Synthesis and characterization of high-voltage cathode material LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 by one-step solid-state reaction

LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ was prepared under various conditions by one-step solid-state reaction in air and its properties were investigated by X-ray diffractormetry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical measurement. XRD patterns show that LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ synthesized under various conditions has cubic spinel structure. SEM images exhibit that the particle size increases with increasing calcination temperature and time. Electrochemical test shows that the LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ calcined at 700 °C for 24 h delivers up to 143 mA · h/g, and the capacity retains 132 mA · h/g after 30 cycles. Foundation item: Project (76600) supported by Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Central South University     

Kinetic study of LiMn2O4 in process of lithium intercalation

Exchange current density of spinel LiMn₂O₄ was studied by linear polarization. The relationship of the kinetic property with the structure of spinel LiMn₂O₄ was investigated by studying the effect of the doping and surface coating on the kinetic properties of electrode material. The results show that the exchange current density of spinel LiMn₂O₄ electrode increases with the increase of the amount for lithium intercalation at first, and then decreases. The maximal exchange current density appeares at the 80%–90% lithium intercalation. The similar phenomenon was observed on the doped spinel LiMn₂O₄ electrode. Doping can enhance the exchange current density of spinel LiMn₂O₄ material. However, the degree of the doping effect varies with the doped element varying. Surface coating can also enhance the exchange current density of spinel material, and the increment of value is higher than that of doped ones. Foundation item: Project(50302016) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Influence on performance and structure of spinel LiMn2O4 for lithium-ion batteries by doping rare-earth Sm

The spinel LiMn₂O₄ used as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries was synthesized by mechano-chemistry fluid activation process, and modified by doping rare-earth Sm. Thesting of X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammograms, charge-discharge and SEM was carried out for LiMn₂O₄ cathode materials and the modified materials. The results show that the cathode materials doped rare earth Li _x Mn_2−y Sm _z O₄ (0.95⩽x⩽1.2, 0⩽y⩽0.3, 0⩽z⩽0.2) exhibit standard spinel structure, high reversibility of electrochemistry and excellent properties of charge-discharge. In EC: DMC(1 : 1)+1 mol/L LiPF₆ electrolyte with discharge capacity more than 130 mA · h/g, and its capacity is deteriorated less than 15% after 300 cycles at room temperature and less than 20% after 200 cycles at 55°C. At the same time, Crystal Field Theory was applied to explain the function and mechanism of doped rare earth element. Foundation item: Project (02JJY2081) supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province     

球形LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4材料的嵌脱动力学

为明晰Li Mn1.5Ni0.5O4正极材料的动力学性能,采用水热辅助共沉淀法合成了尖晶石Li Mn1.5Ni0.5O4正极材料,并采用扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线粉末衍射(XRD)和电化学阻抗(EIS)研究了材料的结构和锂离子嵌脱动力学.实验结果表明:共沉淀法制备的Li Ni0.5Mn1.5O4材料颗粒呈均匀球形,且平均粒径较小,粒度分布较窄.在循环过程中,Li Ni0.5Mn1.5O4的电荷转移电阻增大,锂离子扩散系数减小,进而电子电导率和离子电导率下降.温度升高后,Li Ni0.5Mn1.5O4材料的溶液电阻变化不大,但是电荷转移电阻逐渐增大,锂离子扩散系数逐渐减小;此外,随着温度的升高,Li Ni0.5Mn1.5O4材料的溶解速度加快,从而导致SEI膜的厚度增大.Li Ni0.5Mn1.5O4材料的嵌脱锂动力学与温度和循环次数有密切关系.     

Modification of LiCo1/3Ni1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode material by CeO2-coating

LiCo_1/3Ni_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ was coated by a layer of 1.0 wt% CeO₂ via sol-gel method. The bared and coated LiMn_1/3Co_1/3Ni_1/3O₂ was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammogram (CV) and galvanotactic charge-discharge test. The results show that the coating layer has no effect on the crystal structure, only coating on the surface; the 1.0 wt% CeO₂-coated LiCo_1/3Ni_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ exhibits better discharge capacity and cycling performance than the bared LiCo_1/3Ni_1/3Mn_1/3O₂. The discharge capacity of 1.0 wt% CeO₂-coated cathode is 182.5 mAh·g⁻¹ at a current density of 20 mA·g⁻¹, in contrast to 165.8 mAh·g⁻¹of the bared sample. The discharge capacity retention of 1.0 wt% CeO₂-coated sample after 12 cycles reaches 93.2%, in comparison with 86.6% of the bared sample. CV results show that the CeO₂ coating could suppress phase transitions and prevent the surface of cathode material from direct contact with the electrolyte, thus enhance the electrochemical performance of the coated material.     

