrary to the direct fluorination (using pure F₂ gas), for which a quasi-perfluorination and a partial decomposition of the polymer occur. Complementary analytical techniques have been used, such as ¹⁹F and ¹³C solid state NMR, FT-IR and EPR to compare the samples as a function of the reaction conditions.     

The structural investigation of Ba4Bi3F17

The anion-excess ordered fluorite-related phase Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ has been synthesized by a solid state reaction of BaF₂ and BiF₃ at 873 K. The crystal structure of Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ has been studied using electron diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction (a=11.2300(2) Å, c=20.7766(5) Å, S.G. , R_I=0.020, R_P=0.036). Interstitial fluorine atoms in the Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ structure are considered to form isolated cuboctahedral 8 : 12 : 1 clusters. The structural relationship between Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ and similar rare-earth-based phases is discussed.     

Non-centrosymmetric Ba3Ti3O6(BO3)2

The compound previously reported as Ba₂Ti₂B₂O₉ has been reformulated as Ba₃Ti₃B₂O₁₂, or Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂, a new barium titanium oxoborate. Small single crystals have been recovered from a melt with a composition of BaTiO₃:BaTiB₂O₆ (molar ratio) cooled between 1100°C and 850°C. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction: hexagonal system, non-centrosymmetric space group, a=8.7377(11) Å, c=3.9147(8) Å, Z=1, wR(F²)=0.039 for 504 unique reflections. Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is isostructural with K₃Ta₃O₆(BO₃)₂. Preliminary measurements of nonlinear optical properties on microcrystalline samples show that the second harmonic generation efficiency of Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is equal to 95% of that of LiNbO₃.     

Superstructure and stacking faults in hydrothermal-grown KBe2BO3F2 crystals

The structure of the hydrothermal-grown nonlinear optical crystal KBe₂BO₃F₂ was investigated. A new structure of the R3?c space group with cell parameters of a=4.422(1) Å and c=37.524(3) Å was obtained by powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. The new structure is a 1×1×2 superstructure of the previously reported R32 structure with a different stacking sequence of (Be₂BO₃F₂)_∞ layers along the c axis. The relationship between the refined structure and the experimental results is discussed. A stacking fault mechanism is proposed for the formation of the superstructure as well as the nonuniformity of the hydrothermal-grown KBBF crystals.     

Synthesis and green up-conversion fluorescence of colloidal La0.78Yb0.20Er0.02F3/SiO2 core/shell nanocrystals

Water-soluble PVP-stabilized hexagonal-phase La_0.78Yb_0.20Er_0.02F₃ nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method. The NCs were coated with a very thin silica shell, and amino groups were introduced to the surface of silica shells by copolymerization of 3-aminopropyl(triethoxy)silane. The core/shell NCs can be dispersed in ethanol and water to form stable colloidal solution. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to characterize the core/shell materials. In addition, the green up-conversion fluorescence mechanism of La_0.78Yb_0.20Er_0.02F₃/SiO₂ NCs was studied with a 980-nm diode laser as excitation source. The water solubility, small core/shell particles size, and well colloidal stability mean the green up-conversion fluorescence NCs have potential applications in bioassay.     

Electrochemical properties and synthesis of LiAl0.05Mn1.95O3.95F0.05 by a solution-based gel method for lithium secondary battery

The cathode materials, LiMn₂O₄, LiAl_0.05Mn_1.95O₄ and LiAl_0.05Mn_1.95O_3.95F_0.05 were firstly prepared by a simple solution-based gel method using the mixture of acetate and ethanol as the chelating agent. The synthesized samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscope and differential and thermal analysis. The as-prepared powders were used as positive materials for lithium-ion battery, whose discharge capacity and cycle voltammogram properties were examined. The results revealed that LiAl_0.05Mn_1.95O_3.95F_0.05 synthesized by the solution-based gel method had higher initial capacity than LiAl_0.05Mn_1.95O₄ and better capacity retention rate (92%) than that of LiAl_0.05Mn_1.95O₄ and LiMn₂O₄, which revealed that Al and F dual-doped LiMn₂O₄ could gain better electrochemical properties of LiMn₂O₄ than only the Al-doped LiMn₂O₄.     

Surface modification of carbon anodes for secondary lithium battery by fluorination

Recent results on the surface modification of petroleum cokes and their electrochemical properties as anodes of secondary lithium batteries are summarized. The surface of petroleum coke and those heat-treated at 1860-2800 °C were fluorinated by elemental fluorine (F₂), chlorine trifluoride (ClF₃) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃). No surface fluorine was found except only one sample when ClF₃ and NF₃ were used as fluorinating agents while surface region of petroleum coke was fluorinated when F₂ was used. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observation revealed that closed edge of graphitized petroleum coke was destroyed and opened by surface fluorination. Raman spectra showed that surface fluorination increased the surface disorder of petroleum cokes. Main effect of surface fluorination with F₂ is the increase in the first coulombic efficiencies of petroleum cokes graphitized at 2300-2800 °C by 12.1-18.2% at 60 mA/g and by 13.3-25.8% at 150 mA/g in 1 mol/dm³ LiClO₄-ethylene carbonate (EC)/diethyl carbonate (DEC) (1:1, v/v). On the other hand, main effect of the fluorination with ClF₃ and NF₃ is the increase in the first discharge capacities of graphitized petroleum cokes by ∼63 mAh/g (∼29.5%) at 150 mA/g in 1 mol/dm³ LiClO₄-EC/DEC.     

