Design Principles of Quinone Redox Systems for Advanced Sulfide Solid-State Organic Lithium Metal Batteries.

The emergence of solid-state battery technology presents a potential solution to the dissolution challenges of the high-capacity small molecule quinone redox systems. Among the various available solid-state electrolytes, the argyrodite-type Li6PS5Cl is regarded as one of the most promising system due to high room-temperature ionic conductivity and low-temperature processability. Nonetheless, the successful integration of Li6PS5Cl and quinone redox systems into solid-state organic lithium metal batteries remains elusive due to their inherent reactivity. Here, a library of quinone derivatives is selected as model electrode materials to ascertain the critical descriptors governing the (electro)chemical compatibility and subsequently the performances of Li6PS5Cl-based solid-state organic Li-metal cells. Compatibility is attained if the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of the quinone derivative is sufficiently higher than the highest occupied molecular orbital level of Li6PS5Cl. The energy difference is demonstrated to be critical in ensuring chemical compatibility during composite electrode preparation and enable high-efficiency operation of solid-state organic Li-metal cells. Considering these findings, a general principle is proposed for the selection of quinone derivatives to be integrated with Li6PS5Cl, and two solid-state organic Li-metal cells, based on 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzoquinone and 2,3,5,6-tetraamino-1,4-benzoquinone, are successfully developed and tested for the first time. Validating critical factors for the design of organic battery electrode materials is expected to pave the way for advancing the development of high-efficiency and long cycle life solid-state organic batteries based on sulfides electrolytes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Separation of C(5)-hydrocarbons on microporous materials: complementary performance of MOFs and zeolites.

This work studies the liquid-phase separation of the aliphatic C(5)-diolefins, mono-olefins, and paraffins, a typical feed produced by a steam cracker, with a focus on the seldomly studied separation of the C(5)-diolefin isomers isoprene, trans-piperylene, and cis-piperylene. Three adsorbents are compared: the metal-organic framework MIL-96, which is an aluminum 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate, and two zeolites with CHA and LTA topology. All three materials have spacious cages that are accessible via narrow cage windows with a diameter of less than 0.5 nm. The mechanisms determining adsorption selectivities on the various materials are investigated. Within the diolefin fraction, MIL-96 and chabazite preferentially adsorb trans-piperylene from a mixture containing all three C(5)-diolefin isomers with high separation factors and a higher capacity compared to the reference zeolite 5A due to a more efficient packing of the trans isomer in the pores. Additionally, chabazite is able to separate cis-piperylene and isoprene based on size exclusion of the branched isomer. This makes chabazite suitable for separating all three diolefin isomers. Its use in separating linear from branched mono-olefins and paraffins is addressed as well. Furthermore, MIL-96 is the only material capable of separating all three diolefin isomers from C(5)-mono-olefins and paraffins. Finally, the MOF [Cu(3)(BTC)(2)] (BTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate) is shown to be able to separate C(5)-olefins from paraffins. On the basis of these observations, a flow scheme can be devised in which the C(5)-fraction can be completely separated using a combination of MOFs and zeolites.

Framework breathing in the vapour-phase adsorption and separation of xylene isomers with the metal-organic framework MIL-53.

Vapour-phase adsorption and separation of the C8 alkyl aromatic compounds p-xylene, m-xylene, o-xylene, and ethylbenzene has been studied on the metal-organic framework MIL-53. Adsorption and desorption isotherms of the pure components at 110 degrees C were determined using the gravimetric technique. The adsorption isotherms show two well-defined steps and hysteresis, corresponding to the opening or breathing of the framework, as induced by the presence of the adsorbing molecules. In the first isotherm plateau, an adsorption capacity of about 18 wt % is observed. After the breathing phenomenon, the adsorption capacity increases to about 40 wt %. Breakthrough separation experiments with equimolar o-xylene/ethylbenzene mixtures were performed at 110 degrees C with varying hydrocarbon pressures. The separation mechanism is related to the state of the pore structure, as dictated by framework breathing. At low pressure, below the "pore-opening" pressure, MIL-53 shows no preference for any isomer. At pressures high enough to induce pore opening, separation of the C8 alkyl aromatic isomers becomes possible and separation factors as high as 6.5 are observed. The separation at a high degree of pore filling in the open form is a result of differences in the packing modes of the C8 alkyl aromatic components in the pores of MIL-53.

Rotation dynamics of 2-methyl butane and n-pentane in MCM-22 zeolite: a molecular dynamics simulation study.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed to investigate the rotational diffusive motion for 2-methyl butane (2-MeC4) and n-pentane (n-C5) in the cages of MCM-22 zeolite from 200-340 K. The rotation intermediate scattering function I(R) (Q,t) for 2-MeC4 and n-C5 confined in the supercages of MCM-22 was calculated. The dynamic scattering functions S(inc)(Q,omega) obtained via Fourier transformation of this intermediate scattering function are in good agreement with those of quasi-elastic neutron scattering experiments. The rotational intermediate scattering functions of 2-MeC4 decay more rapidly than those of n-C5 before 1.0 ps. In the longer time region, the rotational intermediate scattering functions of both molecules intersect. It is shown that n-C5 molecules move more easily from supercage to supercage compared to 2-MeC4, rotating for a longer time in the confinement of the MCM-22 supercage.

Low-coverage adsorption properties of the metal-organic framework MIL-47 studied by pulse chromatography and Monte Carlo simulations.

Low-coverage adsorption properties of the metal-organic framework MIL-47 were determined by a combined experimental and simulation study. Henry constants and low coverage adsorption enthalpies of C5-C8 linear and branched alkanes, cyclohexane and benzene were measured from 120 to 240 degrees C using pulse gas chromatography. An adapted force field for linear and branched alkanes in MIL-47 was used to compute the adsorption properties of those molecules. A new set of charges was developed for simulations with benzene in MIL-47. The adsorption enthalpy of linear alkanes increases with about 7.6 kJ mol(-1) per additional -CH2- group. Henry adsorption constants of iso-alkanes are slightly lower than those of the linear chains but the MIL-47 framework is not imposing steric constraints on the branched chains. Benzene and cyclohexane are adsorbed less strongly than n-hexane as they have less hydrogen atoms. For the studied non-polar molecules, the adsorption energies are dominated by van der Waals interactions and benzene adsorption is additionally influenced by Coulombic interactions. The simulated tendencies are in good agreement with the experiments.

Pore-filling-dependent selectivity effects in the vapor-phase separation of xylene isomers on the metal-organic framework MIL-47.

Vapor-phase adsorption and separation of the C8 alkylaromatic components p-xylene, m-xylene, o-xylene, and ethylbenzene on the metal-organic framework MIL-47 have been studied. Low coverage Henry adsorption constants and adsorption enthalpies were determined using the pulse chromatographic technique at temperatures between 230 and 290 degrees C. The four C8 alkylaromatic components have comparable Henry constants and adsorption enthalpies. Adsorption isotherms of the pure components were determined using the gravimetric technique at 70, 110, and 150 degrees C. The adsorption capacity and steepness of the isotherms differs among the components and are strongly temperature dependent. Breakthrough experiments with several binary mixtures were performed at 70-150 degrees C and varying total hydrocarbon pressure from 0.0004 to 0.05 bar. Separation of the different isomers could be achieved. In general, it was found that the adsorption selectivity increases with increasing partial pressure or degree of pore filling. The separation at a high degree of pore filling in the vapor phase is a result of differences in packing modes of the C8 alkylaromatic components in the pores of MIL-47.