The Neutrons for Science Facility at SPIRAL-2

The neutrons for science (NFS) facility is a component of SPIRAL-2, the new superconducting linear accelerator built at GANIL in Caen (France). The proton and deuteron beams delivered by the accelerator will allow producing intense neutron fields in the 100 keV-40 MeV energy range. Continuous and quasi-mono-kinetic energy spectra, respectively, will be available at NFS, produced by the interaction of a deuteron beam on a thick Be converter and by the 7Li(p,n) reaction on thin converter. The pulsed neutron beam, with a flux up to two orders of magnitude higher than those of other existing time-of-flight facilities, will open new opportunities of experiments in fundamental research as well as in nuclear data measurements. In addition to the neutron beam, irradiation stations for neutron-, proton- and deuteron-induced reactions will be available for cross-sections measurements and for the irradiation of electronic devices or biological cells. NFS, whose first experiment is foreseen in 2018, will be a very powerful tool for physics, fundamental research as well as applications like the transmutation of nuclear waste, design of future fission and fusion reactors, nuclear medicine or test and development of new detectors.

CROSS SECTIONS MEASURED BY QUASI-MONOENERGETIC NEUTRONS

197Au, 209Bi, 59Co, natFe and 169Tm samples were irradiated several times with quasi-monoenergetic neutrons from the p+7Li reaction in the energy range of 18-34 MeV. The activities of the samples were measured with the HPGe detector and the reaction rates were calculated. The cross sections were extracted using the SAND-II code with the reference cross sections from the IRDFF database.

Reutilization of the expired tetracycline for lithium ion battery anode

Waste antibiotics into the natural environment are the large challenges to the environmental protection and the human health, and the unreasonable disposal of the expired antibiotics is a major pollution source. Herein, to achieve the innocent treatment and the resource recovery, the expired tetracycline was tried to be reutilized as the electrode active material in lithium ion battery (LIB) for the first time. The micro-structure and element component of the expired tetracycline were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Furthermore, the corresponding electrochemical performances were also investigated by galvanostatic charge/discharge and cyclic voltammetry (CV). To be satisfactory, the expired-tetracycline-based electrode delivered the initial specific discharge capacity of 371.6mAh/g and the reversible specific capacity of 304.1mAh/g after 200cycles. The decent results will not only offer an effective strategy to recycle the expired tetracycline, but also shed a new light on the cyclic economy and the sustainable development.

Development of Conjugate Addition of Lithium Dialkylcuprates to Thiochromones: Synthesis of 2-Alkylthiochroman-4-ones and Additional Synthetic Applications

Lithium dialkylcuprates undergo conjugate addition to thiochromones to afford 2-alkylthiochroman-4-ones in good yields. This approach provide an efficient and general synthetic approach to privileged sulfur-containing structural motifs and valuable precursors for many pharmaceuticals, starting from common substrates-thiochromones. Good yields of 2-alkyl-substituted thiochroman-4-ones are attained with lithium dialkylcuprates, lithium alkylcyanocuprates or substoichiometric amount of copper salts. The use of commercially available inexpensive alkyllithium reagents will expedite the synthesis of a large library of 2-alkyl substituted thiochroman-4-ones for additional synthetic applications.

The adsorption of Cs+ from wastewater using lithium-modified montmorillonite caged in calcium alginate beads

The increasing nuclear energy consumption has posed serious environmental concerns (e.g. nuclear leakage), and the removal of radionuclides such as cesium becomes an urgent issue to be solved currently. In this research, a novel non-toxic adsorbent lithium-modified montmorillonite clay encapsulated in calcium alginate microbeads (MCA/Li) was fabricated by using ion-exchange method and then used successfully in the remediation of cesium-contaminated wastewater. Analyses of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of adsorbent MCA/Li, such as internal crystal structure, constituent elements, and functional groups. The effects of concentration ratios (sodium alginate/montmorillonite), solution pH, contacting time and initial Cs⁺ concentration on the adsorption behavior were carefully investigated via batch adsorption experiments. The adsorbent MCA/Li exhibited higher selectivity and removal efficiency towards Cs⁺ with the maximum adsorption capacity of 100.25 mg/g. In the kinetics study, the pseudo-first-order fitted the cesium adsorption data of MCA/Li better than the pseudo-second-order. The adsorption mechanism studies revealed the process followed the Langmuir isotherm model, which suggested that Cs⁺ adsorption onto MCA/Li is a monolayer homogeneous adsorption process. The research findings indicated this novel adsorbent MCA/Li demonstrated great potential in radioactive wastewater treatment due to its convenience in synthesis, high adsorption capacity, and low cost.

Highly dispersed lithium doped mesoporous silica nanospheres regulating adhesion, proliferation, morphology, ALP activity and osteogenesis related gene expressions of BMSCs

Lithium (Li) doped mesoporous silica nanospheres (LMSNs) were synthesized by incorporation of 5 wt% Li into mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSNs) using sol-gel method. The results showed that LMSNs with a mean size of approximate 300 nm exhibited uniform and highly dispersed spherical morphology, which was similar to the morphology of MSNs. Moreover, the degradability of MSNs was significantly increased after the incorporation of Li, and LMSNs could release both silicon (Si) and Li ions in a sustained manner. Due to the release of Li ions, LMSNs showed higher stimulatory effects on the attachment and proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) than MSNs. In addition, LMSNs could also enhance the ALP activity of BMSCs as well as improving osteogenesis related genes (OPN, ALP, Runx2 and OCN) expression of BMSCs. In summary, LMSNs have shown the capability of being a carrier of biologically active ions, which exhibit great potential in bone repair/regeneration applications.

Comparison of Barricor™ vs. lithium heparin tubes for selected routine biochemical analytes and evaluation of post centrifugation stability

INTRODUCTION

Obtaining suitable results unaffected by pre- or postanalytical phases is pivotal for clinical chemistry service. We aimed comparison and stability of nine biochemical analytes after centrifugation using Barricor™ plasma tubes with mechanical separator vs standard Vacutainer® lithium heparin tubes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We collected samples on six healthy volunteers and nine patients from intensive care units into 6 mL plastic Vacutainer® lithium heparin tubes and 5.5 mL plastic Barricor™ plasma tubes. All tubes were centrifuged within 30 minutes after venipuncture. First, we compared results of nine biochemical analytes from lithium heparin tubes with Barricor™ tubes for each analyte using Passing-Bablok and Bland-Altman analyses. Second, we calculated the difference of analyte concentrations between baseline and time intervals in tubes stored at + 4 °C. Based on the total change limit we calculated the maximum allowable concentrations percentage change from baseline.

RESULTS

The majority of correlation coefficients were close to 0.99 indicating good correlation in the working range. Bland-Altman analyses showed an acceptable concordance for all analytes. In consequence, the Barricor™ tube might be an alternative to regular lithium heparin tube. Stability with this new generation tube is improved for eight analytes (except for aspartate aminotransferase) in comparison with regular lithium heparin tubes.

CONCLUSIONS

By using Barricor™ tubes and prompt centrifugation, supplemental analysis or re-analysis for eight analytes including alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, C-reactive protein, high sensitivity troponin T, lactate dehydrogenase, NT-pro BNP, potassium and sodium could be performed within 72 h of specimen collection.

