Amorphous Metal Polysulfides: Electrode Materials with Unique Insertion/Extraction Reactions.

A unique charge/discharge mechanism of amorphous TiS4 is reported. Amorphous transition metal polysulfide electrodes exhibit anomalous charge/discharge performance and should have a unique charge/discharge mechanism: neither the typical intercalation/deintercalation mechanism nor the conversion-type one, but a mixture of the two. Analyzing the mechanism of such electrodes has been a challenge because fewer tools are available to examine the "amorphous" structure. It is revealed that the electrode undergoes two distinct structural changes: (i) the deformation and formation of S-S disulfide bonds and (ii) changes in the coordination number of titanium. These structural changes proceed continuously and concertedly for Li insertion/extraction. The results of this study provide a novel and unique model of amorphous electrode materials with significantly larger capacities.

Interface structure between tetraglyme and graphite.

Clarification of the details of the interface structure between liquids and solids is crucial for understanding the fundamental processes of physical functions. Herein, we investigate the structure of the interface between tetraglyme and graphite and propose a model for the interface structure based on the observation of frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy in liquids. The ordering and distorted adsorption of tetraglyme on graphite were observed. It is found that tetraglyme stably adsorbs on graphite. Density functional theory calculations supported the adsorption structure. In the liquid phase, there is a layered structure of the molecular distribution with an average distance of 0.60 nm between layers.

Irreversible morphological changes of a graphite negative-electrode at high potentials in LiPF6-based electrolyte solution.

The degradation mechanism of a graphite negative-electrode in LiPF6-based electrolyte solution was investigated using the basal plane of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) as a model electrode. Changes in the surface morphology were observed by in situ atomic force microscopy. In the initial cathodic scan, a number of pits appeared at around 1.75 V vs. Li(+)/Li, and fine particles formed on the terrace of the HOPG basal plane at about 1.5 V vs. Li(+)/Li. The fine particles were characterized by spectroscopic analysis, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. We added one of the components to LiClO4-based electrolyte solution, and successfully reproduced the formation of pits and fine particles on the basal plane of HOPG. Based on these results, the formation mechanisms of pits and fine particle layers were proposed.

Phase transition kinetics of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 analyzed by temperature-controlled operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) is a promising positive electrode material for lithium ion batteries because it shows a high potential of 4.7 V vs. Li/Li(+). Its charge-discharge reaction includes two consecutive phase transitions between LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (Li1) ↔ Li0.5Ni0.5Mn1.5O4 (Li0.5) and Li0.5 ↔ Ni0.5Mn1.5O4 (Li0) and the complex transition kinetics that governs the rate capability of LNMO can hardly be analyzed by simple electrochemical techniques. Herein, we apply temperature-controlled operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy to directly capture the reacting phases from -20 °C to 40 °C under potential step (chronoamperometric) conditions and evaluate the phase transition kinetics using the apparent first-order rate constants at various temperatures. The constant for the Li1 ↔ Li0.5 transition (process 1) is larger than that for the Li0.5 ↔ Li0 transition (process 2) at all the measured temperatures, and the corresponding activation energies are 29 and 46 kJ mol(-1) for processes 1 and 2, respectively. The results obtained are discussed to elucidate the limiting factor in this system as well as in other electrode systems.

Synergistic Impact of Alloying with Ni on Cu Cathode Interfaces for Fluoride Batteries.

All-solid-state fluoride batteries have the potential to achieve energy densities significantly higher than those of lithium-ion batteries. A common cathode material for fluoride batteries is Cu. Cu has a low polarization, but its rapid capacity degradation due to grain growth and subsequent delamination from the solid-state electrolyte are critical issues. To enhance the performance of Cu-based cathodes in all-solid-state fluoride batteries, we explore alloying of Cu with Ni to create metastable solid solution phases (CuxNi1-x with x = 0, 0.32, 0.52, 0.72, 0.89, and 1.0). Compared to Cu, Ni has a higher polarization but exhibits superior capacity retention. The Cu0.72Ni0.28 alloy demonstrates a polarization as low as Cu, but it has a significantly improved capacity retention, which is comparable to Ni. Transmission electron microscopy observations demonstrate that the thin Ni-rich region formed near the interface inhibits Cu grain growth and delamination from the LaF3 electrolyte. By incorporating an appropriate amount of Ni into Cu, Cu-Ni alloy films combine the advantages of both metals, improving the performance of fluoride batteries.

