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At least 721 records · Page 40

Li-ion battery material under high pressure: amorphization and enhanced conductivity of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12

Lithium titanium oxide (Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 , LTO), a 'zero-strain' anode material for lithium-ion batteries, exhibits excellent cycling performance. However, its poor conductivity highly limits its applications. Here, the structural stability and conductivity of LTO were studied using in situ high-pressure measurements and first-principles calculations. LTO underwent a pressure-induced amorphization (PIA) at 26.9 GPa. The impedance spectroscopy revealed that the conductivity of LTO improved significantly after amorphization and that the conductivity of decompressed amorphous LTO increased by an order of magnitude compared with its starting phase. Furthermore, our calculations demonstrated that the different compressibility of the LiO 6 and TiO 6 octahedra in the structure was crucial for the PIA. The amorphous phase promotes Li + diffusion and enhances its ionic conductivity by providing defects for ion migration. Our results not only provide an insight into the pressure depended structural properties of a spinel-like material, but also facilitate exploration of the interplay between PIA and conductivity.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Development of composite membranes of PVA-TEOS doped KOH for alkaline membrane fuel cell

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) play an important role in separating fuel and oxygen (or air) in the Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells. Preparation of hybrid organic inorganic materials of Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) - Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) composite membrane doped KOH for direct alcohol alkaline fuel cell application has been investigated. The sol-gel method has been used to prepare the composite membrane of PVA-TEOS through crosslinking step and catalyzed by concentrated of hydrochloric acid. The gel solution was cast on the membrane plastic plate to obtain membrane sheets. The dry membranes were then doped by immersing in various concentrations of KOH solutions for about 4 hours. Investigations of the cross-linking process and the presence of hydroxyl group were conducted by FTIR as shown for frequency at about 1600 cm{sup −1} and 3300 cm{sup −1} respectively. The degree of swelling in ethanol decreased as the KOH concentration for membrane soaking process increased. The ion exchange capacity (IEC) of the membrane was 0.25meq/g. This composite membranes display significant ionic conductivity of 3.23 x 10{sup −2} S/cm in deionized water at room temperature. In addition, the morphology observation by scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the membrane indicates that soaking process of membrane in KOH increased thermal resistant.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Electrical conductivity of {gamma}-irradiated crystals of La{sub 0.95}Ba{sub 0.05}F{sub 2.95} superionic conductor

The electrical conductivity of single crystals of the La{sub 0.95}Ba{sub 0.05}F{sub 2.95} superionic conductor subjected to irradiation by {gamma} quanta (source {gamma}-{sup 60}Co, dose 2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 6} rad) has been investigated. It is shown that the radiation defects do not have a great effect on the ionic conductivity of nonstoichiometric La{sub 0.95}Ba{sub 0.05}F{sub 2.95} crystals, which is caused by the heterovalent replacements of La{sup 3+} cations with Ba{sup 2+} cations.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Appearance of small polaron hopping conduction in iron modified cobalt lithium bismuth borate glasses

Lithium bismuth borate glasses containing different amounts of cobalt and iron oxides having chemical composition xFe{sub 2}O{sub 3}•(20-x)CoO•30Li{sub 2}O•10Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}•40B{sub 2}O{sub 3} (x = 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mol% abbreviated as CFLBB1-5 respectively) prepared via melt quench technique have been investigated for their dc electrical conductivity. The amorphous nature of prepared glasses has been confirmed through X-ray diffraction measurements. The dc electrical conductivity has been analyzed by applying Mott’s small polaron hopping model. Activation energies corresponding to lower and higher temperature region have been evaluated. The iron ion concentration (N), mean spacing between iron ions (R) and polaron radius (R{sub p}) has been evaluated using the values of phonon radius (R{sub ph}) and Debye temperature (θ{sub D}). The glass sample without iron (CFLBB1) shows ionic conductivity but the incorporation of iron in the glass matrix results in the appearance of electronic conductivity.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Nonlinear Polarization Effects in Dielectrics with Hydrogen Bonds