K2B12F12: A rare A2X structure for an ionic compound at ambient conditions

The anhydrous salt K₂B₁₂F₁₂ crystallized from aqueous solution and its structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The Ni₂In-type structure it exhibits is rare for an A₂X ionic compound at 25 °C and 1 atm., consisting of an expanded hexagonal close-packed array of B₁₂F₁₂²⁻ centroids (cent?cent distances: 7.204-8.236 Å) with half of the K⁺ ions filling all of the O_h holes and half of the K⁺ ions filling all of the D_3h trigonal holes in the close-packed layers that are midway between two “empty” T_d holes. The structure is also unusual in that the bond-valence sum for the K⁺ ions in O_h holes is less than or equal to 0.73 (the bond-valence sum for the other type of K⁺ ion is 1.16). A variation of the Ni₂In structure is exhibited by the previously published monohydrate Cs₂(H₂O)B₁₂F₁₂, for which an improved structure is also reported here. For K₂B₁₂F₁₂: monoclinic, C2/c, a = 8.2072(8), b = 14.2818(7), c = 11.3441(9) Å, β = 92.832(5)°, Z = 4, T = 120(2) K. For Cs₂(H₂O)B₁₂F₁₂: orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a = 9.7475(4), b = 10.2579(4), c = 15.0549(5) Å, Z = 4, T = 110(1) K.     

Er~(3+)∶V_(0.01)Y_(2.99)Al_5N_(0.01)F_(0.01)O_(11.98)/BiPO_4/Pt光催化剂的制备及其在降解废水中亚甲基蓝的应用

通过溶胶-凝胶法合成了上转换发光材料Er~(3+)∶V_(0.01)Y_(2.99)Al_5N_(0.01)F_(0.01)O_(11.98)(Er∶YAG),然后利用水热法合成了BiPO_4,再利用高温煅烧法合成了Er∶YAG/BiPO_4/Pt复合物光催化剂.通过使用X-射线粉末衍射仪(XRD),扫描电子显微镜(SEM),透射电子显微镜(TEM),光致发光光谱(PL)和上转换发射光谱对样品的组成、形貌及光学特征进行了表征.此外,还研究了不同甘油添加量、 Er∶YAG和BiPO_4的摩尔比例和复合温度及光催化剂的循环使用次数对Er∶YAG/BiPO_4/Pt复合物光催化剂活性的影响.实验结果显示Er∶YAG/BiPO_4/Pt复合物光催化剂具有高的光催化活性和较好的稳定性,它可以作为一种高效的光催化剂用于污水中有机污染物的处理.     

The disordered cubic structure of Ca7Co3Ga5O18

The new mixed oxide having composition close to Ca₇Co₃Ga₅O₁₈ was synthesized from CaCO₃, Co₃O₄ and Ga₂O₃ at 1150 °C in air and studied by neutron and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, selected-area electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. The structure was refined, using time-of-flight (TOF) neutron powder diffraction data, in space group F432, with and Z=8, to R_F=0.7%. It is considerably disordered, with four different tetrahedral sites randomly occupied by Co and Ga atoms at a ratio of 1:2. The tetrahedra form a disordered (Co_1/3Ga_2/3)O₂ 3D-framework inside which isolated CoO₆ octahedra, surrounded by 8 Ca atoms, are located. The structure is related to the ordered structure of Ca₁₄Al₁₀Zn₆O₃₅. Electron diffraction patterns confirmed the symmetry and unit cell and revealed no diffuse scattering. High-resolution electron microscopy images showed the absence of extended structural defects.     

Composition-induced phase transition in Ca14Zn6−xGa10+xO35+x/2 (x=0.0 and 0.5)

Novel complex oxides Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅ and Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 were prepared in air at 1200 °C, 72 h. Refinements of their crystal structures using X-ray powder diffraction data showed that Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅ is ordered (S.G. F23, =0.0458, R_p=0.0485, R_wp=0.0659, χ²=1.88) and Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 disordered (S.G. F432, =0.0346, R_p=0.0601, R_wp=0.0794, χ²=2.82) variants of the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn₆Al₁₀O₃₅. In the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅, there are large empty voids, which could be partially occupied by additional oxygen atoms upon substitution of Zn²⁺ by Ga³⁺ as in Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25. These oxygen atoms are introduced into the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 only as a part of four tetrahedra (Zn, Ga)O₄ groups sharing common vertex. This creates a situation where even a minor change in the chemical composition leads to considerable anion and cation disordering resulting in a change of space group from F23 (no. 196) to F432 (no. 209).     

