ABSTRACT
A non-alcoholic coulometric reagent based on N-methylformamide (NMF) was shown to eliminate the severe interference effect caused by the alcohol component of the conventional Karl Fischer (KF) reagent on the battery electrolyte lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB). For sample amounts up to 240 microg of water, the stoichiometry of the KF reaction deviated only slightly from the ideal 1:1 ratio for the best reagent composition. Both solid and dissolved (in acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and ethylene carbonate/ethyl methyl carbonate) LiBOB were titrated successfully using a Metrohm 756 KF Coulometer with a diaphragm cell. The detection limit was estimated to be 0.5-1 microg of water using 100ml of reagent in this system.
ABSTRACT
The conversion of three equivalents of anhydrous oxalic acid with phosphorus pentachloride yields tris(oxalato)phosphorus acid 1, which crystallizes from diethyl ether solutions as protonated diethyl ether complex [(Et2O)2H](+)[P(C2O3)3)]-. The superacidic compound can be used as catalyst for Friedel-Crafts-type reactions. Upon neutralization with lithium hydride, the lithium salt Li[P(C2O3)3] 2 is obtained, which is highly soluble in aprotic solvents and which exhibits a wide voltage window. Thus, the lithium compound is a promising candidate as electrolyte for high performance non-aqueous batteries.
