All-solid-state rechargeable lithium batteries using SnX-P2X5 (X = S and O) amorphous negative electrodes

SnS-P₂S₅ and SnO-P₂O₅ amorphous materials were prepared by a mechanical milling technique. The SnO-P₂O₅ milled materials worked as a reversible electrode with higher capacity than SnO crystal in rechargeable lithium cells with conventional liquid electrolytes. All-solid-state cells with a SnX-P₂X₅ (X = S and O) amorphous electrode and the Li₂S-P₂S₅ glass-ceramic electrolyte were charged and discharged at room temperature. The sulfide electrodes exhibited better charge-discharge performance than the oxide electrodes, suggesting that SnS-P₂S₅ electrodes are more compatible with Li₂S-P₂S₅ sulfide solid electrolytes. All-solid state batteries 80SnS·20P₂S₅/LiCoO₂ showed a charge-discharge plateau of about 3.4 V and high reversible capacity of over 400 mAh/g, even after 50 cycles. The SnX (X = S and O)-based amorphous materials are promising negative electrode materials with high capacity for rechargeable lithium batteries using not only liquid electrolytes but solid electrolytes.     

Evaluation of ionic conductivity for Mg–Al layered double hydroxide intercalated with inorganic anions

This study demonstrates that humidity, temperature, and the interlayer anions influence ionic conductivities of Mg–Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) intercalated with inorganic anions. Results show that Mg–Al LDH intercalated with Br^? exhibited the highest ionic conductivity among Mg–Al LDHs intercalated with CO₃^2?, Cl^?, Br^?, NO₃^? and SO₄^2?. Its ionic conductivity was 1.1 × 10^? 2 S cm^? 1 at 80 °C under 80% relative humidity. The electromotive force for the hydroxide ion concentration cell using Mg?Al CO₃^2? LDH showed the same behavior with that using an anion exchange membrane, indicating that Mg–Al CO₃^2? LDH can be a hydroxide ion conductor.     

Synthesis of monodispersed lithium silicate particles using the sol–gel method

Lithium silicate particles were prepared by the sol–gel process based on the Stöber method using tetraethoxysilane and lithium ethoxide as starting materials; lithium dodecyl sulfate (LDS) was used as a surfactant. Lithium ion concentration of the obtained particles increased with an increase of Li/Si ratios from 1 to 4. Scanning electron microscope images showed that the obtained particles were rather monodispersed with diameter of 100–300 nm, and the particle size was not influenced by the amount of added LDS but the Li/Si ratios. Fourier-transform infrared spectra of the particles showed that the intensity of the peaks due to CO₃ ^2? increased with an increase of the Li/Si ratios. X-ray diffraction patterns and ²⁹Si magic-angle spinning-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the particles indicated that Q₃ and Q₂ units were present as amorphous state in the particles prepared with Li/Si ratios of 1 and 2, respectively. In the case of Li/Si ratios of more than 3, lithium metasilicate crystals formed, and Q₁ and Q₂ units were dominant.     

Adsorption and valence electronic states of nitric oxide on metal surfaces

Among fundamental diatomic molecules, the adsorption of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) on metal surfaces has been a subject of intensive research in the surface science community, partly owing to its relevance to heterogeneous catalysis used for environmental control. Compared to the rather well-defined adsorption mechanism of CO, that of NO is less understood because the adsorption results in much more complex reactions. The complexity is ascribed to the open-shell structure of valence electrons, making the molecule readily interact with the metal surface itself as well as with co-adsorbed molecules. Furthermore, the interaction crucially depends on the local structure of the surface. Therefore, to elucidate the interaction at the molecular scale, it is essential to study the valence state as well as the bonding geometry for individual NO molecules placed in a well-defined environment on the surface. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is suitable for this purpose. In this review, we summarize the knowledge about the interaction of NO with metal surfaces, mainly focused on the valence electronic states, followed by recent studies using STM and atomic force microscopy (AFM) at the level of individual molecules.     

Titanocene(II)-promoted stereoselective alkenylation utilizing (Z)-alkenyl sulfones

The stereoselective alkenylation of unsaturated compounds by means of a (Z)-alkenyl sulfone-titanocene(II) system is described. Treatment of alkynes and (Z)-alkenyl methyl sulfones with the titanocene(II) reagent Cp2Ti[P(OEt)3]2 produced conjugated dienes. This alkenylation system is also applicable to polar C=O bonds; the simple mixing of carbonyl compounds, (Z)-alkenyl methyl sulfones, and the titanocene(II) reagent formed allylic alcohols. The advantages of alkenylation are that it requires no prepreparation of the alkenylmetal reagent and that it proceeds with complete stereoselectivity.     

Ultra-High Quality Cavity with 1.5 ppm Loss at 1064 nm

Characterization of an ultra-low loss and high finesse Fabry-Perot cavity at 1064 nm is reported. The characteristics are obtained from measurements of cavity decay time, frequency response and transmission efficiency. The results show that the mirrors have the loss of 1.5 ppm including absorption and scattering losses and the reflectance of 99.9873% which corresponds to a cavity finesse of 2.48X10⁴.     

Thermodynamic parameters for the molecular inclusion reactions of some azo compounds with α-cyclodextrin

Molecular inclusion reactions of some azo compounds with -cyclodextrin were studied in aqueous solution by means of a stopped-flow method. The forward rate constants for the inclusion reactions were found to be in the order of 10–10⁴ mol^–1 dm³ s^–1. The thermodynamic activation parameters were also determined firstly in -cyclodextrin system.     

Selective photocatalytic reduction of nitrate to nitrogen molecules in an aqueous suspension of metal-loaded titanium(IV) oxide particles

Nitrate was photocatalytically reduced to nitrogen molecules with a high selectivity in a basic aqueous suspension of palladium and copper-loaded titanium(IV) oxide powders in the presence of oxalate anion as a hole scavenger.     

Three fungitoxic cyclopentanoid sesquiterpenes from stromata of epichloetyphina

New fungitoxic sesquiterpenes, chokol A (1), B (2), and C (3), have been isolated from stromata of $\text{Epichloe}$$\text{typhina}$. Their structures and the relative configuration of 3 have been also elucidated from spectral data.