Dynamic Lone Pairs and Fluoride-Ion Disorder in Cubic-BaSnF4.

Introducing compositional or structural disorder within crystalline solid electrolytes is a common strategy for increasing their ionic conductivity. (M,Sn)F2 fluorites have previously been proposed to exhibit two forms of disorder within their cationic host frameworks: occupational disorder from randomly distributed M and Sn cations and orientational disorder from Sn(II) stereoactive lone pairs. Here, we characterize the structure and fluoride-ion dynamics of cubic BaSnF4, using a combination of experimental and computational techniques. Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data confirms an average fluorite structure with {Ba,Sn} cation disorder, and the 119Sn Mössbauer spectrum demonstrates the presence of stereoactive Sn(II) lone pairs. X-ray total-scattering PDF analysis and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal a complex local structure with a high degree of intrinsic fluoride-ion disorder, where 1/3 of fluoride ions occupy octahedral "interstitial" sites: this fluoride-ion disorder is a consequence of repulsion between Sn lone pairs and fluoride ions that destabilizes Sn-coordinated tetrahedral fluoride-ion sites. Variable-temperature 19F NMR experiments and analysis of our molecular dynamics simulations reveal highly inhomogeneous fluoride-ion dynamics, with fluoride ions in Sn-rich local environments significantly more mobile than those in Ba-rich environments. Our simulations also reveal dynamical reorientation of the Sn lone pairs that is biased by the local cation configuration and coupled to the local fluoride-ion dynamics. We end by discussing the effect of host-framework disorder on long-range diffusion pathways in cubic BaSnF4.

Towards Reversible High-Voltage Multi-Electron Reactions in Alkali-Ion Batteries Using Vanadium Phosphate Positive Electrode Materials.

Vanadium phosphate positive electrode materials attract great interest in the field of Alkali-ion (Li, Na and K-ion) batteries due to their ability to store several electrons per transition metal. These multi-electron reactions (from V2+ to V5+) combined with the high voltage of corresponding redox couples (e.g., 4.0 V vs. for V3+/V4+ in Na3V2(PO4)2F3) could allow the achievement the 1 kWh/kg milestone at the positive electrode level in Alkali-ion batteries. However, a massive divergence in the voltage reported for the V3+/V4+ and V4+/V5+ redox couples as a function of crystal structure is noticed. Moreover, vanadium phosphates that operate at high V3+/V4+ voltages are usually unable to reversibly exchange several electrons in a narrow enough voltage range. Here, through the review of redox mechanisms and structural evolutions upon electrochemical operation of selected widely studied materials, we identify the crystallographic origin of this trend: the distribution of PO4 groups around vanadium octahedra, that allows or prevents the formation of the vanadyl distortion (O…V4+=O or O…V5+=O). While the vanadyl entity massively lowers the voltage of the V3+/V4+ and V4+/V5+ couples, it considerably improves the reversibility of these redox reactions. Therefore, anionic substitutions, mainly O2- by F-, have been identified as a strategy allowing for combining the beneficial effect of the vanadyl distortion on the reversibility with the high voltage of vanadium redox couples in fluorine rich environments.

Under Pressure: Mechanochemical Effects on Structure and Ion Conduction in the Sodium-Ion Solid Electrolyte Na3PS4.

Fast-ion conductors are critical to the development of solid-state batteries. The effects of mechanochemical synthesis that lead to increased ionic conductivity in an archetypical sodium-ion conductor Na3PS4 are not fully understood. We present here a comprehensive analysis based on diffraction (Bragg and pair distribution function), spectroscopy (impedance, Raman, NMR and INS), and ab initio simulations aimed at elucidating the synthesis-property relationships in Na3PS4. We consolidate previously reported interpretations regarding the local structure of ball-milled samples, underlining the sodium disorder and showing that a local tetragonal framework more accurately describes the structure than the originally proposed cubic one. Through variable-pressure impedance spectroscopy measurements, we report for the first time the activation volume for Na+ migration in Na3PS4, which is ∼30% higher for the ball-milled samples. Moreover, we show that the effect of ball-milling on increasing the ionic conductivity of Na3PS4 to ∼10-4 S/cm can be reproduced by applying external pressure on a sample from conventional high-temperature ceramic synthesis. We conclude that the key effects of mechanochemical synthesis on the properties of solid electrolytes can be analyzed and understood in terms of pressure, strain, and activation volume.

