Metallization of U3O8via catalytic electrochemical reduction with Li2O in LiCl molten salt

The concept of a novel electrochemical reduction process for the treatment of spent nuclear fuels in Li₂O-LiCl molten salt was proposed and fresh tests using U₃O₈ powder were carried out to elucidate the reaction mechanism and verify the feasibility of the process. Electrolysis of Li₂O and reduction of U₃O₈ powder took place simultaneously at the cathode part of the electrolysis cell via a catalytic EC mechanism and the conversion of U₃O₈ to U metal was more than 99%. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Electronic structure and thermochemical properties of silicon-doped lithium clusters Li(n)Si0/+, n = 1-8: new insights on their stability

A theoretical investigation on small silicon-doped lithium clusters Li(n)Si with n = 1-8, in both neutral and cationic states is performed using the high accuracy CCSD(T)/complete basis set (CBS) method. Location of the global minima is carried out using a stochastic search method and the growth pattern of the clusters emerges as follows: (i) the species Li(n)Si with n ≤ 6 are formed by directly binding one Li to a Si of the smaller cluster Li(n-1)Si, (ii) the structures tend to have an as high as possible symmetry and to maximize the coordination number of silicon. The first three-dimensional global minimum is found for Li(4)Si, and (iii) for Li(7)Si and Li(8)Si, the global minima are formed by capping Li atoms on triangular faces of Li(6)Si (O(h)). A maximum coordination number of silicon is found to be 6 for the global minima, and structures with higher coordination of silicon exist but are less stable. Heats of formation at 0 K (Δ(f)H(0)) and 298 K (Δ(f)H(298)), average binding energies (E(b)), adiabatic (AIE) and vertical (VIE) ionization energies, dissociation energies (D(e)), and second-order difference in total energy (Δ(2)E) of the clusters in both neutral and cationic states are calculated from the CCSD(T)/CBS energies and used to evaluate the relative stability of clusters. The species Li(4)Si, Li(6)Si, and Li(5)Si(+) are the more stable systems with large HOMO-LUMO gaps, E(b), and Δ(2)E. Their enhanced stability can be rationalized using a modified phenomenological shell model, which includes the effects of additional factors such as geometrical symmetry and coordination number of the dopant. The new model is subsequently applied with consistency to other impure clusters Li(n)X with X = B, Al, C, Si, Ge, and Sn.     

Preparation of Li2SnO3 and its application in lithium‐ion batteries

Tin‐based oxide Li₂SnO₃ has been synthesized by a hydrothermal route as negative material for lithium‐ion batteries. The microstructure and electrochemical properties of the as‐synthesized materials were investigated by some characterizations means and electrochemical measurements. The as‐synthesized Li₂SnO₃ is a porous rod, which is composed of many uniform and regular nano‐flakes with a size of 50–60 nm. Li₂SnO₃ also displays an electrochemical performance with high capacity and good cycling stability (510.2 mAh g^?1 after 50 cycles at a current density of 60 mA g^?1 between 0.0 V and 2.0 V verusus Li/Li⁺). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sol-gel Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of Li4-xMgxTi5-xZrxO12 Anode Material for Lithium-ion Batteries

The anode materials Li_4?xMg_xTi_5?xZr_xO₁₂ (x=0, 0.05, 0.1) were successfully synthesized by sol‐gel method using Ti(OC₄H₉)₄, CH₃COOLi·2H₂O, MgCl₂·6H₂O and Zr(NO₃)₃·6H₂O as raw materials. The crystalline structure, morphology and electrochemical properties of the as‐prepared materials were characterized by XRD, SEM, cyclic voltammograms (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and charge‐discharge cycling tests. The results show that the lattice parameters of the Mg‐Zr doped samples are slightly larger than that of the pure Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, and Mg‐Zr doping does not change the basic Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ structure. The rate capability of Li_4?xMg_xTi_5?xZr_xO₁₂ (x=0.05, 0.1) electrodes is significantly improved due to the expansile Li⁺ diffusion channel and reduced charge transfer resistance. In this study, Li_3.95Mg_0.05Ti_4.95Zr_0.05O₁₂ represented a relatively good rate capability and cycling stability, after 400 cycles at 10 C, the discharge capacity retained as 134.74 mAh·g^?1 with capacity retention close to 100%. The excellent rate capability and good cycling performance make Li_3.95Mg_0.05Ti_4.95Zr_0.05O₁₂ a promising anode material in lithium‐ion batteries.     

Preparation of Li_4Ti_5O_(12) submicrospheres and their application as anode materials of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

We report on the preparation of spinel Li4Ti5O12 submicrospheres and their application as anode materials of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The spinel Li4Ti5O12 submicrospheres are synthesized with three steps of the hydrolysis of TiCl4 to form rutile TiO2, the hydrothermal treatment of rutile TiO2 with LiOH to prepare an intermediate phase of LiTi2O4+δ, and the calcinations of LiTi2O4+δ to obtain spinel Li4Ti5O12. The as-prepared products are investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning el...     

Li2CO3添加剂对石墨电极性能的影响

运用电化学阻抗谱(EIS)和循环伏安法(CV)研究了在1mol/LLiPF6-EC(碳酸乙烯酯):DMC(碳酸二甲酯)电解液中添加Li2CO3对石墨电极性能的影响及机制.CV研究结果表明,在1mol/LLiPF6-EC:DMC电解液中添加Li2CO3能够有效抑制石墨电极首次充放电过程中碳酸乙烯酯(EC)的单电子还原过程,即还原分解产生乙烯和碳酸锂的过程,进而改善石墨电极的电化学循环性能.EIS研究结果表明,在添加Li2CO3的1mol/LLiPF6-EC:DMC电解液中,石墨电极表面的固体电解质相界面膜(SEI膜)具有较强的黏弹性,可以更好地适应锂离子嵌入过程中石墨颗粒体积的微小变化,从而使锂离子的嵌入过程更容易进行.     

Li4 Ti5 O12纳米片的合成及储锂性能研究

以无定形的水合二氧化钛为前驱物,水热法合成了200～400nm大小的Li4Ti5O12纳米片作为锂离子电池负极材料.XRD(X射线衍射)、SEM(扫描电子显微镜)和TEM(透射电镜)分析表征样品的物相结构、表观形貌;循环伏安、充放电循环和电化学交流阻抗技术分别测定该纳米Li4Ti5O12在有机电解液和室温离子液体S114TFSI电解液中的电化学性能.结果表明,该材料具有较高的放电容量和良好的循环性能,有望成为锂二次电池新型负极材料.