Using quasiclassical kinetic theory, nonlinear phenomena under the formation of space-charge polarization in crystals with hydrogen bonds (HBC) are investigated. From the solution of the nonlinear system of Fokker-Planck and Poisson equations with blocking electrodes, it is established that for the mathematical description of the relaxation polarization in HBCs in weak fields (100-1000 kV/m) and at high temperatures (T> 350 K), it is sufficient to use a linear approximation of perturbation theory. Theoretically, it was found that at the first odd frequency of the alternating field, nonlinear effects caused by the interaction of relaxation modes of various frequency orders start to appear. The diffusion and mobility coefficients are calculated taking into account both mechanisms of the protons transitions (thermally activated and tunneling transitions) through a parabolic potential barrier. A recurrence expression is constructed for calculating complex amplitudes of relaxation modes generated at an arbitrary frequency (multiple to the fundamental frequency) of the alternating field in an arbitrary approximation of perturbation theory. The proposed scheme for solving the kinetic equation can be applied to other crystals with ionic conductivity similar to HBCs in the type and properties of the crystal lattice.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

LTE-P-22 Alkaline Stability of AEMs

A procedure for ex-situ evaluation of chemical (alkaline) stability of anion exchange membranes (AEM). The IEC and ionic conductivity of an AEM is measured before and after being heated (typically at 80C in 1 M KOH) for ~1000 hours.

AEM↗

Ion transport in non-aqueous electrolyte mixtures of zinc chloride deep eutectic solvent (DES) and molecular solvents

For this work, the ion dynamics of null solvents 1ZnCl 2 :4EtG and 1ChCl:1ZnCl 2 :6EtG incorporating 1M water, propylene carbonate (PC) or acetonitrile (AcN) were investigated using 1 H NMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation time (T 1 ) measurements combined with ionic conductivity, density, and viscosity, all as a function of temperature. Results show that the inclusion of all co-solvents increased the available free volume of the mixtures and followed the trend H 2 O ≤ PC < AcN. 1 H NMR spectra and T 1 inferred the presence of multiple ionic species with varying rates of mobilities. These dynamic heterogeneities were displayed by the broad T 1 minima – especially for the 1ZnCl 2 :4EtG mixtures – and asymmetrically broadened linewidths. T 1 results also revealed selective interaction sites between the hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, as well as with the co-solvents.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Microstructural and electrical properties of PVA/PVP polymer blend films doped with cupric sulphate

A series of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) polymer blends added with different concentrations of cupric sulphate (CuSO{sub 4}) were prepared by solution casting method and were subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Ac conductance measurements. An attempt has been made to study the changes in crystal imperfection parameters in PVA/PVP blend films with the increase in concentration of CuSO{sub 4}. Results show that decrease in micro crystalline parameter values is accompanied with increase in the amorphous content in the film which is the reason for film to have more flexibility, biodegradability and good ionic conductivity. AC conductance measurements in these films show that the conductivity increases as the concentration of CuSO{sub 4} increases. These films were suitable for electro chemical applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

High-temperature X-ray analysis of phase evolution in lithium ion conductor Li{sub 1.5}Al{sub 0.5}Ge{sub 1.5}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}

Series of Li{sub 1.5}Al{sub 0.5}Ge{sub 1.5}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} glass ceramic samples were prepared in this work through the change of heat treatment temperature from 650 to 1050 °C. The structures of glass ceramic samples were characterized by means of high temperature X-ray diffraction and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope. And the lithium ionic conductivity was analyzed through AC impedance spectroscopy. Through heat treatment at 850 °C for 4 h for the base glass sample, we obtained a maximum conductivity of 5.8 × 10{sup −4} S/cm at room temperature. - Graphical Abstract: High temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD) and Rietveld refinement of Li{sub 1.5}Al{sub 0.5}Ge{sub 1.5}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} (LAGP) glass-ceramics were recorded to investigate the phase transformation, cell parameters and the mass fraction of each crystal phase, which occur in the glass to glass-ceramics process during different crystallization temperatures. The relationship between the average grain size and conductivity that originate from and relate to the crystallization temperature was analyzed by SEM micrograph and AC impedance spectroscopy. - Highlights: • Li{sub 1.5}Al{sub 0.5}Ge{sub 1.5}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} glass-ceramics were prepared from as-prepared glass. • The phases decomposition and mass fraction of each phase were analyzed by HT-XRD. • Conductivity is relate to grain size that influenced by crystallization temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Low-temperature synthesis of Li{sub 7}La{sub 3}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 12} with cubic garnet-type structure