Fundamentals of inorganic solid-state electrolytes for batteries.

In the critical area of sustainable energy storage, solid-state batteries have attracted considerable attention due to their potential safety, energy-density and cycle-life benefits. This Review describes recent progress in the fundamental understanding of inorganic solid electrolytes, which lie at the heart of the solid-state battery concept, by addressing key issues in the areas of multiscale ion transport, electrochemical and mechanical properties, and current processing routes. The main electrolyte-related challenges for practical solid-state devices include utilization of metal anodes, stabilization of interfaces and the maintenance of physical contact, the solutions to which hinge on gaining greater knowledge of the underlying properties of solid electrolyte materials.

Ionothermal Synthesis of Polyanionic Electrode Material Na3V2(PO4)2FO2 through a Topotactic Reaction.

Polyanionic Na3V2(PO4)2FO2 has been successfully prepared for the first time by ionothermal reaction in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMIM TFSI) ionic liquid. Its structure and elemental stoichiometry are confirmed by X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, and ICP-OES, respectively. Furthermore, the scanning electron microscopy reveals that the as-obtained material possesses an original platelet-like morphology. A topochemical reaction mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of the 3D framework of Na3V2(PO4)2FO2 from layered compound α-VOPO4·2H2O. Galvanostatic electrochemical tests indicate a modification of the desodiation and sodiation mechanism of the as-prepared Na3V2(PO4)2FO2 compared to those synthesized by conventional solid-state approaches. Furthermore, the electrochemical performance of Na3V2(PO4)2FO2 obtained at different cycling rates is also discussed.

Local atomic and electronic structure in the LiVPO4 (F,O) tavorite-type materials from solid-state NMR combined with DFT calculations.

7 Li, 31 P, and 19 F solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the local arrangement of oxygen and fluorine in LiVPO4 F1-y Oy materials, interesting as positive electrode materials for Li-ion batteries. From the evolution of the 1D spectra versus y, 2D 7 Li radiofrequency-driven recoupling (RFDR) experiments combined, and a tentative signal assignment based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it appears that F and O are not randomly dispersed on the bridging X position between two X-VO4 -X octahedra (X = O or F) but tend to segregate at a local scale. Using DFT calculations, we analyzed the impact of the different local environments on the local electronic structure. Depending on the nature of the VO4 X2 environments, vanadium ions are either in the +III or in the +IV oxidation state and can exhibit different distributions of their unpaired electron(s) on the d orbitals. Based on those different local electronic structures and on the computed Fermi contact shifts, we discuss the impact on the spin transfer mechanism on adjacent nuclei and propose tentative signal assignments. The O/F clustering tendency is discussed in relation with the formation of short VIV O vanadyl bonds with a very specific electronic structure and possible cooperative effect along the chain.

Atomic-Scale Influence of Grain Boundaries on Li-Ion Conduction in Solid Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Batteries.

Solid electrolytes are generating considerable interest for all-solid-state Li-ion batteries to address safety and performance issues. Grain boundaries have a significant influence on solid electrolytes and are key hurdles that must be overcome for their successful application. However, grain boundary effects on ionic transport are not fully understood, especially at the atomic scale. The Li-rich anti-perovskite Li3OCl is a promising solid electrolyte, although there is debate concerning the precise Li-ion migration barriers and conductivity. Using Li3OCl as a model polycrystalline electrolyte, we apply large-scale molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the ionic transport at stable grain boundaries. Our results predict high concentrations of grain boundaries and clearly show that Li-ion conductivity is severely hindered through the grain boundaries. The activation energies for Li-ion conduction traversing the grain boundaries are consistently higher than that of the bulk crystal, confirming the high grain boundary resistance in this material. Using our results, we propose a polycrystalline model to quantify the impact of grain boundaries on conductivity as a function of grain size. Such insights provide valuable fundamental understanding of the role of grain boundaries and how tailoring the microstructure can lead to the optimization of new high-performance solid electrolytes.