Luminescent properties of BaO-La2O3-B2O3 glasses with dopant

The luminescent properties of glasses synthesized in air atmosphere by conventional high temperature process were stud{ed. The emissions spectra of Eu^2 and Eu^3 were observed in BaO-La2O3-B2O3-Eu2O3 glasses.The results show that the broad emission peaks at 430 nm correspond to 5d→4f emission transition of Eu^2 , the sharp emission peaks at 592, 616, 650 and 250 nm correspond to 5^D0→1Fj(j=1--4) emission transition of Eu^3 ,respectively, which indicates that the BaO-La2O3a-B2O3-Eu2O3 glass can convert ultraviolet and green omponents of sunlight into blue and red light so as to increase the intensity of blue and red light, respectively. The luminescent in--tensity of Eu^2 increases with increasing the molar ratio of Tb^3 in BaO-La2O3-B2O3-Eu2O3a-Tb4O3 glasses, whereas the luminescent intensity of Eua^3 decreases. So the luminescent intensity of Eu(Ⅲ,Ⅱ) is influenced by Tb^3 .These phenomena can be explained by electron transfer mechanism; Eu^3 (4f6) Tb^3 (4f^8)→Eu^2 (4f′) Tb^4 (4f′). Taking advantage of the luminescent properties of BaO-La2O3-B2O3-Eu2O3 glasses, light-conversion glass for agriculture can be produced.     

Synthesis and characterization of Mg3(PO4)2-coated Li1.05Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cathode material for Li-ion battery

Mg₃(PO₄)₂-coated Li_1.05Ni_1/3Mn_1/3Co_1/3O₂ cathode materials were synthesized via co-precipitation method. The morphology, structure, electrochemical performance and thermal stability were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry(CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS), charge/discharge cycling and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). SEM analysis shows that Mg₃(PO₄)₂-coating changes the morphologies of their particles and increases the grains size. XRD and CV results show that Mg₃(PO₄)₂-coating powder is homogeneous and has better layered structure than the bare one. Mg₃(PO₄)₂-coating improved high rate discharge capacity and cycle-life performance. The reason why the cycling performance of Mg₃(PO₄)₂-coated sample at 55 °C was better than that of room temperature was the increasing of lithium-ion diffusion rate and charge transfer rate with temperature rising. Mg₃(PO₄)₂-coating improved the cathode thermal stability, and the result was consistent with thermal abuse tests using Li-ion cells: the Mg₃(PO₄)₂ coated Li_1.05Ni_1/3Mn_1/3Co_1/3O₂ cathode did not exhibit thermal runaway with smoke and explosion, in contrast to the cells containing the bare Li_1.05Ni_1/3Mn_1/3Co_1/3O₂. Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 20273047)     

Structure and electrochemical properties of La, F dual-doped iLa0.01Mn1.99O3.99F0.01 cathode materials

The cathode materials LiMn₂O₄ and rare earth elements La-doped or La and F dual-doped spinel lithium manganese oxides were synthesized by the citric acid-assisted sol-gel method. The synthesized samples were investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetry (TG) measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and charge-discharge test. XRD data shows that all the samples exhibit the same pure spinel phase, and the LiLa_0.01Mn_1.99O_3.99F_0.01 and LiLa_0.01Mn_1.99O₄ samples have smaller lattice parameters and unit cell volume than LiMn₂O₄. SEM indicates that LiLa_0.01Mn_1.99O_3.99F_0.01 has a slightly smaller particle size and a more regular morphology structure with narrow size distribution. The charge-discharge test reveals that the initial capacities of LiMn₂O₄, LiLa_0.01Mn_1.99O₄, and LiLa_0.01Mn_1.99O_3.99F_0.01 are 129.9, 122.8, and 126.4 mAh·g⁻¹, and the capacity losses of the initial values after 50 cycles are 14.5%, 7.6%, and 8.0%, respectively. The CVs show that the La and F dual-doped spinel displays a better reversibility than LiMn₂O₄.     