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer One-step synthesis and its optimization of cubic garnet Li{sub 7}La{sub 3}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 12} at 750 Degree-Sign C. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Instability above 800 Degree-Sign C of the Al-free cubic Li{sub 7}La{sub 3}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 12}. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Li{sup +}-ion conductivity without adventitious Al{sup 3+}. -- Abstract: In this paper, we report the direct synthesis of Li{sub 7}La{sub 3}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 12} with the cubic garnet-type structure at low temperature with a lattice constant of 13.0035 Angstrom-Sign . The synthesis condition is optimized to be at 750 Degree-Sign C for 8 h with 30 wt% excess lithium salt. No intermediate grinding was involved in this straightforward route. Without the adventitious of Al{sup 3+}, the cubic Li{sub 7}La{sub 3}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 12} is unstable above 800 Degree-Sign C and has an ionic conductivity of the order of 10{sup -6} S cm{sup -1}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Processing and Pretreatment Effects on Vanadium Transport in Nafion Membranes

Here, this work describes how manufacturing processes and pretreatments affect the proton conductivity and vanadyl permeability of Nafion® and how these properties are altered by running in a cell. Five Nafion membranes were examined: reinforced XL100, dispersion cast NR211 and NR212, and extruded N115 and N117. The membranes were subjected to pretreatments that included annealing at 120°C and immersing in ambient temperature and boiling water and sulfuric acid. Vanadyl permeability varied by ~15X with pretreatment and ~3X with manufacturing process. Variations in ionic conductivity were comparatively modest: ~1.5X with pretreatment and ~1.2X with processing. Differences in permeability can be eliminated by annealing the extruded membranes above their glass-transition temperature or by immersing in boiling sulfuric acid. The differences induced by processing and pretreatments were largely absent from membranes removed from vanadium redox cells subjected to repeated charge/discharge cycles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Molten salt flux synthesis and crystal structure of a new open-framework uranyl phosphate Cs{sub 3}(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(PO{sub 4})O{sub 2}: Spectroscopic characterization and cationic mobility studies

The reaction of triuranyl diphosphate tetrahydrate precursor (UO{sub 2}){sub 3}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 4} with a CsI flux at 750 °C yields a yellow single crystals of new compound Cs{sub 3}(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(PO{sub 4})O{sub 2}. The crystal structure (monoclinic, space group C2/c, a=13.6261 (13) Å, b=8.1081(8) Å, c=12.3983(12) Å, β=114.61(12)°, V=1245.41(20) Å{sup 3} with Z=4) has been solved using direct methods and Fourier difference techniques. A full-matrix least-squares refinement on the basis of F{sup 2} yielded R1=0.028 and wR2=0.071 for 79 parameters and 1352 independent reflections with I≥2σ(I) collected on a BRUKER AXS diffractometer with MoKα radiation and a charge-coupled device detector. The crystal structure is built by two independent uranium atoms in square bipyramidal coordination, connected by two opposite corners to form infinite chains {sup 1}{sub ∞}[UO{sub 5}] and by one phosphorus atom in a tetrahedral environment PO{sub 4}. The two last entities {sup 1}{sub ∞}[UO{sub 5}] and PO{sub 4} are linked by sharing corners to form a three-dimensional structure presenting different types of channels occupied by Cs{sup +} alkaline cations. Their mobility within the tunnels were studied between 280 and 800 °C and compared with other tunneled uranyl minerals. The infrared spectrum shows a good agreement with the values inferred from the single crystal structure analysis of uranyl phosphate compound. - Graphical abstract: Arrhenius plot of the electrical conductivity of tunneled compounds Cs{sub 3}U{sub 2}PO{sub 10} and CsU{sub 2}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 11.5}. Highlights: ► The reaction of (UO{sub 2}){sub 3}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 4} in excess of molten CsI leads to single-crystals of new tunneled compound Cs{sub 3}(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(PO{sub 4})O{sub 2}. ► Ionic conductivity measurements and crystal structure analysis indicate a strong connection of the Cs{sup +} cations to the tunnels. ► A low symmetry in Cs{sub 3}(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(PO{sub 4})O{sub 2} is the cause of IR activation and splitting of the bands in the IR spectrum.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Photoelectric and electric properties of four-component copper chalcogenides

The results of investigation of the electrophysical and photoelectric properties of complex copper chalcogenides are presented, namely, the properties of CuSnAsSe{sub 3}, which exhibits ferroelectric properties, and CuInAsS{sub 3}, which exhibits ionic conductivity. The spectral and temperature regions of photosensitivity of these crystals are determined. The depth of the level of carrier trapping centers, which manifest themselves under thermal activation, are evaluated from the analysis of thermally stimulated conductivity (TSC) curves in CuInAsS{sub 3}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Orienting Strained Interfaces designed to Direct Energy Flow (Final Technical Report)