A High Voltage Cathode Material for Sodium Batteries: Na3V(PO4)2.

A novel layered Na3V(PO4)2 compound was synthesized and studied as a positive electrode material for Na-ion batteries for the first time. The as-prepared material exhibits two relatively high voltage plateaus at around 3.6 and 4.0 V vs Na+/Na. Operando X-ray diffraction investigation provides insight into the mechanisms of structural transformations upon cycling.

Crystal Structure and Lithium Diffusion Pathways of a Potential Positive Electrode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries: Li2VIII(H0.5PO4)2.

A new potentially interesting material as a positive electrode for lithium-ion batteries, Li2VIII(H0.5PO4)2, was obtained by hydrothermal synthesis. Its crystal structure was solved thanks to single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This material is isostructural to Li2FeIII(PO4)(HPO4) and also closely related to Li2FeII(SO4)2. It can be described as a VO6 octahedron sharing corners with six PO4 tetrahedra to form a 3D framework. One oxygen atom of each phosphate group is unshared with a vanadium octahedron and as such linked to a hydrogen atom. The arrangement of these polyhedra generates large channels running along [100] in which lithium cations are located. The close structural relationship between Li2FeIII(PO4)(HPO4) and Li2FeII(SO4)2 allows one to investigate, by comparison, the effect of the hydrogen atoms lying on lithium diffusion pathways.

Structural and Mechanistic Insights into Fast Lithium-Ion Conduction in Li4SiO4-Li3PO4 Solid Electrolytes.

Solid electrolytes that are chemically stable and have a high ionic conductivity would dramatically enhance the safety and operating lifespan of rechargeable lithium batteries. Here, we apply a multi-technique approach to the Li-ion conducting system (1-z)Li4SiO4-(z)Li3PO4 with the aim of developing a solid electrolyte with enhanced ionic conductivity. Previously unidentified superstructure and immiscibility features in high-purity samples are characterized by X-ray and neutron diffraction across a range of compositions (z = 0.0-1.0). Ionic conductivities from AC impedance measurements and large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are in good agreement, showing very low values in the parent phases (Li4SiO4 and Li3PO4) but orders of magnitude higher conductivities (10(-3) S/cm at 573 K) in the mixed compositions. The MD simulations reveal new mechanistic insights into the mixed Si/P compositions in which Li-ion conduction occurs through 3D pathways and a cooperative interstitial mechanism; such correlated motion is a key factor in promoting high ionic conductivity. Solid-state (6)Li, (7)Li, and (31)P NMR experiments reveal enhanced local Li-ion dynamics and atomic disorder in the solid solutions, which are correlated to the ionic diffusivity. These unique insights will be valuable in developing strategies to optimize the ionic conductivity in this system and to identify next-generation solid electrolytes.

Improved ACOM pattern matching in 4D-STEM through adaptive sub-pixel peak detection and image reconstruction.

The technique known as 4D-STEM has recently emerged as a powerful tool for the local characterization of crystalline structures in materials, such as cathode materials for Li-ion batteries or perovskite materials for photovoltaics. However, the use of new detectors optimized for electron diffraction patterns and other advanced techniques requires constant adaptation of methodologies to address the challenges associated with crystalline materials. In this study, we present a novel image-processing method to improve pattern matching in the determination of crystalline orientations and phases. Our approach uses sub-pixel adaptive image processing to register and reconstruct electron diffraction signals in large 4D-STEM datasets. By using adaptive prominence and linear filters, we can improve the quality of the diffraction pattern registration. The resulting data compression rate of 103 is well-suited for the era of big data and provides a significant enhancement in the performance of the entire ACOM data processing method. Our approach is evaluated using dedicated metrics, which demonstrate a high improvement in phase recognition. Several features are extracted from the registered data to map properties such as the spot count, and various virtual dark fields, which are used to enhance the handling of the results maps. Our results demonstrate that this data preparation method not only enhances the quality of the resulting image but also boosts the confidence level in the analysis of the outcomes related to determining crystal orientation and phase. Additionally, it mitigates the impact of user bias that may occur during the application of the method through the manipulation of parameters.