Bi2WO6量子点(QDs)修饰Bi2MoO6-xF2x异质结的构筑及其催化活性增强机理

采用简单沉积-沉淀法合成了Bi₂WO₆@Bi₂MoO_6-xF_2x（BWO/BMO6-xF2x）异质结,借助XRD、XPS、TEM、SEM、EDS、UV-Vis-DRS、PC和EIS等测试技术对其组成、形貌、光吸收特性和光电化学性能等进行系统表征,并以模型污染物罗丹明B（RhB）的光催化降解作为探针反应来评价Bi₂WO₆@Bi₂MoO_6-xF_2x异质结的光催化活性增强机制。形貌分析表明,所得Bi₂MoO₆微球由大量厚度为20~50 nm的纳米片组成;FE-SEM和HR-TEM分析表明,尺寸约为10 nm的Bi₂WO₆量子点均匀沉积在Bi₂MoO_6-xF_2x微球表面,形成新颖的Bi₂WO₆@Bi₂MoO_6-xF_2x异质结;与纯Bi₂MoO₆或者Bi₂WO₆相比,1∶1Bi₂WO₆@Bi₂MoO_6-xF_2x异质结表现出更好的光催化活性和光电流性质,其对RhB光催化降解的表观速率常数分别为纯BMO和BWO的6.4和11.6倍。PC和EIS图谱分析表明,Bi₂WO₆量子点表面沉积显著提高Bi₂MoO_6-xF_2x光生电子/空穴的分离效率和迁移速率;活性物种捕获实验证明了·O₂^-和h⁺是主要的活性物种。根据实验结果,探讨了F^-掺杂和Bi₂WO₆量子点之间的协同效应对Bi₂MoO₆的光催化活性的影响机制。     

La7O6(BO3)(PO4)2:Eu3+/Tb3+荧光材料的制备及其光致发光性能

采用优化的高温固相方法制备了稀土离子Eu³⁺和Tb³⁺掺杂的La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂系荧光材料,并对其物相行为、晶体结构、光致发光性能和热稳定性进行了详细研究。结果表明,La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂：Eu³⁺材料在紫外光激发下能够发射出红光,发射光谱中最强发射峰位于616 nm处,为⁵D₀→⁷F₂特征能级跃迁,Eu³⁺的最优掺杂浓度为0.08,对应的CIE坐标为（0.610 2,0.382 3）;La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂：Tb³⁺材料在紫外光激发下能够发射出绿光,发射光谱中最强发射峰位于544 nm处,对应Tb³⁺的⁵D₄→⁷F₅能级跃迁,Tb³⁺离子的最优掺杂浓度为0.15,对应的CIE坐标为（0.317 7,0.535 2）。此外,对2种材料的变温光谱分析发现Eu³⁺和Tb³⁺掺杂的La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂荧光材料均具有良好的热稳定性。     

Bi2WO6量子点(QDs)修饰Bi2MoO6-xF2x异质结的构筑及其催化活性增强机理

采用简单沉积-沉淀法合成了Bi_2WO_6@Bi_2MoO_(6-x)F_(2x)(BWO/BMO_(6-x)F_(2x))异质结,借助XRD、XPS、TEM、SEM、EDS、UV-Vis-DRS、PC和EIS等测试技术对其组成、形貌、光吸收特性和光电化学性能等进行系统表征,并以模型污染物罗丹明B(Rh B)的光催化降解作为探针反应来评价Bi_2WO_6@Bi_2MoO_(6-x)F_(2x)异质结的光催化活性增强机制。形貌分析表明,所得Bi_2MoO_6微球由大量厚度为20~50 nm的纳米片组成;FE-SEM和HR-TEM分析表明,尺寸约为10 nm的Bi_2WO_6量子点均匀沉积在Bi_2MoO_(6-x)F_(2x)微球表面,形成新颖的Bi_2WO_6@Bi_2MoO_(6-x)F_(2x)异质结;与纯Bi_2MoO_6或者Bi_2WO_6相比,1∶1Bi_2WO_6@Bi_2MoO_(6-x)F_(2x)异质结表现出更好的光催化活性和光电流性质,其对RhB光催化降解的表观速率常数分别为纯BMO和BWO的6.4和11.6倍。PC和EIS图谱分析表明,Bi_2WO_6量子点表面沉积显著提高Bi_2MoO_(6-x)F_(2x)光生电子/空穴的分离效率和迁移速率;活性物种捕获实验证明了·O_2~-和h~+是主要的活性物种。根据实验结果,探讨了F-掺杂和Bi_2WO_6量子点之间的协同效应对Bi_2MoO_6的光催化活性的影响机制。