Aggregation and Cooperative Effects in the Aldol Reactions of Lithium Enolates

Density functional theory and Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out for model aldol reactions involving aggregates of lithium enolates derived from acetaldehyde and acetone. Formaldehyde and acetone have been used as electrophiles. It is found that the geometries of the enolate aggregates are in general determined by the most favorable arrangements of the point charges within the respective Li_nO_n clusters. The reactivity of the enolates follows the sequence monomer?dimer>tetramer. In lithium aggregates, the initially formed aldol adducts must rearrange to form more stable structures in which the enolate and alkoxide oxygen atoms are within the respective Li_nO_n clusters. Positive cooperative effects, similar to allosteric effects found in several proteins, are found for the successive aldol reactions in aggregates. The corresponding transition structures show in general sofa geometries.     

Density functional studies of LiN and LiN+ (N = 2–30) clusters: Structure,binding and charge distribution

Density functional calculations using B3LYP/6‐311G method have been carried out for small to medium‐sized lithium clusters (Li_N, N = 2–30). The optimized geometries of neutral and singly charged clusters, their binding energies, ionization potential, electron affinity, chemical potential, softness, hardness, highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO–LUMO) gap, and static dipole polarizability have been investigated systematically. In addition, we study the distribution of partial charges in detail using natural population analysis (NPA) in small‐sized clusters (Li_N, N = 2–10), both neutral and cationic, and demonstrate the correlation between symmetry and charge. Uniform distribution of charges in cationic clusters confirms them to be energetically more favorable than the neutral counterparts. Whenever possible, results have been compared with available data. An excellent agreement in every case supports new results as reliable predictions. A careful study of optimized geometries shows that Li₉ is derivable from bulk Li structure, i.e., body centered cubic cell, and higher clusters have optimized shapes derived from this. Further, the turnover form two to three dimensional structure occurs at cluster size N = 6. The quantity α^1/3 (α = polarizability) per atom is found to be broadly proportional to softness (per atom) as well as inverse ionization potential (per atom). The present work forms a sound basis for further study of large‐sized clusters as well as other atomic clusters. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Structures and basicity of LiNOH (N = 1 − 5) species

LiOH is one of the strong bases among neutral molecules. What about hydroxides of small Li_n (n = 2 ? 5) clusters? The addition of a single atom to a cluster sometimes has dramatic effects on its reactivity. This fact motivated us to perform an ab initio MP2/6‐311++G(d, p) investigation on Li_nOH species (n = 1 ? 5). These Li_nOH species are stabilized by both ionic as well as covalent interactions, and are found to be stable against elimination of LiOH and OH. We have determined their gas and aqueous phase basicity by considering hypothetical protonation reactions. The calculated proton affinities of Li_nOH (n ≥ 2) suggest their reduced basicity as compared to LiOH by 50–100 kJ/mol. The NBO charges and the highest occupied molecular orbitals also reveal the electride and alkalide characteristics of Li₂OH and Li₃OH, respectively. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A simple model of solvation within the molecular orbital theory

A simple model of solvation within the molecular orbital method is proposed whereby the effect of solvent molecules is simulated by the inclusion of fractional point charges at the solvent atomic centers. The method is applied to three solvation problems: the hydration of Li⁺ and F^? and the solvation effect on the interaction between NH₃ and HF. The results of the first two calculations indicate that the point charge model is capable of reliably predicting solvation energies. The calculations for H₃N···HF demonstrate that the hydration has a profound effect on the potential energy surface favoring a proton transfer structure H₃NH⁺···F^?.     

Non-additivity in water-ion-water interactions

The three-body system Li⁺(H₂O)₂ was analyzed to study that non-additive part of the interaction potential which can be obtained by the Hartree-Fock approximation.For long and intermediate distances the three-body correction was found to be well represented by the induction energy, where bond dipoles are induced on each water molecule by point charges located on the (unpolarizable) lithium ion and on the other molecule respectively: for shorter distances this approximation was corrected by means of an exponential repulsive term. Such a potential model for non-additive interactions was extended to the more general situation Li⁺(H₂O)_n, and Monte-Carlo calculations were carried out on clusters containing up to six water molecules; comparison with other simulation results and with available data showed a significantly improved agreement with experiment. Tentative values for H are presented for n =7, 8,..., 20, where experimental data are not available.     

