Cation-Disorder-Assisted Reversible Topotactic Phase Transition between Antifluorite and Rocksalt Toward High-Capacity Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Multielectron reaction electrode materials using partial oxygen redox can be potentially used as cathodes in lithium-ion batteries, as they offer numerous advantages, including high reversible capacity and energy density and low cost. Here, a reversible three-electron reaction is demonstrated utilizing topotactic phase transition between antifluorite and rocksalt in a cation-disordered antifluorite-type cubic Li6CoO4 cathode. This cubic phase is synthesized by a simple mechanochemical treatment of conventionally prepared tetragonal Li6CoO4. It displays a reversible capacity of 487 mAh g-1, a high value because of a reversible three-electron reaction using Co2+/Co3+, Co3+/Co4+, and O2-/O22- redox, occurring without O2 gas evolution. The mechanochemical treatment is assumed to reduce its lattice distortion by cation-disordering and facilitate a reversible topotactic phase transition between antifluorite and rocksalt structures via a dynamic cation pushing mechanism.

High Proton Conduction in Crystalline Composites Based on Preyssler-Type Polyoxometalates and Polymers under Nonhumidified or Humidified Conditions.

Keggin-type polyoxometalate (POM)-based compounds have long been considered as one of the environmentally friendly candidates of solid electrolytes exhibiting high proton conductivity under high relative humidity (RH >95%). However, their application has been limited by the lack of structural stability and large decrease in conductivity with a slight decrease in RH. In order to overcome these disadvantages, we report a series of crystalline composites based on Preyssler-type POMs ([Na(H2O)P5W30O110]14-, [Bi(H2O)P5W30O110]12-), which are known to show higher acidity in comparison to Keggin-type POMs, and polymers (polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyallylamine (PAA)). Electrostatic interactions between POMs and polymers contribute to enhance the structural stability, and it has been widely known that polymer electrolytes promote cation transport via segmental motion of the polymer chain. In the crystalline composites, K+ acts as a linker to connect the POMs three-dimensionally, resulting in an all-inorganic framework, and polymers and waters of crystallization reside in the framework. The composites with PEG exhibit moderate proton conductivities of 10-4 S cm-1 under nonhumidified (RH <10%) and low-temperature (<368 K) conditions by the aid of segmental motion of PEG. The composite with PAA exhibits a high proton conductivity of 10-3 S cm-1 under humidified (RH 75%) and low-temperature (<338 K) conditions.

Proton conduction in alkali metal ion-exchanged porous ionic crystals.

Proton conduction in alkali metal ion-exchanged porous ionic crystals A2[Cr3O(OOCH)6(etpy)3]2[α-SiW12O40]·nH2O [I-A+] (A = Li, Na, K, Cs, etpy = 4-ethylpyridine) is investigated. Single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction measurements show that I-A+ possesses analogous one-dimensional channels where alkali metal ions (A+) and water of crystallization exist. Impedance spectroscopy and water diffusion measurements of I-A+ show that proton conductivities are low (10-7-10-6 S cm-1) under low relative humidity (RH), and protons mostly migrate as H3O+ with H2O as vehicles (vehicle mechanism). The proton conductivity of I-A+ increases with the increase in RH and is largely dependent on the types of alkali metal ions. I-Li+ shows a high proton conductivity of 1.9 × 10-3 S cm-1 (323 K) and a low activation energy of 0.23 eV under RH 95%. Under high RH, alkali metal ions with high ionic potentials (e.g., Li+) form a dense and extensive hydrogen-bonding network of water molecules with mobile protons at the periphery, which leads to high proton conductivities and low activation energies via rearrangement of the hydrogen-bonding network (Grotthuss mechanism).

A functional mesoporous ionic crystal based on polyoxometalate.

A mesoporous ionic crystal is synthesized with a polyoxometalate and a macrocation with polar cyano groups. The compound possesses one-dimensional mesopores with an opening of 3.0 × 2.0 nm. The compound shows high proton conductivity and catalytic activity, which are due to the water molecules in the mesopores.

Synthesis of ultrasmall Li-Mn spinel oxides exhibiting unusual ion exchange, electrochemical, and catalytic properties.

The efficient surface reaction and rapid ion diffusion of nanocrystalline metal oxides have prompted considerable research interest for the development of high functional materials. Herein, we present a novel low-temperature method to synthesize ultrasmall nanocrystalline spinel oxides by controlling the hydration of coexisting metal cations in an organic solvent. This method selectively led to Li-Mn spinel oxides by tuning the hydration of Li(+) ions under mild reaction conditions (i.e., low temperature and short reaction time). These particles exhibited an ultrasmall crystallite size of 2.3 nm and a large specific surface area of 371 ± 15 m(2) g(-1). They exhibited unique properties such as unusual topotactic Li(+)/H(+) ion exchange, high-rate discharge ability, and high catalytic performance for several aerobic oxidation reactions, by creating surface phenomena throughout the particles. These properties differed significantly from those of Li-Mn spinel oxides obtained by conventional solid-state methods.

A new sealed lithium-peroxide battery with a co-doped Li2O cathode in a superconcentrated lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide electrolyte.

We propose a new sealed battery operating on a redox reaction between an oxide (O(2-)) and a peroxide (O2(2-)) with its theoretical specific energy of 2570 Wh kg(-1) (897 mAh g(-1), 2.87 V) and demonstrate that a Co-doped Li2O cathode exhibits a reversible capacity over 190 mAh g(-1), a high rate capability, and a good cyclability with a superconcentrated lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide electrolyte in acetonitrile. The reversible capacity is largely dominated by the O(2-)/O2(2-) redox reaction between oxide and peroxide with some contribution of the Co(2+)/Co(3+) redox reaction.