Direct observation of a metastable crystal phase of Li(x)FePO4 under electrochemical phase transition.

The phase transition between LiFePO4 and FePO4 during nonequilibrium battery operation was tracked in real time using time-resolved X-ray diffraction. In conjunction with increasing current density, a metastable crystal phase appears in addition to the thermodynamically stable LiFePO4 and FePO4 phases. The metastable phase gradually diminishes under open-circuit conditions following electrochemical cycling. We propose a phase transition path that passes through the metastable phase and posit the new phase's role in decreasing the nucleation energy, accounting for the excellent rate capability of LiFePO4. This study is the first to report the measurement of a metastable crystal phase during the electrochemical phase transition of LixFePO4.

Formation of "fuzzy" phases with high proton conductivities in the composites of polyphosphoric acid and metal oxide nanoparticles.

A high proton-conducting phase appears in the composites of zirconium- and titanium-oxide nanoparticles and polyphosphoric acid (HPO(3)). Metal oxide nanoparticles (ZrO(2) and TiO(2)) react with HPO(3) and form composite electrolytes containing pyrophosphates (ZrP(2)O(7) or TiP(2)O(7)) and shortened HPO(3) chains. The ZrO(2)-HPO(3) composite exhibits eleven times higher conductivity than sole HPO(3) at the maximum. A formed layer of shortened HPO(3) chains surrounding the pyrophosphates enhances the proton conductivities of the composite electrolytes and reduces the activation energies for the proton conductivities from 50 to 30 kJ mol(-1).

In situ two-dimensional imaging quick-scanning XAFS with pixel array detector.

Quick-scanning X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements were performed in transmission mode using a PILATUS 100K pixel array detector (PAD). The method can display a two-dimensional image for a large area of the order of a centimetre with a spatial resolution of 0.2 mm at each energy point in the XAFS spectrum. The time resolution of the quick-scanning method ranged from 10 s to 1 min per spectrum depending on the energy range. The PAD has a wide dynamic range and low noise, so the obtained spectra have a good signal-to-noise ratio.

An X-ray absorption spectroscopic study on mixed conductive La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O(3-δ) cathodes. I. Electrical conductivity and electronic structure.

The electrical conduction mechanism of mixed conductive perovskite oxides, La(0.6)Sr(0.4)Co(0.8)Fe(0.2)O(3-δ), for cathode materials of solid oxide fuel cells has been investigated from electronic structural changes during oxygen vacancy formation. La(0.6)Sr(0.4)Co(0.8)Fe(0.2)O(3-δ) was annealed under various oxygen partial pressures p(O(2))s at 1073 K and quenched. Iodometric titration indicated that the oxygen nonstoichiometry of La(0.6)Sr(0.4)Co(0.8)Fe(0.2)O(3-δ) depended on the annealing p(O(2)), with more oxygen vacancies introduced at lower than at higher p(O(2))s. X-Ray absorption spectroscopic measurements were performed at the O K-, Co L-, Fe L-, Co K-, and Fe K-edges. The valence states of the Co and Fe ions were investigated by the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) at the Co and Fe L(III)-edges. While the Fe average valence was almost constant, the valence of the Co ions decreased with oxygen vacancy introduction. The O K-edge XANES spectra indicated that electrons were injected into the Co 3d/O 2p hybridization state with oxygen vacancy introduction. Both absorption edges at the Co and Fe K-edge XANES shifted towards lower energies with oxygen vacancy introduction. The shift at the Co K-edge resulted from the decrease in the Co average valence and that at the Fe K-edge appeared to be caused by changes in the coordination environment around the Fe ions. The total conductivity of La(0.6)Sr(0.4)Co(0.8)Fe(0.2)O(3-δ) decreased with decreasing p(O(2)), due to a decreasing hole concentration.

Sequential delithiation behavior and structural rearrangement of a nanoscale composite-structured Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 during charge-discharge cycles.

Lithium- and manganese-rich layered oxides (LMRs) are promising positive electrode materials for next-generation rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Herein, the structural evolution of Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 during the initial charge-discharge cycle was examined using synchrotron-radiation X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to elucidate the unique delithiation behavior. The pristine material contained a composite layered structure composed of Ni-free and Ni-doped Li2MnO3 and LiMO2 (M = Ni, Mn) nanoscale domains, and Li ions were sequentially and inhomogeneously extracted from the composite structure. Delithiation from the LiMO2 domain was observed in the potential slope region associated with the Ni2+/Ni4+ redox couple. Li ions were then extracted from the Li2MnO3 domain during the potential plateau and remained mostly in the Ni-doped Li2MnO3 domain at 4.8 V. In addition, structural transformation into a spinel-like phase was partly observed, which is associated with oxygen loss and cation migration within the Li2MnO3 domain. During Li intercalation, cation remigration and mixing resulted in a domainless layered structure with a chemical composition similar to that of LiNi0.25Mn0.75O2. After the structural activation, the Li ions were reversibly extracted from the newly formed domainless structure.