Selective reductive leaching of cobalt and lithium from industrially crushed waste Li-ion batteries in sulfuric acid system

Recycling of valuable metals from secondary resources such as waste Li-ion batteries (LIBs) has recently attracted significant attention due to the depletion of high-grade natural resources and increasing interest in the circular economy of metals. In this article, the sulfuric acid leaching of industrially produced waste LIBs scraps with 23.6% cobalt (Co), 3.6% lithium (Li) and 6.2% copper (Cu) was investigated. The industrially produced LIBs scraps were shown to provide higher Li and Co leaching extractions compared to dissolution of corresponding amount of pure LiCoO₂. In addition, with the addition of ascorbic acid as reducing agent, copper extraction showed decrease, opposite to Co and Li. Based on this, we propose a new method for the selective leaching of battery metals Co and Li from the industrially crushed LIBs waste at high solid/liquid ratio (S/L) that leaves impurities like Cu in the solid residue. Using ascorbic acid (C₆H₈O₆) as reductant, the optimum conditions for LIBs leaching were found to be T = 80 °C, t = 90 min, [H₂SO₄] = 2 M, [C₆H₈O₆] = 0.11 M and S/L = 200 g/L. This resulted in leaching efficiencies of 95.7% for Li and 93.8% for Co, whereas in contrast, Cu extraction was only 0.7%. Consequently, the proposed leaching method produces a pregnant leach solution (PLS) with high Li (7.0 g/L) and Co (44.4 g/L) concentration as well as a leach residue rich in Cu (up to 12 wt%) that is suitable as a feed fraction for primary or secondary copper production.

Structural Characterization of Lithium and Sodium Bulky Bis(silyl)amide Complexes

Alkali metal amides are vital reagents in synthetic chemistry and the bis(silyl)amide {N(SiMe₃)₂} (N′′) is one of the most widely-utilized examples. Given that N′′ has provided landmark complexes, we have investigated synthetic routes to lithium and sodium bis(silyl)amides with increased steric bulk to analyse the effects of R-group substitution on structural features. To perform this study, the bulky bis(silyl)amines {HN(Si^tBuMe₂)(SiMe₃)}, {HN(SiⁱPr₃)(SiMe₃)}, {HN(Si^tBuMe₂)₂}, {HN(SiⁱPr₃)(Si^tBuMe₂)} and {HN(SiⁱPr₃)₂} (1) were prepared by literature procedures as colourless oils; on one occasion crystals of 1 were obtained. These were treated separately with ⁿBuLi to afford the respective lithium bis(silyl)amides [Li{μ-N(Si^tBuMe₂)(SiMe₃)}]₂ (2), [Li{μ-N(SiⁱPr₃)(SiMe₃)}]₂ (3), [Li{N(Si^tBuMe₂)₂}{μ-N(Si^tBuMe₂)₂}Li(THF)] (4), [Li{N(SiⁱPr₃)(Si^tBuMe₂)}(DME)] (6) and [Li{N(SiⁱPr₃)₂}(THF)] (7) following workup and recrystallization. On one occasion during the synthesis of 4 several crystals of the ‘ate’ complex [Li₂{μ-N(Si^tBuMe₂)₂}(μ-ⁿBu)]₂ (5) formed and a trace amount of [Li{N(SiⁱPr₃)₂}(THF)₂] (8) was identified during the recrystallization of 7. The reaction of {HN(Si^tBuMe₂)₂} with NaH in the presence of 2 mol % of NaO^tBu gave crystals of [Na{μ-N(Si^tBuMe₂)₂}(THF)]₂ (9-THF), whilst [Na{N(SiⁱPr₃)₂}(C₇H₈)] (10) was prepared by deprotonation of 1 with ⁿBuNa. The solid-state structures of 1⁻10 were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography, whilst 2⁻4, 7, 9 and 10 were additionally characterized by NMR and FTIR spectroscopy and elemental microanalysis.

LiGe(SiMe₃)₃: A New Substituent for the Synthesis of Metalloid Tin Clusters from Metastable Sn(I) Halide Solutions

The most fruitful synthetic route to metalloid tin clusters applies the disproportionation reaction of metastable Sn(I) halide solutions, whereby Si(SiMe₃)₃ is mostly used as the stabilizing substituent. Here, we describe the synthesis and application of the slightly modified substituent Ge(SiMe₃)₃, which can be used for the synthesis of metalloid tin clusters to give the neutral cluster Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₆ as well as the charged clusters {Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₅}− and {Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₄}2−. The obtained metalloid clusters are structurally similar to their Si(SiMe₃)₃ derivatives. However, differences with respect to the stability in solution are observed. Additionally, a different electronic situation for the tin atoms is realized as shown by 119mSn Mössbauer spectroscopy, giving further insight into the different kinds of tin atoms within the metalloid cluster {Sn10[Ge(SiMe₃)₃]₄}2−. The synthesis of diverse derivatives gives the opportunity to check the influence of the substituent for further investigations of metalloid tin cluster compounds.

Towards Synergistic Electrode-Electrolyte Design Principles for Nonaqueous Li-O[Formula: see text] batteries

One route toward sustainable land and aerial transportation is based on electrified vehicles. To enable electrification in transportation, there is a need for high-energy-density batteries, and this has led to an enormous interest in lithium-oxygen batteries. Several critical challenges remain with respect to realizing a practical lithium-oxygen battery. In this article, we present a detailed overview of theoretical efforts to formulate design principles for identifying stable electrolytes and electrodes with the desired functionality and stability. We discuss design principles relating to electrolytes and the additional stability challenges that arise at the cathode-electrolyte interface. Based on a thermodynamic analysis, we discuss two important requirements for the cathode: the ability to nucleate the desired discharge product, Li[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text], and the ability to selectively activate only this discharge product while suppressing lithium oxide, the undesired secondary discharge product. We propose preliminary guidelines for determining the chemical stability of the electrode and illustrate the challenge associated with electrode selection using the examples of carbon cathodes and transition metals. We believe that a synergistic design framework for identifying electrolyte-electrode formulations is needed to realize a practical Li-O[Formula: see text] battery.

Antifungal activities against toxigenic Fusarium specie and deoxynivalenol adsorption capacity of ion-exchanged zeolites

Zeolites are often used as adsorbents materials and their loaded cations can be exchanged with metal ions in order to add antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to use the 4A zeolite and its derived ion-exchanged forms with Zn²⁺, Li⁺, Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ in order to evaluate their antifungal properties against Fusarium graminearum, including their capacity in terms of metal ions release, conidia germination and the deoxynivalenol (DON) adsorption. The zeolites ion-exchanged with Li⁺, Cu²⁺, and Co²⁺ showed an excellent antifungal activity against F. graminearum, using an agar diffusion method, with a zone of inhibition observed around the samples of 45.3 ± 0.6 mm, 25.7 ± 1.5 mm, and 24.7 ± 0.6 mm, respectively. Similar results using agar dilution method were found showing significant growth inhibition of F. graminearum for ion-exchanged zeolites with Zn²⁺, Li⁺, Cu²⁺, and Co²⁺. The fungi growth inhibition decreased as zeolite-Cu²⁺>zeolite-Li⁺>zeolite-Co²⁺>zeolite-Zn²⁺. In addition, the conidia germination was strongly affected by ion-exchanged zeolites. With regard to adsorption capacity, results indicate that only zeolite-Li⁺ were capable of DON adsorption significantly (P < 0.001) with 37% at 2 mg mL^-1 concentration. The antifungal effects of the ion-exchanged zeolites can be ascribed to the interactions of the metal ions released from the zeolite structure, especially for zeolite-Li⁺, which showed to be a promising agent against F. graminearum and its toxin.