Le phosphate de cobalt et de lithium à valence mixte Li4+xCo2−x(P2O7)2 (x = 0,03): étude structurale et analyse de distribution de charge

The title compound, namely lithium cobalt(II/III) bis(diphosphate), Li_4.03Co_1.97(P₂O₇)₂, is a new mixed‐valent lithium/cobalt(II/III) phosphate. Three metal sites out of seven are occupied simultaneously by Li⁺ and Co^II/III ions. This disorder was established both from an analysis of the atomic displacement ellipsoids and Li/Co—O bond distances, and by means of a charge‐distribution (CHARDI) model, which provides satisfactory agreement on the computed charges (Q) for all the cations.     

Investigation of the Second Harmonic Generation at the Water–Vacuum Interface by Using Multi-Scale Modeling Methods

The Sequential Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics scheme has been enacted to perform a systematic investigation of the polarizability (α) and first hyperpolarizability (β) responses at the water–vacuum interface. After performing classical molecular dynamics simulations to provide snapshots of the structures, quantum chemistry calculations of the linear and nonlinear optical responses have been performed for clusters of five water molecules at the time-dependent DFT level in combination with different embedding schemes, ranging from point charges to polarizable point charges, with and without local field effects. When going from the bulk to the interface, the main observations of these calculations encompass i) a modest increase of the average polarizability but an increase by about a factor of two of its anisotropy, ii) an increase by about 20 % of the β_HRS response, accompanied by a small increase of its depolarization ratio, and iii) a net increase of the component of the β tensor normal to the interface (β_zzz) as well as of β_//. Globally, the interfacial effects on β are localized at the first molecular layer while they are observed up to the fourth molecular layer on α.     

Kinetics of Anodic Dissolution of Lithium out of Li x C6 Electrodes in Nonaqueous Lithium Perchlorate Solutions

Kinetics of processes occurring during anodic dissolution of Li _x C₆ electrodes formed in structures of carbonized fiber and cloth (CC) in solutions of lithium perchlorate in a mixture of propylene carbonate and dimethoxyethane is studied. It is shown that the Li _x C₆ (CC) electrodes have an approximately three times greater intercalation capacity, which is caused by specific features of the structure of CC. Values of the initial concentration of lithium defects in the structure of a surface layer of the CC matrix and the diffusion coefficients for lithium in the temperature range 293–323 K are calculated.     

The electrical double layer on oxides: Specific adsorption of chloride and methylviologen on ruthenium dioxide

The double-layer properties of colloidal RuO₂, prepared by thermal decomposition of RuCl₃ at 420°C, have been studied by potentiometric acid-base titrations in combination with electrophoretic mobility measurements. The point of zero charge (pzc) in KNO₃ solutions was found to be pH 5.75 ± 0.05, and the isoelectric point (iep) is positioned at pH 5.8. From the total capacitance of the double layer at the pzc an electrochemical surface area of 21.5 m²/g has been found, which is equal to the BET surface area. The capacitance of the inner part of the double layer (C_i) is 300 μF/cm², which is high compared to C_i on AgI and Hg, but of the same order as that commonly found for oxides. This subject is briefly discussed. The surface charge (σ₀) as a function of pH could be fitted satisfactorily with a simple double-layer model. In the presence of KCl the pzc and the iep are shifted to higher and lower pH, respectively, indicating specific adsorption of Cl⁻ ions. The ionic composition of the double layer as a function of σ₀ and the specific adsorption of Cl⁻ at the pzc have been calculated by a straightforward thermodynamic analysis combined with diffuse double-layer theory. Methylviologen (MV²⁺) also adsorbs specifically and at negative surface charges superequivalent adsorption can take place. In the presence of an excess of KNO₃, specific adsorption of MV²⁺ is no longer noticeable. Some consequences for the catalytic reduction of water by RuO₂ in the presence of MV²⁺ are considered.     