Effects of drying method on preparation of nanometer α-Al2O3

Ammonium aluminum carbonate hydroxide （AACH） precursor was synthesized by the precipitation reaction of aluminum sulfate and ammonium carbonate. Then the precursor was dealt with five drying methods including ordinary drying, alcohol exchange, vacuum freeze-drying, glycol distillation, n-butanol azeotropic distillation respectively and calcined at 1 200℃ for 2 h to get α-Al2O3. The effects of drying methods on preparation of nanometer α-Al2O3 were discussed, and the optimal drying method was confirmed. The structural properties of powders were characterized by XRD, SEM and BET measurements. The results show that vacuum freeze-drying, glycol distillation and n-butanol azeotropic distillation can prevent the powders from aggregating, and among them the n-butanol azeotropic distillation is the best method. The nanometer α-Al2O3 powder with non-aggregation can be manufactured using n-butanol azeotropic distillation and the average particle size is about 40 nm.     

Modification of nano-TiO2 by Al2O3 in-situ coating

A novel technology of in-situ coating Al₂O₃ on the surface of H₄TiO₄ was developed to prevent the aggregation of nano-TiO₂ powders and improve the dispersibility and thermal stability in the way of forming a uniform coating layer. The heterogeneous nucleation was conducted to prepare the precursor of nano-TiO₂ and then Al₂O₃ was coated on the surface of precursor. The effects of Al₂O₃ in-situ coating on the properties of nano-TiO₂ were investigated. The results show that H₄TiO₄ can be dispersed well under alkaline condition (pH 8.5) and the heterogeneous nucleation can be controlled easily. The optimized uniform coating layer is obtained by adding 5% (mass fraction) and 10% of Al₂O₃ and the aggregation of nano-TiO₂ powders is effectively inhibited and the dispersibility is obviously improved. The crystal sizes of TiO₂ powders are 12.3, 11.4 and 8.7 nm after coating 0,5% and 10% of Al₂O₃ respectively. Al₂O₃ on the surface of particulates in amorphous phase could increase the thermal stability of nano-particles after calcined at 550 °C. Foundation item: Project(04GK2007) supported by Hunan Industrial Key Project of Science and Technology     

Preparation of LiFePO4 for lithium ion battery using Fe2P2O7 as precursor

In order to obtain a new precursor for LiFePO4, Fe2P2O7 with high purity was prepared through solid phase reaction at 650 ℃ using starting materials of FeC2O4 and NH4H2PO4 in an argon atmosphere. Using the as-prepared Fe2P2O7, Li2CO3 and glucose as raw materials, pure LiFePO4 and LiFePO4/C composite materials were respectively synthesized by solid state reaction at 700 ℃ in an argon atmosphere. X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy（SEM） were employed to characterize the as-prepared Fe2P2O7, LiFePO4 and LiFePO4/C. The as-prepared Fe2P2O7 crystallizes in the Cl space group and belongs to β-Fe2P2O7 for crystal phase. The particle size distribution of Fe2P2O7 observed by SEM is 0.4-3.0 μm. During the Li^＋ ion chemical intercalation, radical P2O7^4- is disrupted into two PO4^3- ions in the presence of O^2-, thus providing a feasible technique to dispose this poor dissolvable pyrophosphate. LiFePO4/C composite exhibits initial charge and discharge capacities of 154 and 132 mA·h/g, respectively.     

Solvothermal preparation and characteristics of Sn-doped In2O3

Sn-doped In2O3 （ITO） nanopowders were prepared in ethanol solvent by solvothermal process. The effects of the solvothermal temperature, coprecipitation pH value and SnO2 content on the products phase and microwave absorption were investigated by X-ray diffractometry and microwave reflectance. ITO nanopowders with cubic structure can be respectively prepared at 250 and 270 ℃ for 6 h. The prepared product is InOOH or the mixture of InOOH and In3Sn4O12 when the solvothermal temperature is below 250℃. With rising solvothermal temperature and prolonging time, the absorption of the ITO powders gradually decreases. The products are ITO nanopowders by coprecipitating at pH=9 or 11, but ITO powders with Sn3O4 at pH=6. The absorption of powders prepared at pH=6 is better than that at any other pH value. The products are all ITO nanopowders and crystal size reduces with increasing SnO2 content. The microwave absorption of ITO nanopowders with SnO2 content of 8% （mass fraction） is the best among samples with different SnO2 contents.     

