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.     

稀土掺杂对锂离子电池正极材料LiMn2O4结构及电性能的影响

利用微波加热技术合成稀土掺杂基锂离子电池正极材料LiMn2-xRExO4(RE=Y，Nd，Gd，Ce)，通过XRD、循环伏安及恒电漉充放电测试研究了稀土掺杂离子对合成正极材料结构及电化学性能的影响。XRD测试结果表明，合适的掺杂量可以起到扩展锂离子脱嵌通道和稳定骨架结构的作用，稀土离子的引入可以部分取代原有的三价锰离子，由于稀土离子的离子半径较三价锰离子大，因此稀土掺杂锰酸锂材料的晶胞参数比未掺杂材料大，在一定程度上扩充了锂离子迁移的三维通道，更有利于锂离子的嵌入与脱嵌；循环伏安及恒电漉充放电测试结果表明稀土掺杂有效提高了LiMn2O4材料的电化学循环可逆性及循环稳定性。     

Comparison between potentiostatic and galvanostatic intermittent titration techniques for determination of chemical diffusion coefficients in ion-insertion electrodes

Using well-cycled, thin composite graphite electrodes we analyze carefully the limitations of potentiostatic and galvanostatic intermittent titration techniques (PITT and GITT, respectively) for determination of the differential (incremental) intercalation capacitance, C_dif, and the chemical diffusion coefficient, D, of Li ions in these ion-insertion electrodes (IIEs). We demonstrate the superiority of the GITT over PITT to determine these quantities as the former technique allows for a more accurate determination of C_dif and hence D which closely approach to the spinodal domain related to the first-order phase transition during ion-insertion. We show that GITT is also more effective in eliminating the parasitic contributions of background currents to the total measured response. A pronounced difference in the initial, intrinsic kinetics of formation of a new phase in the bulk of the old one has been observed depending on the direction of titration (phases less saturated with Li are formed faster during deintercalation than the Li-rich phases in the course of intercalation).     

Application of heat conduction calorimetry to high explosives

This paper describes some thermal analysis experiments conducted on high explosive samples. These employ differential scanning calorimetry to monitor thermal effects at elevated temperatures (around 200 °C) and heat conduction calorimetry to record thermal effects at much lower temperatures (below 100 °C).The work shows that, due to the generally high thermal stability of many high explosive compositions, heat generation rates are very low, if detectable at all, at normal storage temperatures, even when using a very sensitive instrument. The sensitivity and reproducibility of this technique has been investigated in detail by Wilker et al. [S. Wilker, U. Ticmanis, G. Pantel, Detailed investigation of sensitivity and reproducibility of heat flow calorimetry, in: Proceedings of the 11th Symposium on Chemical Problems Connected with the Stability of Explosives, Sweden, 1998] and shown to be capable of recording heat generation rates of less than a microwatt. This allows continuous measurement of decomposition processes in nitrate ester based propellants at temperatures as low as 40 °C. However, the measurement of very low levels of heat generation is difficult, time consuming and therefore expensive. If the assumption is made that the life limiting process is invariably the slow decomposition of the energetic component, this will frequently lead to very long service lifetime predictions.A number of possible complications are identified. Firstly, due to its low detection threshold, a heat conduction calorimeter may detect other reactions which will not lead to failure, but which may still dominate the heat flow signal. Secondly, the true failure process may generate little energy and be overlooked. In view of these considerations, at present it seems unwise to rely on heat conduction microcalorimetry as the only tool for the assessment of the life of high explosive energetic systems.Based on examples of life terminating processes in high explosives during storage and use, it is clear that decomposition of the energetic material is not invariably the cause of system failure. It is also by no means the only reaction that may take place in, and be observed by, a heat conduction calorimeter.     