Magnetic structures of LiMBO3 (M = Mn, Fe, Co) lithiated transition metal borates.

The magnetic ordering within LiMBO3 compounds (M = Mn, Fe, and Co) has been explored by magnetization measurements and neutron powder diffraction. For all M, an incommensurately ordered magnetic phase is established on cooling, followed by a change to a commensurate long-range antiferromagnetic state below TN2 = 12(1) K for LiMnBO3, TN2 = 25(1) K for LiFeBO3, and TN2 = 12(1) K for LiCoBO3. For LiMnBO3, the magnetic ordering at T = 2 K exhibits a propagation vector k = (1, 0, 0) and consists of antiferromagnetic chains that are coupled antiferromagnetically to each other, the magnetic moments being oriented along the [001] direction. In contrast, the magnetic order at T = 2 K in LiFeBO3 and LiCoBO3 exhibits a propagation vector of k = (1/2, 1/2, 1/2) and consists of ferromagnetic chains that are antiferromagnetically coupled. The magnetic moments lie roughly along the [023] direction within the bc plane for LiFeBO3, and along the [301] direction within the ac plane for LiCoBO3. The moment orientations in both LiMnBO3 and LiFeBO3 suggest an Ising character arising from unquenched orbital momentum due to unusual trigonal bipyrimidal coordination environments. No evidence of Ising behavior is found in the case of LiCoBO3.

Fundamental investigations on the sodium-ion transport properties of mixed polyanion solid-state battery electrolytes.

Lithium and sodium (Na) mixed polyanion solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries display some of the highest ionic conductivities reported to date. However, the effect of polyanion mixing on the ion-transport properties is still not fully understood. Here, we focus on Na1+xZr2SixP3-xO12 (0 ≤ x ≤ 3) NASICON electrolyte to elucidate the role of polyanion mixing on the Na-ion transport properties. Although NASICON is a widely investigated system, transport properties derived from experiments or theory vary by orders of magnitude. We use more than 2000 distinct ab initio-based kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to map the compositional space of NASICON over various time ranges, spatial resolutions and temperatures. Via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements on samples with different sodium content, we find that the highest ionic conductivity (i.e., about 0.165 S cm-1 at 473 K) is experimentally achieved in Na3.4Zr2Si2.4P0.6O12, in line with simulations (i.e., about 0.170 S cm-1 at 473 K). The theoretical studies indicate that doped NASICON compounds (especially those with a silicon content x ≥ 2.4) can improve the Na-ion mobility compared to undoped NASICON compositions.

α-Na3M2(PO4)3 (M = Ti, Fe): absolute cationic ordering in NASICON-type phases.

The structure of the fully ordered α-Na(3)Ti(2)(PO(4))(3) NASICON compound was elucidated using high-quality single-crystal data. The cation/vacancy distribution forms a homogeneous 3D arrangement and could represent the absolute cationic ordering available in the full Na(3)M(2)(PO(4))(3) series, as verified for M = Fe. For M = Ti, the reversible α → γ transition was observed at 85 °C, leading to the standard disordered R ̅3c γ model. Through JPDF analysis, the most probable Na(+) zigzag M(2)-M(1) diffusion scheme was directly deduced using our accurate crystallographic data.

Dependence of Li2FeSiO4 electrochemistry on structure.

Small differences in the FeO(4) arrangements (orientation, size, and distortion) do influence the equilibrium potential measured during the first oxidation of Fe(2+) to Fe(3+) in all polymorphs of Li(2)FeSiO(4).