Lithium Amino Alkoxide-Evans Enolate Mixed Aggregates: Aldol Addition with Matched and Mismatched Stereocontrol

Building on structural and mechanistic studies of lithiated enolates derived from acylated oxazolidinones (Evans enolates) and chiral lithiated amino alkoxides, we found that amino alkoxides amplify the enantioselectivity of aldol additions. The pairing of enantiomeric series affords matched and mismatched stereoselectivities. The structures of mixed tetramers showing 2:2 and 3:1 (alkoxide-rich) stoichiometries are determined spectroscopically. Rate and computational studies provide a viable mechanistic and stereochemical model based on the direct reaction of the 3:1 mixed tetramers, but they raise unanswered questions for the 2:2 mixed aggregates.

MnCo2 O4 /MoO2 Nanosheets Grown on Ni foam as Carbon- and Binder-Free Cathode for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries

Carbon is usually used as cathode material for Li-O₂ batteries. However, the discharge product, such as Li₂ O₂ and LiO₂ , could react with carbon to form an insulating lithium carbonate layer, resulting in cathode passivation and capacity fading. To solve this problem, the development of non-carbon cathodes is highly desirable. Herein, we successfully synthesized MnCo₂ O₄ (MCO) nanoparticles anchored on porous MoO₂ nanosheets that are grown on Ni foam (current collector) (MCO/MoO₂ @Ni), acting as a carbon- and binder-free cathode for Li-O₂ batteries, in an attempt to improve the electrical conductivity, electrocatalytic activity, and durability. This MCO/MoO₂ @Ni electrode delivers excellent cyclability (more than 400 cycles) and rate performance (voltage gap of 0.75 V at 5000 mA g^-1 ). Notably, the battery with this electrode exhibits a high energy efficiency (higher than 85 %). The advanced electrochemical performance of MCO/MoO₂ @Ni can be attributed to its high electrical conductivity, excellent stability, and outstanding electrocatalytic activity. This work offers a new strategy to fabricate high-performance Li-O₂ batteries with non-carbon cathode materials.

Hard Carbons for Sodium-Ion Battery Anodes: Synthetic Strategies, Material Properties, and Storage Mechanisms

Sodium-ion batteries are attracting much interest due to their potential as viable future alternatives for lithium-ion batteries, in view of the much higher earth abundance of sodium over that of lithium. Although both battery systems have basically similar chemistries, the key celebrated negative electrode in lithium battery, namely, graphite, is unavailable for the sodium-ion battery due to the larger size of the sodium ion. This need is satisfied by "hard carbon", which can internalize the larger sodium ion and has desirable electrochemical properties. Unlike graphite, with its specific layered structure, however, hard carbon occurs in diverse microstructural states. Herein, the relationships between precursor choices, synthetic protocols, microstructural states, and performance features of hard carbon forms in the context of sodium-ion battery applications are elucidated. Derived from the pertinent literature employing classical and modern structural characterization techniques, various issues related to microstructure, morphology, defects, and heteroatom doping are discussed. Finally, an outlook is presented to suggest emerging research directions.

Binder-Free Hybrid Titanium-Niobium Oxide/Carbon Nanofiber Mats for Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes

Free-standing, binder-free, titanium-niobium oxide/carbon hybrid nanofibers are prepared for Li-ion battery applications. A one-pot synthesis offers a significant reduction of processing steps and avoids the use of environmentally unfriendly binder materials, making the approach highly sustainable. Tetragonal Nb₂ O₅ /C and monoclinic Ti₂ Nb₁₀ O₂₉ /C hybrid nanofibers synthesized at 1000 °C displayed the highest electrochemical performance, with capacity values of 243 and 267 mAh g^-1 , respectively, normalized to the electrode mass. At 5 A g^-1 , the Nb₂ O₅ /C and Ti₂ Nb₁₀ O₂₉ /C hybrid fibers maintained 78 % and 53 % of the initial capacity, respectively. The higher rate performance and stability of tetragonal Nb₂ O₅ compared to that of monoclinic Ti₂ Nb₁₀ O₂₉ is related to the low energy barriers for Li⁺ transport in its crystal structure, with no phase transformation. The improved rate performance resulted from the excellent charge propagation in the continuous nanofiber network.

Sn Wears Super Skin: A New Design for Long Cycling Batteries

Searching for new anode alternatives in lieu of graphite for lithium-ion batteries that can deliver better electrochemical performance to meet the emerging energy/power demands in electric vehicles becomes particularly challenging. We report a rationally designed hybrid composite as anode in LIB that exhibits a greatly improved gravimetric capacity of 727 mAh/g with a Coulombic efficiency of >99.8% after 3000 cycles at 1.0 C. A capacity of 662 mAh/g at a high rate of 5.0 C was obtained after impressively long 10 000 cycles. From the 50th to 10 000th cycle under 5.0 C, the capacity retention is >97% with a negligible decay of <0.00026% per cycle. The excellence in electrochemistry is attributed to the efficient stress relax, accommodable space, lack of agglomeration, and solid-electrolyte interphase consuming Li⁺ of a delicate composite configuration that is composed of a Sn kernel wearing adjustable TiO₂ "skin".

Electrochemical Synthesis of Ammonia from Water and Nitrogen: A Lithium-Mediated Approach Using Lithium-Ion Conducting Glass Ceramics

Lithium-mediated reduction of dinitrogen is a promising method to evade electron-stealing hydrogen evolution, a critical challenge which limits faradaic efficiency (FE) and thus hinders the success of traditional protic-solvent-based ammonia electro-synthesis. A viable implementation of the lithium-mediated pathway using lithium-ion conducting glass ceramics involves i) lithium deposition, ii) nitridation, and iii) ammonia formation. Ammonia was successfully synthesized from molecular nitrogen and water, yielding a maximum FE of 52.3 %. With an ammonia synthesis rate comparable to previously reported approaches, the fairly high FE demonstrates the possibility of using this nitrogen fixation strategy as a substitute for firmly established, yet exceedingly complicated and expensive technology, and in so doing represents a next-generation energy storage system.