The Aggregation Behavior of Butyllithium in Diethyl Ether in the Presence of LiBr,LiClO4, and Phenyllithium: A Deuterium‐Induced Secondary 6Li‐NMR Isotope‐Effect Study

The aggregation of BuLi (LiR) in diethyl ether (Et₂O) in the presence of LiBr was studied by ⁶Li‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. For a 1.0 : 0.8 mixture of both species, the clusters (LiR)₄, Li₄R₃Br, Li₄R₂Br₂, Li₄RBr₃, and/or Li₂RBr in the ratio 7 : 81 : 12 with Li₄RBr₃ and/or Li₂RBr<1 were detected with the isotopic fingerprint method that is based on secondary deuterium (D)‐induced isotope shifts for δ(Li). The raising content of bromide ions causes increased shielding for δ(Li). As in the case of a 1 : 1 MeLi/LiBr mixture in Et₂O, cluster Li₄R₃Br is the most stable one. In the presence of N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), only a mixed dimer was found. For LiClO₄, no inclusion of the ClO$\rm{{_{4}^{-}}}$ ion could be detected. A mixture BuLi/PhLi 1 : 1 in Et₂O in the presence of TMEDA showed only dimers with the mixed dimer as the most stable cluster. Chemical exchange of Li between the two homodimers was detected by EXSY spectroscopy. This implies an exchange mechanism with a fluxional tetramer as intermediate.     

Li2 Trapped inside Tubiform [n] Boron Nitride Clusters (n=4–8): Structures and First Hyperpolarizability

The geometries and electronic properties of tubiform [n] boron nitride clusters entrapping Li₂ (Li₂@BN‐cluster(n,0); n=4–8), obtained by doping BN‐cluster(n,0) with Li₂ molecules, are investigated by means of DFT. The effects of tube diameter n on the dipole moment μ₀, static polarizability α₀, and first hyperpolarizability β₀ are elucidated. Both the dipole moment and polarizability increase with increasing tube diameter, whereas variation of the static first hyperpolarizability with tube diameter is not monotonic; β₀ follows the order 1612 (n=4)<3112 (n=5)<5534 (n=7)<8244 (n=6)<12 282 a.u. (n=8). In addition, the natural bond orbital (NBO) charges show that charge transfer takes place from the Li₂ molecule to the BN cluster, except for BN‐cluster(8,0) with larger tube diameter. Since the large‐diameter tubular BN‐cluster(8,0) can trap the excess electrons of the Li₂ molecule, Li₂@BN‐cluster(8,0) can be considered to be a novel electride compound.     

Superstructure in the Metastable Intermediate‐Phase Li2/3FePO4 Accelerating the Lithium Battery Cathode Reaction

LiFePO₄ is an important cathode material for lithium‐ion batteries. Regardless of the biphasic reaction between the insulating end members, Li_xFePO₄, x≈0 and x≈1, optimization of the nanostructured architecture has substantially improved the power density of positive LiFePO₄ electrode. The charge transport that occurs in the interphase region across the biphasic boundary is the primary stage of solid‐state electrochemical reactions in which the Li concentrations and the valence state of Fe deviate significantly from the equilibrium end members. Complex interactions among Li ions and charges at the Fe sites have made understanding stability and transport properties of the intermediate domains difficult. Long‐range ordering at metastable intermediate eutectic composition of Li_2/3FePO₄ has now been discovered and its superstructure determined, which reflected predominant polaron crystallization at the Fe sites followed by Li⁺ redistribution to optimize the Li? Fe interactions.     