This proposal aims to establish a transformative paradigm for oxide heterostructures with an exceptionally large number of interfaces designed to direct energy flow through controlled interface orientation, enabling fast ion transport. A primary focus is on unveiling the key role of interfacial strain in oxygen ion migration at low temperatures. The central challenge is to create, understand, utilize self-assembled vertical heteroepitaxial nanostructures with the goal of obtaining and understanding fast ion transport properties by modulating interfacial strain. The specific objectives are: (1) to synthesize multilayer thin films and vertical heteroepitaxial nanostructures with fluorite Gd-doped CeO 2 (GDC) and bixbyite RE 2 O 3 (RE = Y and Sm), (2) to evaluate the interfacial strain states under various temperatures and ambient conditions, (3) to understand the effect of interfacial strain on ionic conductivity of the proposed nanostructures, (4) to understand the three-dimensional (3D) atomic structure of the proposed material design and interface phenomena at the atomic scale.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structural and electrical properties of Ce{sub 0.75}(Gd{sub 0.95−x}Sr{sub x}Ca{sub 0.05}){sub 0.25}O{sub 2−δ} thick film electrolyte

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Effects of Sr doping on electrical properties and structure were investigated. • The samples have higher conductivity and low activation energy. • Cause of increase oxygen vacancy concentration in the grain boundary. - Abstract: The effects of Sr doping on the electrical properties of Ce{sub 0.75}(Gd{sub 0.95−x}Sr{sub x}Ca{sub 0.05}){sub 0.25}O{sub 2−δ} (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05 mol%) electrolytes thick films were investigated. The samples sintered at 1400 °C for 8 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed typical XRD patterns of a cubic fluorite structure, and the ionic conductivity was examined by AC impedance spectroscopy. From the experimental results, it was observed that Ce{sub 0.75}(Gd{sub 0.95−x}Sr{sub x}Ca{sub 0.05}){sub 0.25}O{sub 2−δ} (x = 0.04 mol%) electrolytes thick film have higher conductivity and minimum activation energy at 600 °C. This is explained in terms of the increased in the oxygen vacancy concentration at the grain boundary.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Gallium hole traps in irradiated KTiOPO{sub 4}:Ga crystals

Nominally pure and gallium doped single crystals of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO{sub 4}) have been studied by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance at low temperatures before and after irradiation. Irradiation with 20 MeV electrons performed at room temperature and liquid nitrogen temperature caused an appearance of electrons and holes. Gallium impurities act as hole traps in KTiOPO{sub 4} creating Ga{sup 4+} centers. Two different Ga{sup 4+} centers were observed, Ga1 and Ga2. The Ga1 centers are dominant in Ga-doped samples. For the Ga1 center, a superhyperfine structure with one nucleus with nuclear spin ½ was registered and attributed to the interaction of gallium electrons with a phosphorus nucleus or proton in its surrounding. In both Ga1 and Ga2 centers, Ga{sup 4+} ions substitute for Ti{sup 4+} ions, but with a preference to one of two electrically distinct crystallographic positions (site selective substitution). The Ga doping eliminates one of the shortcomings of KTP crystals—ionic conductivity of bulk crystals. However, this does not improve significantly the resistance of the crystals to electron and γ-radiation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Automated Development of Molten Salt Machine Learning Potentials: Application to LiCl

The in silico modeling of molten salts is critical for emerging "carbon-free" energy applications but is inhibited by the cost of quantum mechanically treating the high polarizabilities of molten salts. Here, we integrate configurational sampling using classical force fields with active learning to automate and accelerate the generation of Gaussian approximation potentials (GAP) for molten salts. This methodology reduces the number of expensive ab initio evaluations required for training set generation to O(100), enabling the facile parametrization of a molten LiCl GAP model that exhibits a 19 000-fold speedup relative to AIMD. The developed molten LiCl GAP model is applied to sample extended spatiotemporal scales, permitting new physical insights into molten LiCl's coordination structure as well as experimentally validated predictions of structures, densities, self-diffusion constants, and ionic conductivities. The developed methodology significantly lowers the barrier to the in silico understanding and design of molten salts across the periodic table.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