High Lithium Insertion Voltage Single-Crystal H2 Ti12 O25 Nanorods as a High-Capacity and High-Rate Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Material

H₂ Ti₁₂ O₂₅ holds great promise as a high-voltage anode material for advanced lithium-ion battery applications. To enhance its electrochemical performance, control of the crystal orientation and morphology is an effective way to cope with slow Li⁺ -ion diffusion inside H₂ Ti₁₂ O₂₅ with severe anisotropy. In this report, Na₂ Ti₆ O₁₃ nanorods, prepared from Na₂ CO₃ and anatase TiO₂ in molten NaCl medium, were used as a precursor in the synthesis of long single-crystal H₂ Ti₁₂ O₂₅ nanorods with reactive facets. The as-prepared H₂ Ti₁₂ O₂₅ nanorods with a diameter of 100-200 nm showed higher charge (extraction) specific capacity and better rate performance than previously reported systems. The reversible capacity of H₂ Ti₁₂ O₂₅ was 219.8 mAh g^-1 at 1C after 100 cycles, 172.1 mAh g^-1 at 10C, and 144.4 mAh g^-1 at 20C after 200 cycles; these values are higher than those of H₂ Ti₁₂ O₂₅ prepared by the conventional soft-chemical method. Moreover, the as-prepared H₂ Ti₁₂ O₂₅ nanorods exhibited superior cycle stability with more than 94 % retention of capacity with nearly 100 % coulombic efficiency after 100 cycles at 1C. On the basis of the above results, long single-crystal H₂ Ti₁₂ O₂₅ nanorods synthesized in molten NaCl with outstanding electrochemical characteristics hold a significant amount of promise for hybrid electric vehicles and energy-storage systems.

Lithium Complexes Derived of Benzylphosphines: Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation in the ROP of rac-Lactide and ε-Caprolactone

A series of lithium complexes ([Ph₂P(o-C₆H₄-CH₂Li·TMEDA)] (1-Li), [PhP(o-C₆H₄-CH₃)(o-C₆H₄-CH₂Li·TMEDA)] (2-Li), [PhP(o-C₆H₄-CH₂Li·TMEDA)₂] (2-Li₂) and [P(o-C₆H₄-CH₂Li·TMEDA)₃] (3-Li₃)) was prepared from mono-, di- and tri-benzylphosphines and varying amounts of nBuLi and was characterized extensively by IR and ¹H, ⁷Li, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of complexes 1-Li and 2-Li were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The two complexes have monomeric structures in the solid state comprising seesaw lithium atoms. In each case, the ligand exhibits an asymmetric C-C η²-coordination mode and an intramolecular P-Li bond interaction. Theoretical calculations at Density functional theory (DFT) level M06/6111+G(2d,p) show that indeed a P-Li bond is established which can be explained as the P lone pair (sp^1.26) being partially delocalized on an available sp² orbital on Li (sp^2.04) and additional bonding contribution of the phosphorous atom to Li stems from further delocalization of a σ P-C orbital into the sp² orbital on Li. The observed short contact distances between an aromatic ipso carbon and Li in the crystal structures of 1-Li and 2-Li are explained as due to the interaction of a σ C-Li orbital into the π* orbital of a C-C aromatic bond. Preliminary tests show compounds 1-Li, 2-Li, 2-Li₂ and 3-Li₃ are active catalysts in the solvent free ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) and rac-lactide (rac-LA). High conversions to polycaprolactones were obtained in short periods of time: 1–6 min at 25 °C. Additionally, all four lithium complexes behave as moderately good initiators for the ROP of rac-LA showing high conversions to polylactides at 140 °C in one hour.

Preparation of Layered-Spinel Microsphere/Reduced Graphene Oxide Cathode Materials for Ultrafast Charge-Discharge Lithium-Ion Batteries

Although Li-rich layered oxides (LLOs) have the highest capacity of any cathodes used, the rate capability of LLOs falls short of meeting the requirements of electric vehicles and smart grids. Herein, a layered-spinel microsphere/reduced graphene oxide heterostructured cathode (LS@rGO) is prepared in situ. This cathode is composed of a spinel phase, two layered structures, and a small amount of reduced graphene oxide (1.08 wt % of carbon). The assembly delivers a considerable charge capacity (145 mA h g^-1 ) at an ultrahigh charge- discharge rate of 60 C (12 A g^-1 ). The rate capability of LS@rGO is influenced by the introduced spinel phase and rGO. X-ray absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data indicate that Cr ions move from octahedral lattice sites to tetrahedral lattice sites, and that Mn ions do not participate in the oxidation reaction during the initial charge process.

New Insights on the Structure of Electrochemically Deposited Lithium Metal and Its Solid Electrolyte Interphases via Cryogenic TEM

Lithium metal has been considered the "holy grail" anode material for rechargeable batteries despite the fact that its dendritic growth and low Coulombic efficiency (CE) have crippled its practical use for decades. Its high chemical reactivity and low stability make it difficult to explore the intrinsic chemical and physical properties of the electrochemically deposited lithium (EDLi) and its accompanying solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). To prevent the dendritic growth and enhance the electrochemical reversibility, it is crucial to understand the nano- and mesostructures of EDLi. However, Li metal is very sensitive to beam damage and has low contrast for commonly used characterization techniques such as electron microscopy. Inspired by biological imaging techniques, this work demonstrates the power of cryogenic (cryo)-electron microscopy to reveal the detailed structure of EDLi and the SEI composition at the nanoscale while minimizing beam damage during imaging. Surprisingly, the results show that the nucleation-dominated EDLi (5 min at 0.5 mA cm^-2) is amorphous, while there is some crystalline LiF present in the SEI. The EDLi grown from various electrolytes with different additives exhibits distinctive surface properties. Consequently, these results highlight the importance of the SEI and its relationship with the CE. Our findings not only illustrate the capabilities of cryogenic microscopy for beam (thermal)-sensitive materials but also yield crucial structural information on the EDLi evolution with and without electrolyte additives.

Turning an environmental problem into an opportunity: potential use of biochar derived from a harmful marine biomass named Cladophora glomerata as anode electrode for Li-ion batteries

The electrochemical performance of lithium ion battery was enhanced by using biochar derived from Cladophora glomerata (C. glomerata) as widespread green macroalgae in most areas of the Iran's Caspian sea coast. By the utilization of the structure of the biochar, micro-/macro-ordered porous carbon with olive-shaped structure was successfully achieved through pyrolysis at 500 °C, which is the optimal temperature for biofuel production, and was activated with HCl. The biochar and HCl treatment biochar (HTB) were applied as anode electrode in lithium ion batteries. Then, electrochemical measurements were conducted on the electrodes via galvanostatic charge-discharge, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses. The electrochemical results indicated a higher specific discharge capacity (700 mAh g^-1) and good cycling stability for HTB at the current density of 0.1 A g^-1 as compared to the biochar. The reason that HTB electrode works better than the biochar could be due to the higher surface area, formation functional groups, removal impurities, and formation some micropores after HCl treatment. The biochar derived from marine biomass and treatment process developed here could provide a promising path for the low-cost, renewable, and environmentally friendly electrode materials. Graphical abstract Algal-biochar into Li-ion Battery.