Insights into the Rich Polymorphism of the Na+ Ion Conductor Na3PS4 from the Perspective of Variable-Temperature Diffraction and Spectroscopy.

Solid electrolytes are crucial for next-generation solid-state batteries, and Na3PS4 is one of the most promising Na+ conductors for such applications, despite outstanding questions regarding its structural polymorphs. In this contribution, we present a detailed investigation of the evolution in structure and dynamics of Na3PS4 over a wide temperature range 30 < T < 600 °C through combined experimental-computational analysis. Although Bragg diffraction experiments indicate a second-order phase transition from the tetragonal ground state (α, P4̅21 c) to the cubic polymorph (ß, I4̅3m) above ∼250 °C, pair distribution function analysis in real space and Raman spectroscopy indicate remnants of a tetragonal character in the range 250 < T < 500 °C, which we attribute to dynamic local tetragonal distortions. The first-order phase transition to the mesophasic high-temperature polymorph (γ, Fddd) is associated with a sharp volume increase and the onset of liquid-like dynamics for sodium-cations (translational) and thiophosphate-polyanions (rotational) evident by inelastic neutron and Raman spectroscopies, as well as pair-distribution function and molecular dynamics analyses. These results shed light on the rich polymorphism of Na3PS4 and are relevant for a range host of high-performance materials deriving from the Na3PS4 structural archetype.

Linking local environments and hyperfine shifts: a combined experimental and theoretical (31)P and (7)Li solid-state NMR study of paramagnetic Fe(III) phosphates.

Iron phosphates (FePO(4)) are among the most promising candidate materials for advanced Li-ion battery cathodes. This work reports upon a combined nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experimental and periodic density functional theory (DFT) computational study of the environments and electronic structures occurring in a range of paramagnetic Fe(III) phosphates comprising FePO(4) (heterosite), monoclinic Li(3)Fe(2)(PO(4))(3) (anti-NASICON A type), rhombohedral Li(3)Fe(2)(PO(4))(3) (NASICON B type), LiFeP(2)O(7), orthorhombic FePO(4)·2H(2)O (strengite), monoclinic FePO(4)·2H(2)O (phosphosiderite), and the dehydrated forms of the latter two phases. Many of these materials serve as model compounds relevant to battery chemistry. The (31)P spin-echo mapping and (7)Li magic angle spinning NMR techniques yield the hyperfine shifts of the species of interest, complemented by periodic hybrid functional DFT calculations of the respective hyperfine and quadrupolar tensors. A Curie-Weiss-based magnetic model scaling the DFT-calculated hyperfine parameters from the ferromagnetic into the experimentally relevant paramagnetic state is derived and applied, providing quantitative finite temperature values for each phase. The sensitivity of the hyperfine parameters to the composition of the DFT exchange functional is characterized by the application of hybrid Hamiltonians containing admixtures 0%, 20%, and 35% of Fock exchange. Good agreement between experimental and calculated values is obtained, provided that the residual magnetic couplings persisting in the paramagnetic state are included. The potential applications of a similar combined experimental and theoretical NMR approach to a wider range of cathode materials are discussed.

Crystal structure of a new polymorph of Li2FeSiO4.

We report on the crystal structure of a new polymorph of Li(2)FeSiO(4) (prepared by annealing under argon at 900 degrees C and quenching to 25 degrees C) characterized by electron microscopy and powder X-ray and neutron diffraction. The crystal structure of Li(2)FeSiO(4) quenched from 900 degrees C is isostructural with Li(2)CdSiO(4), described in the space group Pmnb with lattice parameters a = 6.2836(1) A, b = 10.6572(1) A, and c = 5.0386(1) A. A close comparison is made with the structure of Li(2)FeSiO(4) quenched from 700 degrees C, published recently by Nishimura et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 13212). The two polymorphs differ mainly on the respective orientations and alternate sequences of corner-sharing FeO(4) and SiO(4) tetrahedra.