Preparation and properties of 4.25Cu-0.75Ni／NiFe2O4 cermet

4.25Cu-0.75Ni/NiFe₂O₄ cermets were prepared by doping NiFe₂O₄ ceramic matrix with the mixed powders of Cu and Ni or Cu-Ni alloy powder as the electrical conducting metallic elements. The effects of technological parameters, such as the adding modes of metallic elements, the ball milling time, the sintering time and the sintering temperature, on the relative density and resistivity of the cermets were studied. The results show that the resistivity of 4.25Cu-0.75Ni/NiFe₂O₄ cermets decreases with increasing temperature, and has a turning point at 590 °C, which is similar to that of NiFe₂O₄ ceramic. The sintering temperature and adding modes of metallic elements have a great influence on the properties of 4.25Cu-0.75Ni/NiFe₂O₄ cermets. When the sintering temperature increases from 1200 °C to 1300 °C, the relative density increases from 89.86% to 95.33%, and the resistivity at 960 °C decreases from 0.11 Ω · cm to 0.03 Ω · cm, respectively. When the metallic elements are added with the mixed powders of Cu and Ni, the cermets of finely and uniformly dispersed metallic phase, high density and electric conductivity are obtained. The relative density and resistivity at 960 °C are 90.23% and 0.04 Ω · cm respectively for the cermet samples sintered at 1200 °C for 2 h, which are both better than those of the cermets prepared under the same technique conditions but with the metallic elements added as 85Cu-15Ni alloy powders. Foundation item: Project (G1999064903) supported by the National Key Fundamental Research and Development Program of China; project(2001AA335013) supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China; project (50204014) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Antibiotic properties of Al2O3 doping silver

The preparation technique and properties of Ag-type inorganic antibiotic material carried by Al₂O₃ were studied. The results show that the material has good antibiotic and safety properties, the acute toxicity taken by stomata is LD ₅₀>8 000 mg/kg (little and big white rats), and the normal quantity in subacute toxicity test is 80 mg/(kg · d). The better mass fraction of doping Ag₂O in antibiotic material carried by Al₂O₃ is 4%–8%, and the optimal sintering temperature is from 1 000 °C to 1 100 °C. Foundation item: Project (2002AA327090) supported by National High Technology Research and Development Program of China     

First-principle investigation on stability of Co-doped spinel λ-Mn4-xCoxO8

The mechanism of stability of Co-doped spinel λ-MnO2 that is referred to as spinel LixMn2O4 （x=0） was studied by using the first-principle calculation method. The total energy and formation enthalpy can be decreased remarkably due to the Co substation, resulting in a more stable structure ofλ-MnxCr2-xO4. The bond order and DOS analysis were given in detail to explain the nature of stability improvement. The calculated results show that as the content of Co dopant increases, the bond order of Mn-O becomes larger and the peak of density of states around Fermi level shifts toward lower energy. The charge density distribution illustrates that the Mn-O bonding is ionic and partially covalent, and the covalent Mn-O bonding becomes stronger with the increase of Co dopant content. The results confirm that the Co-doping will enhance the stability of λ-MnO2 and hence improve the electrochemistry performance of LixMn2O4.     