Lithium recovery with LiTi2O4 ion-sieves

A feasibility study for the recovery of lithium from salt water with the protonated lithium titanium oxide ion-sieves was carried out in this work. Lithium ions (Li⁺) in LiTi₂O₄ having a similar ion density with H⁺ allow repeated exchanges and regeneration with high selectivity. By Li⁷ magic angle spinning solid-state magnetic resonance, it is apparent that chemical structure of lithium in the ion-sieves is not perturbed during the repeated Li⁺/H⁺ exchange processes. As the dissolution of titanium is negligible (<0.1%), the secondary contamination during the capture process can be minimized. The ion-sieves exhibit lithium capture capacities of up to 9.5mg/g during the repeated Li⁺/H⁺ exchanges with H_0.23Li_0.77Ti₂O₄/LiTi₂O₄ for 24h, and the captured Li⁺ may be recovered in the form of Li₂CO₃. Accordingly, the lithium capture method developed in this work could be integrated with current desalination processes for valuable lithium recovery.

Two-Dimensional Vanadium Carbide (MXene) as a High-Capacity Cathode Material for Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries

Rechargeable aluminum batteries (Al batteries) can potentially be safer, cheaper, and deliver higher energy densities than those of commercial Li-ion batteries (LIBs). However, due to the very high charge density of Al³⁺ cations and their strong interactions with the host lattice, very few cathode materials are known to be able to reversibly intercalate these ions. Herein, a rechargeable Al battery based on a two-dimensional (2D) vanadium carbide (V₂CT_x) MXene cathode is reported. The reversible intercalation of Al³⁺ cations between the MXene layers is suggested to be the mechanism for charge storage. It was found that the electrochemical performance could be significantly improved by converting multilayered V₂CT_x particles to few-layer sheets. With specific capacities of more than 300 mAh g^-1 at high discharge rates and relatively high discharge potentials, V₂CT_x MXene electrodes show one of the best performances among the reported cathode materials for Al batteries. This study can lead to foundations for the development of high-capacity and high energy density rechargeable Al batteries by showcasing the potential of a large family of intercalation-type cathode materials based on MXenes.

Mechanistic Parameters of Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation on LiMn2 O4 in Comparison to Natural Photosynthesis

Targeted improvement of the low efficiency of water oxidation during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is severely hindered by insufficient knowledge of the electrocatalytic mechanism on heterogeneous surfaces. We chose LiMn2 O4 as a model system for mechanistic investigations as it shares the cubane structure with the active site of photosystem II and the valence of Mn3.5+ with the dark-stable S1 state in the mechanism of natural photosynthesis. The investigated LiMn2 O4 nanoparticles are electrochemically stable in NaOH electrolytes and show respectable activity in any of the main metrics. At low overpotential, the key mechanistic parameters of Tafel slope, Nernst slope, and reaction order have constant values on the RHE scale of 62(1) mV dec-1 , 1(1) mV pH-1 , -0.04(2), respectively. These values are interpreted in the context of the well-studied mechanism of natural photosynthesis. The uncovered difference in the reaction sequence is important for the design of efficient bio-inspired electrocatalysts.

Liquid Structure with Nano-Heterogeneity Promotes Cationic Transport in Concentrated Electrolytes

Using molecular dynamics simulations, small-angle neutron scattering, and a variety of spectroscopic techniques, we evaluated the ion solvation and transport behaviors in aqueous electrolytes containing bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide. We discovered that, at high salt concentrations (from 10 to 21 mol/kg), a disproportion of cation solvation occurs, leading to a liquid structure of heterogeneous domains with a characteristic length scale of 1 to 2 nm. This unusual nano-heterogeneity effectively decouples cations from the Coulombic traps of anions and provides a 3D percolating lithium-water network, via which 40% of the lithium cations are liberated for fast ion transport even in concentration ranges traditionally considered too viscous. Due to such percolation networks, superconcentrated aqueous electrolytes are characterized by a high lithium-transference number (0.73), which is key to supporting an assortment of battery chemistries at high rate. The in-depth understanding of this transport mechanism establishes guiding principles to the tailored design of future superconcentrated electrolyte systems.

Separator Decoration with Cobalt/Nitrogen Codoped Carbon for Highly Efficient Polysulfide Confinement in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

A macro-/mesoporous Co-N-C-decorated separator is proposed to confine and reutilize migrating polysulfides. Endowed with a desirable structure and synchronous lithio- and sulfiphilic chemistry, the macro-/mesoporous Co-N-C interface manipulates large polysulfide adsorption uptake, enabling good polysulfide adsorption kinetics, reversible electrocatalysis toward redox of anchored polysulfides, and facile charge transport. It significantly boosts the performance of a simple 70 wt % S/MWCNTs (MWCNTs=multi-walled carbon nanotubes) cathode, achieving high initial capacities (e.g., 1406 mAh g^-1 at 0.2C, 1203 mAh g^-1 at 1C), nearly 100 % Coulombic efficiencies, and high reversible capacities after cycle tests (e.g., 828.4 mAh g^-1 at 1C after 100 cycles) at both low and high current rates. These results demonstrate that decorating separator with macro-/mesoporous Co-N-C paves a feasible way for developing advanced Li-S batteries.

Performance and Ageing Robustness of Graphite/NMC Pouch Prototypes Manufactured through Eco-Friendly Materials and Processes

Graphite/lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (NMC), stacked pouch cells with nominal capacity of 15-18 Ah were designed, developed, and manufactured for automotive applications in the frame of the European Project GREENLION. A natural, water-soluble material was used as the main electrode binder, thus allowing the employment of H₂ O as the only processing solvent. The electrode formulations were developed, optimized, and upscaled for cell manufacturing. Prolonged cycling and ageing tests revealed excellent capacity retention and robustness toward degradation phenomena. For instance, above 99 % of the initial capacity is retained upon 500 full charge/discharge cycles, corresponding to a fading of 0.004 % per cycle, and about 80 % of the initial capacity is delivered after 8 months ageing at 45 °C. The stacked soft-packaged cells have shown very reproducible characteristics and performance, reflecting the goodness of design and manufacturing.

In Situ Growth and Wrapping of Aminoanthraquinone Nanowires in 3 D Graphene Framework as Foldable Organic Cathode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Small conjugated carbonyl compounds are intriguing candidates for organic electrode materials because of their abundance, high theoretical capacity, and adjustable molecular structure. However, their dissolution in aprotic electrolytes and poor conductivity eclipse them in terms of practical capacity, cycle life, and rate capability. Herein, we report a foldable and binder-free nanocomposite electrode consisting of 2-aminoanthraquinone (AAQ) nanowires wrapped within the 3 D graphene framework, which is prepared through antisolvent crystallization followed by a facile chemical reduction and selfassembly process. The nanocomposite exhibited a very high capacity of 265 mA h g^-1 at 0.1 C for AAQ, realizing 100 % utilization of active material. Furthermore, the nanocomposite shows superior cycling stability (82 % capacity retention after 200 cycles at 0.2 C and 76 % capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 0.4 C) and excellent rate performance (153 mA h g^-1 at 5 C). Particularly, the nanocomposite can deliver the highest capacity of 165 mA h g^-1 among all reported anthraquinone- and anthraquinone-analogues-based electrodes per mass of the whole electrode, which is essential for practical application. Such outstanding electrochemical performance could be largely attributed to the wrapping structure of the flexible composite, which provides both conductivity and structural integrity.