Kinetics of lithium ion transfer at the interface between graphite and liquid electrolytes: effects of solvent and surface film.

The kinetics of lithium ion transfer at an interface between graphite and liquid electrolyte was studied by ac impedance spectroscopy. Using highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) as a model electrode, we evaluated the activation energies of the interfacial lithium ion transfer from the temperature dependences of the interfacial conductivities. When a binary electrolyte consisting of LiClO(4) dissolved in a mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) (1:1 by volume) was used, the activation energy of the interfacial lithium ion transfer was 58 kJ mol(-1), while an electrolyte consisting of LiClO(4) dissolved in DMC gave an activation energy of 40 kJ mol(-1). A calculation with the density functional theory clarified that the solvation ability of EC is higher than that of DMC. Therefore, we concluded that the activation energies of the interfacial lithium ion transfer at graphite reflected the energies for the desolvation of lithium ion from the solvent molecule. Furthermore, the activation energies of the interfacial lithium ion transfer varied in the presence of different surface films (solid electrolyte interphase, SEI). These results suggest that the kinetics of the interfacial lithium ion transfer at graphite is influenced by the compositions of SEI films as well as the desolvation of lithium ion from solvent molecules.

Evolution of Reactions of a Fluoride Shuttle Battery at the Surfaces of BiF3 Microclusters Studied by In†Situ Raman Microscopy.

Fluoride shuttle batteries (FSBs), which utilize defluorination of metal fluorides and fluorination of the resultant metals, are expected to have high energy densities. In situ Raman microscopy was conducted during FSB reactions of a nearly-2D cluster of orthorhombic BiF3 microparticles partly embedded in a gold-plated film (o-BiF3 /gold). At a high overpotential, defluorination of the surface of an o-BiF3 particle (or cluster) was almost completed within approximately 120 s. At a low over potential, defluorination proceeded from the contours of the cluster that was in contact with the gold to the center of the cluster, suggesting that the rate-limiting process was electronic diffusion. Conversely, fluorination proceeded uniformly at the surface of the cluster to form BiF3 with a cubic structure (c-BiF3 ). The results will lead to the establishment of a strategy for efficient use of active materials with low electronic and ionic conductivities.

A Reversible Rocksalt to Amorphous Phase Transition Involving Anion Redox.

The charge-discharge capacity of lithium secondary batteries is dependent on how many lithium ions can be reversibly extracted from (charge) and inserted into (discharge) the electrode active materials. In contrast, large structural changes during charging/discharging are unavoidable for electrode materials with large capacities, and thus there is great demand for developing materials with reversible structures. Herein, we demonstrate a reversible rocksalt to amorphous phase transition involving anion redox in a Li2TiS3 electrode active material with NaCl-type structure. We revealed that the lithium extraction during charging involves a change in site of the sulfur atom and the formation of S-S disulfide bonds, leading to a decrease in the crystallinity. Our results show great promise for the development of long-life lithium insertion/extraction materials, because the structural change clarified here is somewhat similar to that of optical phase-change materials used in DVD-RW discs, which exhibit excellent reversibility of the transition between crystalline and amorphous phase.

Crystal and defect structures of La2/3 xLi3xTiO3 (x ~ 0.1) produced by a melt process.

The crystal and defect structures of coarse-grained crystals of La(2/3-x)Li(3x)TiO3 grown from the melt by the Tammann-Stöber method were studied by transmission electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. The as-grown crystals of La(2/3-x)Li(3x)TiO3 have a Li-poor composition of La(0.57)Li(0.29)TiO3 and a diagonal-type unit cell of 2(1/2)a(p) x 2(1/2)a(p) x 2a(p) with the tetragonal symmetry [space group: P4/nbm (#125)] due to both the La-cation ordering and the tilting of TiO6 octahedra. The secondary La2Ti2O7 phase precipitates in the form of plates in the La(2/3-x)Li(3x)TiO3 phase with the orientation relationships of 001(p)//[100](La2Ti2O7) and {110}(p)//(001)(La2Ti2O7), which may cause detrimental effects to ionic conductivity.