A new rechargeable sodium battery utilizing reversible topotactic oxygen extraction/insertion of CaFeO(z) (2.5 ≤ z ≤ 3) in an organic electrolyte.

At present, significant research efforts are being devoted both to identifying means of upgrading existing batteries, including lithium ion types, and also to developing alternate technologies, such as sodium ion, metal-air, and lithium-sulfur batteries. In addition, new battery systems incorporating novel electrode reactions are being identified. One such system utilizes the reaction of electrolyte ions with oxygen atoms reversibly extracted and reinserted topotactically from cathode materials. Batteries based on this system allow the use of various anode materials, such as lithium and sodium, without the requirement to develop new cathode intercalation materials. In the present study, this concept is employed and a new battery based on a CaFeO3 cathode with a sodium anode is demonstrated.

Synthesis and structural characterization of inorganic-organic-inorganic hybrids of dipalladium-substituted γ-Keggin silicodecatungstates.

Three inorganic-organic-inorganic hybrids of dipalladium-substituted γ-Keggin silicodecatungstates with organic linkers of different lengths, TBA8[{(γ-H2SiW10O36Pd2)(O2C(CH2)nCO2)}2] (n = 1 (II), 3 (III), and 5 (IV), TBA = [(n-C4H9)4N](+)), were synthesized by exchange of the acetate ligands in TBA4[γ-H2SiW10O36Pd2(OAc)2] (ITBA) with malonic, glutaric, and pimelic acids, respectively. The X-ray crystallographic analysis of II, IIIA (IIIA: III with DCE, DCE = 1,2-dichloroethane), and IVA (IVA: IV with 10DCE) revealed that the anion parts of II, IIIA, and IVA were inorganic-organic-inorganic hybrids composed of two dipalladium-substituted γ-Keggin silicodecatungstates connected by two dicarboxylate ligands. In the crystal structure of IVA, 10 DCE molecules per polyanion were present in the vicinity of polyanions. Compound IVB (IVB: IV with 0.2DCE) was obtained by the evacuation of IVA. The DCE sorption-desorption isotherms of IVB showed that the amount of DCE sorbed was saturated at 10.5 mol mol(-1), of which the amount was close to that (10 mol mol(-1)) of crystallographically assigned DCE molecules. In the DCE sorption-desorption isotherms, a low-pressure hysteresis was observed probably because of hydrogen-bonding interaction between DCE molecules and polyanions. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of IVA changed with decrease in the relative DCE vapor pressure to form IVC (IVC: IV with 0.7DCE) at P/P0 = 0.0. The in situ powder XRD study showed reversible structure transformation between IVA and IVC driven by the sorption-desorption of DCE.

A discrete octahedrally shaped [Ag6]4+ cluster encapsulated within silicotungstate ligands.

By the reaction of TBA(4)H(4)[γ-SiW(10)O(36)] (TBA = tetra-n-butylammonium) with AgOAc (OAc = acetate) using dimethylphenylsilane as a reductant in acetone, a unique polyoxometalate containing a discrete octahedrally shaped [Ag(6)](4+) cluster, TBA(8)[Ag(6)(γ-H(2)SiW(10)O(36))(2)]·5H(2)O, could be synthesized, and the molecular structure was determined.

Oxygen rocking aqueous batteries utilizing reversible topotactic oxygen insertion/extraction in iron-based perovskite oxides Ca(1-x)La(x)FeO(3-δ).

Developments of large-scale energy storages with not only low cost and high safety but also abundant metals are significantly demanded. While lithium ion batteries are the most successful method, they cannot satisfy all conditions. Here we show the principle of novel lithium-free secondary oxygen rocking aqueous batteries, in which oxygen shuttles between the cathode and anode composed of iron-based perovskite-related oxides Ca(0.5)La(0.5)FeO(z) (2.5 ≤ z ≤ 2.75 and 2.75 ≤ z ≤ 3.0). Compound Ca(0.5)La(0.5)FeO(z) can undergo two kinds of reduction and reoxidation of Fe(4+)/Fe(3+) and Fe(3+)/Fe(2+), that are accompanied by reversible and repeatable topotactic oxygen extraction and reinsertion during discharge and charge processes.

Layered assemblies of a dialuminum-substituted silicotungstate trimer and the reversible interlayer cation-exchange properties.

Two polyoxometalate assemblies, TBA(9)[{γ-H(2)SiW(10)O(36)Al(2)(µ-OH)(2)(µ-OH)}(3)] (1; TBA = tetra-n-butylammonium) and TBA(6)Li(3)[{γ-H(2)SiW(10)O(36)Al(2)(µ-OH)(2)(µ-OH)}(3)]·18H(2)O (2), were synthesized by trimerization of a dialuminum-substituted silicotungstate monomer. Both 1 and 2 possessed a layered structure composed of a basal sheet unit [TBA(3){γ-H(2)SiW(10)O(36)Al(2)(µ-OH)(2)(µ-OH)}(3)](6-) and interlayer cations. The interconversion between 1 and 2 reversibly took place through interlayer cation exchange.

Generation of hydroxyapatite patterns by electrophoretic deposition.

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) patterns with distinct boundaries were generated by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) utilizing an insulating mask that partially blocks the electric field. For the EPD process, we selected two types of mask: a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) board with holes and a resist pattern. A porous PTFE film, which differed from the mask PTFE, was employed as a substrate and attached to the mask. EPD was performed with a suspension of wollastonite particles in acetone, which were deposited on the substrate in the form of the patterned mask. The deposited wollastonite particles induced HAp patterns during a soak in simulated body fluid (SBF). As a result, minute HAp patterns, such as dots, lines, and corners were fabricated on the porous PTFE substrate with a minimum line width of about 100 microm.