Conducting Polymers Crosslinked with Sulfur as Cathode Materials for High-Rate, Ultralong-Life Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Low electrical conductivity and a lack of chemical confinement are two major factors that limit the rate performances and cycling stabilities of cathode materials in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Herein, sulfur is copolymerized with poly(m-aminothiophenol) (PMAT) nanoplates through inverse vulcanization to form the highly crosslinked copolymer cp(S-PMAT) in which approximately 80 wt % of the feed sulfur is bonded chemically to the thiol groups of PMAT. A cp(S-PMAT)/C-based cathode exhibits a high discharge capacity of 1240 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 C and remarkable rate capacities of 880 mAh g^-1 at 1 C and 600 mAh g^-1 at 5 C. Moreover, it can retain a capacity of 495 mAh g^-1 after 1000 deep discharge-charge cycles at 2 C; this corresponds to a retention of 66.9 % and a decay rate of only 0.040 % per cycle. Such a remarkable rate performance is attributed to the highly conductive pathways of PMAT nanoplates, and the excellent cycling stability is ascribed mainly to the chemical confinement of sulfur through a large number of stable covalent bonds between sulfur and the thiol groups of PMAT. The results suggest that this strategy is a viable paradigm for the design and engineering of conducting polymers with reactive functional groups as effective electrode materials for high-performance Li-S batteries.

Influence of Li+ charge compensator ion on the energy transfer from Pr3+ to Gd3+ ions in Ca9Mg(PO4)6F2:Gd3+, Pr3+, Li+ phosphor

Phototherapy is a renowned treatment for curing skin diseases since ancient times. Phototherapeutic treatment for psoriasis and many other diseases require narrow band ultra violet-B (NB-UVB) light with peak intensity at 313nm to be exposed to the affected part of body. In this paper, we report combustion synthesis of NB-UVB -313nm emitting Ca₉Mg(PO₄)₆F₂ phosphors doped with Gd³⁺, Pr³⁺ and Li⁺ ions. The phase formation was confirmed by obtaining X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and morphology was studied with the Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra show intense narrow band emission at 313nm under 274nm excitation wavelengths. Emission intensity was enhanced when Ca₉Mg(PO₄)₆F₂ compound is co-doped with Pr³⁺ ions. Excitation spectra of Ca₉Mg(PO₄)₆F₂:Gd³⁺, Pr³⁺ doped samples shows broad excitation in ultra violet C (UVC) region. Diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), obtained by UV-visible spectrophotometer, measures the absorption properties of the material. By applying Kubelka Munk function on the diffuse reflectance spectra, band gap of the material is determined. PL decay curves were examined which indicates efficient energy transfer between Pr³⁺ and Gd³⁺ ions. Charge compensation effect was also studied by co-doping Li⁺ ion in host. Emission intensity was found to increase with the addition of charge compensator. The prepared phosphor has potential to convert UVC light into NB-UVB. The luminescence intensity of Gd³⁺ shows remarkable increase when it is sensitized with Pr³⁺, and an addition of charge compensator in the form of Li⁺, show even better results. This phosphor surely has the potential to be used as phototherapy lamp phosphor.

Site-Selective Copper-Catalyzed Amination and Azidation of Arenes and Heteroarenes via Deprotonative Zincation

Arene amination is achieved by site-selective C-H zincation followed by copper-catalyzed coupling with O-benzoylhydroxylamines under mild conditions. Key to this success is ortho-zincation mediated by lithium amidodiethylzincate base that is effective for a wide range of arenes, including nonactivated arenes bearing simple functionalities such as fluoride, chloride, ester, amide, ether, nitrile, and trifluoromethyl groups as well as heteroarenes including indole, thiophene, pyridine, and isoquinoline. An analogous C-H azidation is also accomplished using azidoiodinane for direct introduction of a useful azide group onto a broad scope of arenes and heteroarenes. These new transformations offer rapid access to valuable and diverse chemical space of aminoarenes. Their broad applications in organic synthesis and drug discovery are demonstrated in the synthesis of novel analogues of natural product (-)-nicotine and antidepressant sertraline by late-stage amination and azidation reactions.

Solid-State Lithium Conductors for Lithium Metal Batteries Based on Electrospun Nanofiber/Plastic Crystal Composites

Organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCs) are a class of solid-state electrolytes with good thermal stability, non-flammability, non-volatility, and good electrochemical stability. When prepared in a composite with electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) nanofibers, a 1:1 mixture of the OIPC N-ethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide ([C₂ mpyr][FSI]) and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) produced a free-standing, robust solid-state electrolyte. These high-concentration Li-containing electrolyte membranes had a transference number of 0.37(±0.02) and supported stable lithium symmetric-cell cycling at a current density of 0.13 mA cm^-2 . The effect of incorporating PVdF in the Li-containing plastic crystal was investigated for different ratios of PVdF and [Li][FSI]/[C₂ mpyr][FSI]. In addition, Li|LiNi_1/3 Co_1/3 Mn_1/3 O₂ cells were prepared and cycled at ambient temperature and displayed a good rate performance and stability.

Mapping the Free Energy of Lithium Solvation in the Protic Ionic Liquid Ethylammonuim Nitrate: A Metadynamics Study

Understanding lithium solvation and transport in ionic liquids is important due to their possible application in electrochemical devices. Using first-principles simulations aided by a metadynamics approach we study the free-energy landscape for lithium ions at infinite dilution in ethylammonium nitrate, a protic ionic liquid. We analyze the local structure of the liquid around the lithium cation and obtain a quantitative picture in agreement with experimental findings. Our simulations show that the lowest two free energy minima correspond to conformations with the lithium ion being solvated either by three or four nitrate ions with a transition barrier between them of 0.2 eV. Other less probable conformations having different solvation pattern are also investigated.

Homogenized modeling methodology for 18650 lithium-ion battery module under large deformation

Effective lithium-ion battery module modeling has become a bottleneck for full-size electric vehicle crash safety numerical simulation. Modeling every single cell in detail would be costly. However, computational accuracy could be lost if the module is modeled by using a simple bulk material or rigid body. To solve this critical engineering problem, a general method to establish a computational homogenized model for the cylindrical battery module is proposed. A single battery cell model is developed and validated through radial compression and bending experiments. To analyze the homogenized mechanical properties of the module, a representative unit cell (RUC) is extracted with the periodic boundary condition applied on it. An elastic-plastic constitutive model is established to describe the computational homogenized model for the module. Two typical packing modes, i.e., cubic dense packing and hexagonal packing for the homogenized equivalent battery module (EBM) model, are targeted for validation compression tests, as well as the models with detailed single cell description. Further, the homogenized EBM model is confirmed to agree reasonably well with the detailed battery module (DBM) model for different packing modes with a length scale of up to 15 × 15 cells and 12% deformation where the short circuit takes place. The suggested homogenized model for battery module makes way for battery module and pack safety evaluation for full-size electric vehicle crashworthiness analysis.

