Quantum-Chemical Study of the FeNCN Conversion-Reaction Mechanism in Lithium- and Sodium-Ion Batteries

We report a computational study on 3d transition-metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co) carbodiimides in Li- and Na-ion batteries. The obtained cell voltages semi-quantitatively fit the experiments, highlighting the practicality of PBE+U as an approach for modeling the conversion-reaction mechanism of the FeNCN archetype with lithium and sodium. Also, the calculated voltage profiles agree satisfactorily with experiment both for full (Li-ion battery) and partial (Na-ion battery) discharge, even though experimental atomistic knowledge is missing up to now. Moreover, we rationalize the structural preference of intermediate ternaries and their characteristic lowering in the voltage profile using chemical-bonding and Mulliken-charge analysis. The formation of such ternary intermediates for the lithiation of FeNCN and the contribution of at least one ternary intermediate is also confirmed experimentally. This theoretical approach, aided by experimental findings, supports the atomistic exploration of electrode materials governed by conversion reactions.     

Long-term γ-radiolysis kinetics of NO3(-) and NO2(-) solutions

Radiolysis kinetics in NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) solutions during γ-irradiation were studied at an absorbed dose rate of 2.1 Gy·s(-1) at room temperature. Air- or argon-saturated nitrate or nitrite solutions at pH 6.0 and 10.6 were irradiated, and the aqueous concentrations of molecular water decomposition products, H(2) and H(2)O(2), and the variation in the concentrations of NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) were measured as a function of irradiation time. The experimental data were compared with computer simulations using a comprehensive radiolysis kinetic model to aid in interpretation of the experimental results. The effect of nitrate and nitrite, present at concentrations below 10(-3) M, on water radiolysis processes occurs through reactions with the radical species generated by water radiolysis, (?)e(aq)(-), (?)O(2)(-), and (?)OH. The changes in H(2) and H(2)O(2) concentrations observed in the presence of nitrate and nitrite under a variety of conditions can be explained by a reduction in the radical concentrations. The kinetic analysis shows that the main loss pathway for H(2) is the reaction with (?)OH and the main loss pathways for H(2)O(2) are reactions with (?)e(aq)(-) and (?)OH. Nitrate and nitrite compete for the radicals leading to an increase in the concentrations of H(2) and H(2)O(2). Post-irradiation measurements of H(2), H(2)O(2), NO(2)(-) and NO(3)(-) concentrations can be used to calculate the radical concentrations and provide information on the redox conditions of the irradiated aqueous solutions.     

The effect of interfacial mass transfer on steady-state water radiolysis

The effect of aqueous–gas interfacial transfer of volatile species on the γ-radiolysis of water was studied as a function of gas-to-liquid volume ratio at various solution pHs and cover gas compositions. Water samples with cover-gas headspace were irradiated at an absorbed dose rate of 2.5 Gy s^?1 and the radiolytic productions of H₂ in the cover gas and H₂O₂ in the water phase were monitored as a function of irradiation time. The experimental results were compared with computer simulations using a water radiolysis kinetics model that included primary radiolysis, subsequent reactions of the primary radiolysis products in the aqueous phase, and aqueous–gas interfacial transfer of the volatile species H₂ and O₂. This study shows that the impact of the interfacial mass transfer strongly depends on pH. At pH≤8 (lower than the pKa of ?H of 9.6) the effect of aqueous-to-gas phase transfer of the volatile species on the steady-state concentrations of the other radiolysis products is negligible. At higher pHs (≥8), radiolytic production of O₂ is slow but considerable, which results in significant increase in the steady-state concentrations of H₂ and H₂O₂ compared to those at lower pHs. Thus, in the presence of headspace, the interfacial transfer of both H₂ and O₂ becomes significant, and the aqueous concentrations of H₂ and O₂ are no longer independent of the interfacial surface area and water volume. Nevertheless, the accumulated mass of H₂(g) in the headspace is proportional to the aqueous concentration of H₂ at all pHs, and the gaseous concentration of H₂ in the headspace can be used to infer the aqueous concentration of H₂.     

Quantum‐Chemical Study of the FeNCN Conversion‐Reaction Mechanism in Lithium‐ and Sodium‐Ion Batteries

We report a computational study on 3d transition‐metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co) carbodiimides in Li‐ and Na‐ion batteries. The obtained cell voltages semi‐quantitatively fit the experiments, highlighting the practicality of PBE+U as an approach for modeling the conversion‐reaction mechanism of the FeNCN archetype with lithium and sodium. Also, the calculated voltage profiles agree satisfactorily with experiment both for full (Li‐ion battery) and partial (Na‐ion battery) discharge, even though experimental atomistic knowledge is missing up to now. Moreover, we rationalize the structural preference of intermediate ternaries and their characteristic lowering in the voltage profile using chemical‐bonding and Mulliken‐charge analysis. The formation of such ternary intermediates for the lithiation of FeNCN and the contribution of at least one ternary intermediate is also confirmed experimentally. This theoretical approach, aided by experimental findings, supports the atomistic exploration of electrode materials governed by conversion reactions.     

低价钛盐还原反应的研究——Ⅱ.低价钛盐与芳基三卤甲烷的反应

用LiAlH_4或Zn、Mg等与四氯化钛作用得到的低价钛盐能使芳基三卤甲烷还原偶联为1,1,2,2-四卤-1,2-二芳基乙烷、1,2-—二卤-1,2-二芳基乙烯或二芳基乙炔,反应可能生成ArCX_2·自由基,然后偶联为二芳基四卤代乙烷,后者能脱去卤素生成二芳基二卤代乙烯。TiCl_3和Ti°与三氯甲苯作用能得到相似的后果。     

Effect of gamma irradiation on gas-ionic liquid and water-ionic liquid interfacial stability

The effect of γ-radiation on gas-ionic liquid (IL) and water-IL interfacial stability was investigated. Three phosphonium-based ILs, which vary considerably in their viscosity, conductivity and miscibility with water, were examined. The gas phase above the IL samples (headspace gas) was analyzed using gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer detector while the changes in the IL and aqueous phases were followed by conductivity measurements and Raman spectroscopy. For the gas-IL systems, the headspace samples showed trace amounts of the radiolytic decomposition products of the ILs that were small and volatile enough to become airborne. The type of cover gas, air or Ar, had no effect on the gas speciation. Negligible changes in the conductivity and the Raman spectra of the IL phase due to irradiation indicate that γ-irradiation induces negligible chemical changes in the IL phase when it is in contact with a gas phase. For the water-IL systems, the initially immiscible layers slowly developed an interfacial emulsion layer, even in the absence of radiation. This layer started at the water-IL interface and then grew downwards, eventually converting the entire IL phase to an emulsion. Gamma-irradiation accelerated the conversion of the IL phase to an emulsion. The development of the emulsion layer was accompanied by changes in the conductivity and the Raman spectra of both the IL and water phases. Based on these results, a mechanism involving the formation of micelles at, or near, the water-IL interface has been proposed to explain the development of an emulsion layer. We also suggest that radiolytic decomposition of ILs produces surfactants that can accumulate at the interface and, even at low concentrations, accelerate the emulsification process.