CO2 adsorption in LiY and NaY at high temperature: molecular simulations compared to experiments

Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations combined with adsorption measurements have been carried out to gain further insight into the CO₂ adsorption process at the microscopic scale in both LiY and NaY faujasites at various temperatures. A new Li⁺−CO₂ force field derived by ab initio calculations was validated by a reasonable agreement between the simulated isotherms and those obtained by experiments in a wide range of temperature (from 323 K to 473 K). In addition, the microscopic mechanisms of CO₂ adsorption in both systems, consistent with the trends observed for the simulated differential enthalpies of adsorption as a function of the loading, were proposed. It was observed that two different types of adsorption behaviour exist for NaY and LiY at 323 K and 373 K, mainly caused by the significant more exposed position of the SII Na⁺ from the six-ring plane of the supercage compared to those occupied by the SII Li⁺, whereas at higher temperature, both faujasites exhibit the same flat profile for the differential enthalpy of adsorption as a function of loading.     

Isomerization Energy Decomposition Analysis for Highly Ionic Systems: Case Study of Starlike E5Li7+ Clusters

The most stable forms of E₅Li₇⁺ (E=Ge, Sn, and Pb) have been explored by means of a stochastic search of their potential‐energy surfaces by using the gradient embedded genetic algorithm (GEGA). The preferred isomer of the Ge₅Li₇⁺ ion is a slightly distorted analogue of the D_5h three‐dimensional seven‐pointed starlike structure adopted by the lighter C₅Li₇⁺ and Si₅Li₇⁺ clusters. In contrast, the preferred structures for Sn₅Li₇⁺ and Pb₅Li₇⁺ are quite different. By starting from the starlike arrangement, corresponding lowest‐energy structures are generated by migration of one of the E atoms out of the plane with the a corresponding rearrangement of the Li atoms. To understand these structural preferences, we propose a new energy decomposition analysis based on isomerizations (isomerization energy decomposition analysis (IEDA)), which enable us to extract energetic information from isomerization between structures, mainly from highly charged fragments.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Li‐containing Boron Carbide r‐Li~1B13C2

Transparent and nearly colorless single crystals of r‐LiB₁₃C₂ were obtained by reaction of boron with Li₂CO₃ in a Cu melt at 1250–1300 °C. The structure analysis [R3 m, a = 5.6535(1), c = 12.5320(2) Å, 421 independent reflections, 22 parameters, R₁ = 0.034, wR₂ = 0.093] revealed a crystal structure that can be described as a filling variant of rhombohedral B₁₃C₂. Li⁺ is located in a void above or below the linear CBC unit. The site occupation is close to 50 % resulting in an electron‐precise composition according to Wade's rules if a positive charge is given to the CBC entity: Li⁺(B₁₂)^2–(CBC)⁺. The displacement parameters of the CBC unit indicate disorder in the [001] direction, that relates to the short Li–C distance and the partial occupation of the Li⁺ site. The composition is confirmed by EELS measurements of single crystals. Band gap calculations give a value of 2.94 eV, which is in agreement to the crystals being colorless. The evaluation of the electron density by application of the QTAIM formalism as proposed by Bader modifies the assignment pictured above according to Wade's rules. In agreement to the electronegativities the carbon atoms carry a negative charge (–2.31/–2.42) and the effective charges are: Li^+0.81(B₁₂)^+2.02(CBC)^–2.83.     

Li4Ti5O12 Anode: Structural Design from Material to Electrode and the Construction of Energy Storage Devices

Spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, known as a zero‐strain material, is capable to be a competent anode material for promising applications in state‐of‐art electrochemical energy storage devices (EESDs). Compared with commercial graphite, spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ offers a high operating potential of ∼1.55 V vs Li/Li⁺, negligible volume expansion during Li⁺ intercalation process and excellent thermal stability, leading to high safety and favorable cyclability. Despite the merits of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ been presented, there still remains the issue of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ suffering from poor electronic conductivity, manifesting disadvantageous rate performance. Typically, a material modification process of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ will be proposed to overcome such an issue. However, the previous reports have made few investigations and achievements to analyze the subsequent processes after a material modification process. In this review, we attempt to put considerable interest in complete device design and assembly process with its material structure design (or modification process), electrode structure design and device construction design. Moreover, we have systematically concluded a series of representative design schemes, which can be divided into three major categories involving: (1) nanostructures design, conductive material coating process and doping process on material level; (2) self‐supporting or flexible electrode structure design on electrode level; (3) rational assembling of lithium ion full cell or lithium ion capacitor on device level. We believe that these rational designs can give an advanced performance for Li₄Ti₅O₁₂‐based energy storage device and deliver a deep inspiration.     