Bottom-Up Construction of Porous Organic Frameworks with Built-In TEMPO as a Cathode for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Two redox-active porous organic frameworks (POFs) with a built-in radical moiety (TEMPO) and hierarchical porous structures were synthesized through a facile bottom-up strategy and studied as cathode materials for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The sulfur loading in these two POFs reached 61 %, benefitting from their large pore volumes. Owing to the highly dense docking sites of TEMPO, sulfur could be covalently immobilized within the porous networks and efficiently inhibit the shuttle effect, thereby significantly improving the cycling performance. The composites TPE-TEMPO-POF-S (TPE=tetraphenylethene) deliver a capacity in excess of 470 mAh g^-1 after 200 cycles with a coulombic efficiency of around 100 % at a current rate of 0.1 C. Furthermore, TEMPO-POFs with sulfur embedded showed excellent rate capability with limited capacity loss at rates of 0.1-1 C.

Functional Hybrid Materials Based on Manganese Dioxide and Lignin Activated by Ionic Liquids and Their Application in the Production of Lithium Ion Batteries

Kraft lignin (KL) was activated using selected ionic liquids (ILs). The activated form of the biopolymer, due to the presence of carbonyl groups, can be used in electrochemical tests. To increase the application potential of the system in electrochemistry, activated lignin forms were combined with manganese dioxide, and the most important physicochemical and morphological-microstructural properties of the novel, functional hybrid systems were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis (EA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential analysis, thermal stability (TGA/DTG) and porous structure analysis. An investigation was also made of the practical application of the hybrid materials in the production of lithium ion batteries. The capacity of the anode (MnO₂/activated lignin), working at a low current regime of 50 mA·g-1, was ca. 610 mAh·g-1, while a current of 1000 mA·g-1 resulted in a capacity of 570 mAh·g-1. Superior cyclic stability and rate capability indicate that this may be a promising electrode material for use in high-performance lithium ion batteries.

Carbon-Free O2 Cathode with Three-Dimensional Ultralight Nickel Foam-Supported Ruthenium Electrocatalysts for Li-O2 Batteries

A new carbon- and binder-free O₂ cathode was fabricated by electroplating Ru-nanoparticle-coated ultralight Ni foam, which has good electron-conducting and electrocatalytic properties. This all-metal monolithic structure was able to suppress CO₂ evolution and provided 306 times higher capacity than commercial Ni foam-based O₂ cathodes.

A Robust, Water-Based, Functional Binder Framework for High-Energy Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

We report here a water-based functional binder framework for the lithium-sulfur battery systems, based on the general combination of a polyether and an amide-containing polymer. These binders are applied to positive electrodes optimised towards high-energy electrochemical performance based only on commercially available materials. Electrodes with up to 4 mAh cm^-2 capacity and 97-98 % coulombic efficiency are achievable in electrodes with a 65 % total sulfur content and a poly(ethylene oxide):poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PEO:PVP) binder system. Exchange of either binder component for a different polymer with similar functionality preserves the high capacity and coulombic efficiency. The improvement in coulombic efficiency from the inclusion of the coordinating amide group was also observed in electrodes where pyrrolidone moieties were covalently grafted to the carbon black, indicating the role of this functionality in facilitating polysulfide adsorption to the electrode surface. The mechanical properties of the electrodes appear not to significantly influence sulfur utilisation or coulombic efficiency in the short term but rather determine retention of these properties over extended cycling. These results demonstrate the robustness of this very straightforward approach, as well as the considerable scope for designing binder materials with targeted properties.

Sustainable Gel Electrolyte Containing Pyrazole as Corrosion Inhibitor and Dendrite Suppressor for Aqueous Zn/LiMn2 O4 Battery

The Zn anode in secondary aqueous batteries suffers from dendrite formation and corrosion. In this work, dendrite formation was suppressed by using a simple but new gel electrolyte containing fumed silica and an additive. The dendrite suppression was evidenced by chronoamperometry and ex situ scanning electron microscopy examinations. Pyrazole was implemented as the additive in the electrolyte. It was found that the presence of 0.2 wt % pyrazole in the electrolyte helped minimize both corrosion and dendrite formation. The Zn/LiMn₂ O₄ battery using pyrazole-containing gel electrolytes exhibited high cyclability up to 85 % capacity retention after 500 charge-discharge cycles at 4C. This was 8 % higher than the performance of the reference battery (using aqueous electrolyte containing 2 m Li₂ SO₄ and 1 m ZnSO₄ ). Furthermore, self-discharge of the battery with the pyrazole-containing gel electrolyte was suppressed, as evidenced by an open-circuit voltage loss that was 20 % lower than for the reference battery after 24 h monitoring. Float-charge current density under constant voltage (2.1 V) also significantly decreased from approximately 8.0 to 3-6 μA.

Coatable Li4 SnS4 Solid Electrolytes Prepared from Aqueous Solutions for All-Solid-State Lithium-Ion Batteries

Bulk-type all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASLBs) for large-scale energy-storage applications have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their superior safety. However, the electrochemical performance of bulk-type ASLBs is critically limited by the low ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes (SEs) and poor ionic contact between the active materials and SEs. Herein, highly conductive (0.14 mS cm^-1 ) and dry-air-stable SEs (Li₄ SnS₄ ) are reported, which are prepared using a scalable aqueous-solution process. An active material (LiCoO₂ ) coated by solidified Li₄ SnS₄ from aqueous solutions results in a significant improvement in the electrochemical performance of ASLBs. Side-effects of the exposure of LiCoO₂ to aqueous solutions are minimized by using predissolved Li₄ SnS₄ solution.

Eco-Efficient Synthesis of Highly Porous CoCO3 Anodes from Supercritical CO2 for Li+ and Na+ Storage

An eco-efficient synthetic route for the preparation of high-performance carbonate anodes for Li⁺ and Na⁺ batteries is developed. With supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂ ) as the precursor, which has gas-like diffusivity, extremely low viscosity, and near-zero surface tension, CoCO₃ particles are uniformly formed and tightly connected on graphene nanosheets (GNSs). This synthesis can be conducted at 50 °C, which is considerably lower than the temperature required for conventional preparation methods, minimizing energy consumption. The obtained CoCO₃ particles (ca. 20 nm in diameter), which have a unique interpenetrating porous structure, can increase the number of electroactive sites, promote electrolyte accessibility, shorten ion diffusion length, and readily accommodate the strain generated upon charging/discharging. With a reversible capacity of 1105 mAh g^-1 , the proposed CoCO₃ /GNS anode shows an excellent rate capability, as it can deliver 745 mAh g^-1 in 7.5 min. More than 98 % of the initial capacity is retained after 200 cycles. These properties are clearly superior to those of previously reported CoCO₃ -based electrodes for Li⁺ storage, indicating the merit of our scCO₂ -based synthesis, which is facile, green, and can be easily scaled up for mass production.