第一性原理研究:Mg2+掺杂尖晶石型LiMn2O4的电子结构

尖晶石 LiMn₂O₄ 正极材料是在原有锂电池正极材料 LiCoO₂ 、LiNiO₂ 、LiMnO₂ 的基础上研发出来的优选 正极材料, 它相较于 LiCoO₂ 材料价格更加低廉热稳定性加强且安全性能有所提高。采用 Mg²⁺ 掺杂 LiMn₂O₄正极 材料, 利用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理对 LiMg_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ 晶格常数与能带结构、态密度进行计算与分析。结 果表明: 新材料 LiMg_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ 的空间群为 F4332, 掺杂后晶胞参数 a 明显减小, 晶胞体积收缩; 掺杂量为 0.5 时明 显比掺杂量 0.125 时 Fermi 能量和能量密度高。Mg ²⁺ 掺杂能影响 LiMn₂O₄ 的晶体结构, 形成更加稳定的共价键。 掺杂量会改变 LiMn₂O₄ 的空间群影响到结构稳定性, 所以掺杂量不宜过大。     

Properties of plasma sprayed NiCrAlY+(ZrO2+Y2O3) coating on refractory steel surface

NiCrAlY+(ZrO₂+Y₂O₃) thermal barrier coating was prepared on the surface of refractory steel 1Cr18Ni9Ti with plasma spraying technique. The phases and microstructure of the thermal barrier coating were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that the bonding between thermal barrier coating and substrate is sound. The surface hardness of 1Cr18Ni9Ti reaches up to 1 000 HV, but that of substrate is only 300 HV. The patterns sprayed with CoNiCrAlY+(ZrO₂+Y₂O₃) ceramic coating have a good heat insulation effect at 800 °C for heat insulation temperature difference reaches 54 °C, which increases the operating temperature and service life of refractory steel. Foundation item: Project (5040202140) supported by Scientific Research Common Program of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education     

Densification and sintering dynamics of 10NiO-NiFe2O4 composites doped with CaO

The effects of CaO content in the range from 0 to 4.0%, and sintering temperature on the phase composition, relative density and electrical conductivity of 10NiO-NiFe2O4 composites doped with CaO were studied. The results show that there is no change of structure for NiO or NiFe2O4; there is apparent oxygen absorbing and releasing behavior during the heating process in air for 10NiO-NiFe2O4 composites. Introduction of CaO can accelerate the densification of 10NiO-NiFe2O4 composites. The maximum value of relative density is 98.75% for composite doped with 2.0% CaO and sintered at 1 200 ℃, which is beyond about 20% for the undoped composites. The sintering activated energy of sample containing 2% CaO decreases by 15.87 kJ/mol, compared with that of the undoped sample.     

Effects of temperature and initial molar ratio of Na2O to Al2O3 on agglomeration of fine Al（OH）3 seed in synthetic Bayer solution

Fine Al（OH）3 crystals were aggregated from supersaturated aluminate solution in the batch reaction tanks. By means of laser particle size analyzer and scanning electron microscopy, the influences of temperature and initial molar ratio of Na2O to Al2O3 （aK） on agglomeration of fine seed in Bayer process were investigated. The results show that agglomeration is almost finished in 8 h, and seeds with size less than 2 μm are easily aggregated together, and almost disappear in 8 h under the optimal process conditions. In the aluminate solution with the same moderate initial aK, when the reaction temperature reaches 75 ℃, the secondary nucleation does not occur, and the effect of agglomeration is better. And at the same reaction temperature, when the initial aK is 1.62, the initial supersaturation of aluminate solution is moderate, the binders on the surfaces of the seed are enough to maintain the agglomeration process, and the agglomeration degree is better. From SEM images, agglomeration mainly occurs in the fine particles, the combinations among the fine particles are loose and the new formed coarse crystal shapes are irregular.     

Corrosion resistance of plasma sprayed NiCrAl+(ZrO2+Y2O3) thermal barrier coating on 18-8 steel surface

The corrosion resistance of NiCrAl+(ZrO₂+Y₂O₃) thermal barrier coating, formed with the plasma spraying technique, on the 18 - 8 steel surface was investigated. The phase structure and morphology of the coating were analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical corrosion behavior of the coating in 1.0 mol/L H₂SO₄ solution was studied by using electrochemical measurement methods. The results show that the gradient plasma spraying coating is composed of the NiCrAlY coating and the (ZrO₂+Y₂O₃) top coating, and the coating thickness is 360 μm. The microhardness of coating reaches 1 100 HV. The corrosion resistance of the plasma sprayed coating of the 18 - 8 steel surface is about 5 times as great as that of the original pattern. The corrosion resistance of the coating is enhanced notably. Foundation item: Project (5040202140) supported by Scientific Research Common Program of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education