Defect Engineering and Anisotropic Modulation of Ionic Transport in Perovskite Solid Electrolyte LixLa(1−x)/3NbO3

Solid electrolytes, such as perovskite Li_3xLa_2/1−xTiO₃, Li_xLa_(1−x)/3NbO₃ and garnet Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ ceramic oxides, have attracted extensive attention in lithium-ion battery research due to their good chemical stability and the improvability of their ionic conductivity with great potential in solid electrolyte battery applications. These solid oxides eliminate safety issues and cycling instability, which are common challenges in the current commercial lithium-ion batteries based on organic liquid electrolytes. However, in practical applications, structural disorders such as point defects and grain boundaries play a dominating role in the ionic transport of these solid electrolytes, where defect engineering to tailor or improve the ionic conductive property is still seldom reported. Here, we demonstrate a defect engineering approach to alter the ionic conductive channels in Li_xLa_(1−x)/3NbO₃ (x = 0.1~0.13) electrolytes based on the rearrangements of La sites through a quenching process. The changes in the occupancy and interstitial defects of La ions lead to anisotropic modulation of ionic conductivity with the increase in quenching temperatures. Our trial in this work on the defect engineering of quenched electrolytes will offer opportunities to optimize ionic conductivity and benefit the solid electrolyte battery applications.     

Defect-induced anisotropic surface reactivity and ion transfer processes of anatase nanoparticles

Surface reactivity and ion transfer processes of anatase TiO₂ nanocrystals were studied using lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfone)imide (LiTFSI) as a probing molecule. Analysis of synthesized anatase TiO₂ by electron microscopy reveals aggregated nanoparticles (average size ~8 nm) with significant defects (holes and cracks). With the introduction of LiTFSI salt, the Li⁺-adsorption propensity towards the surface along the anatase (100) step edge plane is evident in both x-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) analysis corroborates the site-preferential interaction of Li⁺ cations with oxygen vacancies and the thermodynamically favorable transport through the (100) step edge plane. Using ⁷Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shift and relaxometry measurements, the presence of Li⁺ cations near the interface between TiO₂ and the bulk LiTFSI phase was identified, and subsequent diffusion properties were analyzed. The lower activation energy derived from NMR analysis reveals enhanced mobility of Li⁺ cations along the surface, in good agreement with AIMD calculations. On the other hand, the TFSI^– anion interaction with defect sites leads to CF₃ bond dissociation and subsequent generation of carbonyl fluoride-type species. The multimodal spectroscopic analysis including NMR, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms the decomposition of TFSI^– anions near the anatase surface. The reaction mechanism and electronic structure of interfacial constituents were simulated using AIMD calculations. Overall, this work demonstrates the role of defects at the anatase nanoparticle surface on charge transfer and interfacial reaction processes.     

Ultra-Weak Metal−Metal Bonding: Is There a Beryllium-Beryllium Triple Bond?

Metal-metal triple bonds featuring s-block element have not been reported until now. Only Be−Be double bonds between have been predicted theoretically based on the intuitive electron donation from four s¹ type electron-donating ligands. Herein, we theoretically predicted a novel species featuring a Be−Be triple bond in the Li₆Be₂ molecule. The molecule was found to be thermodynamically stable. The presence of the triple bond was confirmed by adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP), electron localization function (ELF), and atoms in molecules (AIM) analyses. Moreover, the mechanical strength of the Be−Be triple bond was analyzed by using compliance matrix, pointing towards its ultra-weak nature.