New Ether-functionalized Morpholinium- and Piperidinium-based Ionic Liquids as Electrolyte Components in Lithium and Lithium-Ion Batteries

Here, two ionic liquids, N-ethoxyethyl-N-methylmorpholinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (M_1,2O2 TFSI) and N-ethoxyethyl-N-methylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (P_1,2O2 TFSI) were synthesized and compared. Fundamental relevant properties, such as thermal and electrochemical stability, density, and ionic conductivity were analyzed to evaluate the effects caused by the presence of the ether bond in the side chain and/or in the organic cation ring. Upon lithium salt addition, two electrolytes suitable for lithium batteries applications were found. Higher conducting properties of the piperidinium-based electrolyte resulted in enhanced cycling performances when tested with LiFePO₄ (LFP) cathode in lithium cells. When mixing the P_1,2O2 TFSI/LiTFSI electrolyte with a tailored alkyl carbonate mixture, the cycling performance of both Li and Li-ion cells greatly improved, with prolonged cyclability delivering very stable capacity values, as high as the theoretical one in the case of Li/LFP cell configurations.

Facile Synthesis of Rod-like Cu2-x Se and Insight into its Improved Lithium-Storage Property

A rod-like Cu_2-x Se is synthesized by a facile water evaporation process. The electrochemical reaction mechanism is investigated by ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD). By adopting an ether-based electrolyte instead of a carbonate-based electrolyte, the electrochemical performance of Cu_2-x Se electrodes improved significantly. The Cu_2-x Se electrodes exhibit outstanding cycle performance: after 1000 cycles, 160 mA h g^-1 can be maintained with a retention of 80.3 %. At current densities of 100, 200, 500, and 1000 mA g^-1 , the capacity of a Cu_2-x Se/Li battery was 208, 202, 200, and 198 mA h g^-1 , respectively, showing excellent rate capability. The 4-probe conductivity measurements along with electrochemical impendence spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests illustrate that the Cu_2-x Se electrodes display high specific conductivity and impressive lithium-ion diffusion rate, which makes the Cu_2-x Se a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Composite Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries: Low-Temperature Fabrication and Conductivity Enhancement

All-solid-state lithium batteries offer notable advantages over conventional Li-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes in terms of energy density, stability, and safety. To realize this technology, it is critical to develop highly reliable solid-state inorganic electrolytes with high ionic conductivities and adequate processability. Li_1+x Al_x Ti_2-x (PO₄ )₃ (LATP) with a NASICON (Na superionic conductor)-like structure is regarded as a potential solid electrolyte, owing to its high "bulk" conductivity (ca. 10^-3  S cm^-1 ) and excellent stability against air and moisture. However, the solid LATP electrolyte still suffers from a low "total" conductivity, mainly owing to the blocking effect of grain boundaries to Li⁺ conduction. In this study, an LATP-Bi₂ O₃ composite solid electrolyte shows very high total conductivity (9.4×10^-4  S cm^-1 ) at room temperature. Bi₂ O₃ acts as a microstructural modifier to effectively reduce the fabrication temperature of the electrolyte and to enhance its ionic conductivity. Bi₂ O₃ promotes the densification of the LATP electrolyte, thereby improving its structural integrity, and at the same time, it facilitates Li⁺ conduction, leading to reduced grain-boundary resistance. The feasibility of the LATP-Bi₂ O₃ composite electrolyte in all-solid-state Li batteries is also examined in this study.

Dendrite Suppression by Synergistic Combination of Solid Polymer Electrolyte Crosslinked with Natural Terpenes and Lithium-Powder Anode for Lithium-Metal Batteries

Lithium-metal anode has fundamental problems concerning formation and growth of lithium dendrites, which prevents practical applications of next generation of high-capacity lithium-metal batteries. The synergistic combination of solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) crosslinked with naturally occurring terpenes and lithium-powder anode is promising solution to resolve the dendrite issues by substituting conventional liquid electrolyte/separator and lithium-foil anode system. A series of SPEs based on polysiloxane crosslinked with natural terpenes are prepared by facile thiol-ene click reaction under mild condition and the structural effect of terpene crosslinkers on electrochemical properties is studied. Lithium powder with large surface area is prepared by droplet emulsion technique (DET) and used as anode material. The effect of the physical state of electrolyte (solid/liquid) and morphology of lithium-metal anode (powder/foil) on dendrite growth behavior is systematically studied. The synergistic combination of SPE and lithium-powder anode suggests an effective solution to suppress the dendrite growth owing to the formation of a stable solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer and delocalized current density.

Synthesis of 2,6-Hexa-tert-butylterphenyl Derivatives, 2,6-(2,4,6-t-Bu3C6H2)2C6H3X, where X = I, Li, OH, SH, N3, or NH2

A "double benzyne" reaction between 1,3-dichloro-2-iodobenzene and 2,4,6-t-Bu3C6H2MgBr followed by the addition of iodine led to 2,6-(2,4,6-t-Bu3C6H2)2C6H3I (HTBTI) in 65% yield. Lithiation of HTBTI with Li-t-Bu gave Li(Et2O)2HTBT from which HTBTSH, HTBTN3, HTBTNH2, and HTBTOH were prepared. An X-ray structure of W(OHTBT)2Cl4 shows that the two HTBTO ligands are trans to one another with the t-Bu3C6H2 groups on one HTBTO interdigitated with the t-Bu3C6H2 groups on the other HTBTO.

Honeycomb-like Nitrogen and Sulfur Dual-Doped Hierarchical Porous Biomass-Derived Carbon for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Honeycomb-like nitrogen and sulfur dual-doped hierarchical porous biomass-derived carbon/sulfur composites (NSHPC/S) are successfully fabricated for high energy density lithium-sulfur batteries. The effects of nitrogen, sulfur dual-doping on the structures and properties of the NSHPC/S composites are investigated in detail by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and charge/discharge tests. The results show that N, S dual-doping not only introduces strong chemical adsorption and provides more active sites but also significantly enhances the electronic conductivity and hydrophilic properties of hierarchical porous biomass-derived carbon, thereby significantly enhancing the utilization of sulfur and immobilizing the notorious polysulfide shuttle effect. Especially, the as-synthesized NSHPC-7/S exhibits high initial discharge capacity of 1204 mA h g^-1 at 1.0 C and large reversible capacity of 952 mA h g^-1 after 300 cycles at 0.5 C with an ultralow capacity fading rate of 0.08 % per cycle even at high sulfur content (85 wt %) and high active material areal mass loading (2.8 mg cm^-2 ) for the application of high energy density Li-S batteries.

Influence of Enhanced O2 Provision on the Discharge Performance of Li-air Batteries by Incorporating Fluoroether

As the first step during discharge, the mass transfer of oxygen should play a crucial role in Li-air batteries to tailor the growth of discharge products, however, not enough attention has been paid to this issue. Herein, we introduce an oxygen-enriching cosolvent, 1,2-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy) ethane (FE1), into the electrolyte, and investigate its influence on the discharge performance. The incorporation of this novel cosolvent consistently enhances the oxygen solubility of the electrolyte, and improves the oxygen diffusivity following a volcano-shape trend peaking at 50 % FE1. It is interesting that the discharge capacities obtained with the investigated electrolytes share the similar volcano trends as the oxygen transport under 50 mA g_carbon^-1 and higher current densities. The improved oxygen diffusion could benefit the volumetric utilization of the air cathode, especially at the separator side, probably owing to the fast oxygen transport to moderate its concentration gradient. Our results demonstrate the importance of oxygen provision, which easily becomes the capacity-determining factor.