In†Situ Raman Spectroscopic Studies on Concentration of Electrolyte Salt in Lithium-Ion Batteries by Using Ultrafine Multifiber Probes.

Lithium-ion batteries have attracted considerable attention due to their high power density. The change in concentration of salt in the electrolyte solution in lithium-ion batteries during operation causes serious degradation of battery performance. Herein, a new method of in situ Raman spectroscopy with ultrafine multifiber probes was developed to simultaneously study the concentrations of ions at several different positions in the electrolyte solution in deep narrow spaces between the electrodes in batteries. The total amount of ions in the electrolyte solution clearly changed during operation due to the low permeability of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) at the anode for Li+ permeation. The permeability, which is a key factor to achieve high battery performance, was improved (enhanced) by adding film-forming additives to the electrolyte solution to modify the properties of the SEI. The results provide important information for understanding and predicting phenomena occurring in a battery and for designing a superior battery. The present method is useful for analysis in deep narrow spaces in other electrochemical devices, such as capacitors.

Brownmillerite-type Ca2 FeCoO5 as a Practicable Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalyst.

Here, we report remarkable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic activity of brownmillerite (BM)-type Ca2 FeCoO5 . The OER activity of this oxide is comparable to or beyond those of the state-of-the-art perovskite (PV)-catalyst Ba0.5 Sr0.5 Co0.8 Fe0.2 O3-δ (BSCF) and a precious-metal catalyst RuO2 , emphasizing the importance of the characteristic BM structure with multiple coordination environments of transition metal (TM) species. Also, Ca2 FeCoO5 is clearly advantageous in terms of expense/laboriousness of the material synthesis. These facts make this oxide a promising OER catalyst used in many energy conversion technologies such as metal-air secondary batteries and hydrogen production from electrochemical/photocatalytic water splitting.

Concentration of hydrogen nanobubbles in electrolyzed water.

The hydrogen concentration of solutions supersaturated with hydrogen comprising dissolved hydrogen and hydrogen bubbles obtained through water electrolysis was studied. The rate of decrease in concentration of hydrogen nanobubble diameter below 600 nm and dissolved hydrogen with elapsed time after electrolysis was seemed to be independent of ionic strength and ion type and storage temperature. The concentration of hydrogen nanobubbles (mol dm(-3)) in electrolyzed water decreases with ionic strength, while the total hydrogen concentration remains roughly constant. The hydrogen nanobubble concentration increases in accordance with the nature of ions existing in solution in the following order I- < Br- < Cl- and K+ < Li+ < Na+. It is shown that the ratio of hydrogen nanobubble concentration to total hydrogen concentration of hydrogen in a catholyte strongly depends on the ratio in the supersaturated hydrogen solution near the electrode surface.

Structural Understanding of Superior Battery Properties of Partially Ni-Doped Li2MnO3 as Cathode Material.

We examined the crystal structures of Li2(NixMn1-x)O3(-δ) (x = 0, 1/10, 1/6, and 1/4) to elucidate the relationship between the structure and electrochemical performance of the compounds using neutron and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction analyses in combination. Our examination revealed that these crystals contain a large number of stacking faults and exhibit significant cation mixing in the transition-metal layers; the cation mixing becomes significant with an increase in the Ni concentration. Charge-discharge measurements showed that the replacement of Mn with Ni lowers the potential of the charge plateau and leads to higher charge-discharge capacities. From a topological point of view with regard to the atomic arrangement in the crystals, it is concluded that substituting Mn in Li2MnO3 with Ni promotes the formation of smooth Li percolation paths, thus increasing the number of active Li ions and improving the charge-discharge capacity.

Ionic Conduction in Lithium Ion Battery Composite Electrode Governs Cross-sectional Reaction Distribution.

Composite electrodes containing active materials, carbon and binder are widely used in lithium-ion batteries. Since the electrode reaction occurs preferentially in regions with lower resistance, reaction distribution can be happened within composite electrodes. We investigate the relationship between the reaction distribution with depth direction and electronic/ionic conductivity in composite electrodes with changing electrode porosities. Two dimensional X-ray absorption spectroscopy shows that the reaction distribution is happened in lower porosity electrodes. Our developed 6-probe method can measure electronic/ionic conductivity in composite electrodes. The ionic conductivity is decreased for lower porosity electrodes, which governs the reaction distribution of composite electrodes and their performances.