Fluorine-doped nanocrystalline SnO2 powders prepared via a single molecular precursor method as anode materials for Li-ion batteries

Fluorine-doped nanocrystalline tin dioxide materials (F:SnO₂) have been successfully prepared by the sol-gel process from a single molecular precursor followed by a thermal treatment at 450-650 °C. The resulting materials were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption porosimetry (BET) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mean particle size increased from 5 to 20 nm and the specific surface area decreased from 123 to 37 m²/g as the temperature of heat treatment was risen from 450 to 650 °C. Fluorine-doped nanocrystalline SnO₂ exhibited capacity of 560, 502, and 702 mA h/g with 48%, 50%, and 40% capacity retention after 25 cycles between 1.2 V and 50 mV at the rate of 25 mA/g, respectively. In comparison, commercial SnO₂ showed an initial capacity of 388 mA h/g, with only 23% capacity retention after 25 cycles.     

Novel composite anode materials for lithium ion batteries with low sensitivity towards humidity

Graphitic anode materials for lithium ion batteries processed under high humidity conditions show severe performance losses. The sensitivity of these materials towards humidity can be significantly reduced by adsorbing metal ions like silver or copper ions, with subsequent heat treatment of these composites. Results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential thermal analysis indicate that the deposited metals exist in metallic and carbide, M_xC (M=Cu or Ag), forms. They remove or cover (i.e. deactivate) active hydrophilic sites at the surface of the graphite. These composites absorb less water during processing. The electrochemical performance, including reversible capacity, coulombic efficiency in the first cycle, and cycling behavior, is markedly improved. This approach provides a potentially powerful method to manufacture lithium ion batteries under less demanding conditions.Presented at the 3rd International Meeting on Advanced Batteries and Accumulators, 16–20 June 2002, Brno, Czech Republic     

STUDY ON 1-HEXENE POLYMERIZATION BASED ON ZIEGLER-NATTA CATALYSTS WITH DOPED SUPPORT

A series of Ti/Mg supported catalysts are prepared by using ball-milled mixtures of MgCl2-ethanol adducts and NaCl as supports, and 1-hexene polymerizations catalyzed by the novel catalysts are studied. It is found that the molecular weight distribution of poly(1-hexene) becomes apparently narrower when catalysts with doped supports are used, indicating that changing the structure of the support is an effective way to regulate the active center distribution of heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst.     

Novel Gel—like Process for Synthesizing Submicron LiaNi0.8Co0.2O2 Powders Used in Lithium Ion Batteries

A novel gel-like process has been developed for synthesizing LiaNi0.8Co0.2O2 powders,using citric acid as a chelating agent. This process improves the homogeneity of constituent cation and enhances their reactivity in the obtained precursor. The results of electrochemical test demonstrated that these materials exhibited excellent electrochemical properties. Its initial capacity reached 181.6 mAh/g and reversible efficiency at the first cycle is about 88.6%.     

PVC DISULFIDE AS CATHODE MATERIALS FOR SECONDARY LITHIUM BATTERIES

PVC disulfide (2SPVC) was synthesized by solution crosslink and its molecular structure was confirmed by infrared spectrum. 2SPVC's specific area is 36.1 m2·g-1 tested by stand BET method, and granularity experiment gives out the particle size of d0.5= 11.3μm. With SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) experiment the surface morphology and particle shape of 2SPVC were observed. Cyclic voltammetry (scan rate: 0.5 mV·s-1) shows that 2SPVC experience an obvious S-S redox reaction in charge-discharge process. When 2SPVC was used as cathode material for secondary lithium battery in a 1 mol·L-1 solution of lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide (Li(CF3SO2)2N) in a 5:45:50 volume ratio mixture of o-xylene (oxy), diglyme (DG) and dimethoxymethane (DME) at 30℃, the first discharge capacity of 2SPVC is about 400.3 mAh·g-1 which is very close to its theoretical value (410.5 mAh·g-1) at a constant discharge current of 15 mA·g-1. It can retain at about 346.1 mAh·g-1 of discharge capacity after 30 charge-discharge cycles. So 2SPVC is a very promising cathode candidate for rechargeable lithium batteries.