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The bonding in NiS is found to be quite similar to that in NiO, having an ionic contribution arising from the donation of the Ni 4s electron to the S atom and a covalent component arising from bonds between the Ni 3d and the S 3p. The one-electron d bonds are found to be of equal strength for NiO and NiS, but the two-electron d bonds are weaker for NiS.
Cation ordering/disordering in spinel oxides plays a necessary role in the rich physical and chemical properties which are hallmarks of the structural archetype. A variety of cation-ordering motifs have been reported for spinel oxides with multiple cations residing on the octahedral site (or B-site). This has attracted tremendous attention from both experimental and theoretical communities in the last few decades. Yet, no unified view has been reached, presumably due to the richness of cation species and corresponding complex arrangements emergent in this large family of compounds. Here, local cation-ordered ground states of (inverse) spinel oxides with two different cations on the octahedral site have been thoroughly investigated using neutron and X-ray total scattering, and a comprehensive theory has been proposed to explain the commonly observed cation-ordered polymorphs. It is found that a cation-zigzag-ordered structure (space group P4122) is the ground state for inverse spinel oxides with a pure or strong ionic lattice, while a cation-linear-ordered arrangement (space group Imma) emerges when one of the B-site cations forms very strong directional covalent bonds with lattice oxygen. The degree and length scale of cation ordering is strongly correlated with the charge and ionic radius difference between the two octahedral site cations. More complicated cation ordering schemes can be formed when there is a concomitant charge and orbital ordering which fall on a similar energy scale. This can lead to the formation of orbital-driven cation clusters or the broad concept of “molecules” in solid- state compounds. It is anticipated these findings will help to better understand the observed physical properties of spinel oxides and thus facilitate design strategies for improved functional materials.
The crystal structure of (2Z)-(3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1(2Н)-ylidene)nitrosoacetonitrile is determined (T = 150 K, R1 = 0.0435). The compound crystallizes as the E-cis and Z-cis isomers of the nitroso tautomer. Two independent molecules differ in the rotation of the nitroso group about the С–С bond between the dihydroisoquinoline group and the substituent. Analysis of bond lengths reveals their conjugation and prevailing contribution of the zwitter-ionic structures with the positive charge located on the isoquinoline fragment and the negative charge located on the substituent. Molecules having E and Z conformations are connected by the N–H···O hydrogen bond (N···O 2.922(3) Å) into dimers. The N–H group of the other molecule forms the intramolecular N–H···O hydrogen bond (N···O 2.544(3) Å) which closes a sixmembered cycle. Electronic absorption spectra are studied, and quantum-chemical modeling of the compound is performed.
Polymerized ionic liquids (polyILs), composed mostly of organic ions covalently bonded to the polymer backbone and free counterions, are considered as an ideal electrolytes for various electrochemical devices, including fuel cells, supercapacitors and batteries. Despite large structural diversity of these systems, all of them reveal a universal but poorly understood feature - a charge transport faster than the segmental dynamics. Here, to address this issue, we have studied three novel polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cells as well as four single-ion conductors including highly conductive siloxane-based polyIL. Our ambient and high pressure studies revealed fundamental differences in the conducting properties of the examined systems. Finally, we demonstrate that the proposed methodology is a powerful tool to identify the charge transport mechanism in polyILs in general and thereby contribute to unraveling the microscopic nature of the decoupling phenomenon in these materials.
For this work, a series of six quinary rare-earth sulfides Ce 4+ 1.85 Eu 2+ 1.15 Na 0.30 SiS 7 , Ce 4+ 1.91 Eu 2+ 1.09 K 0.18 SiS 7 , Ce 4+ 1.96 Eu 2+ 1.04 Rb 0.08 SiS 7 , Ce 4+ 1.98 Eu 2+ 1.02 Cs 0.05 SiS 7 , Ce 4+ 1.97 Eu 2+ 1.03 Ag 0.06 SiS 7 , and Ce 4+ 1.50 Eu 2+ 1.50 CuSiS 7 were obtained in an alkali iodide flux using the boron-chalcogen mixture (BCM) method. Single crystal X-ray diffraction was used to determine the structures of the high quality single crystals that were grown; their elemental compositions were confirmed by energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The compounds crystallize in the hexagonal crystal system in the noncentrosymmetric space group P63. The crystal structure consists of a three-dimensional network composed of mixed cerium and europium bicapped trigonal prisms, isolated SiS4 tetrahedra, and monovalent metals (Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ag, and Cu) located in cavities created by linked Ce/EuS 8 polyhedra. The structures are charge-balanced when Ce and Eu are in their +4 and +2 oxidation states, respectively. The effective magnetic moment of Ce 1.50 4+ Eu 1.50 2+ CuSiS 7 determined from the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility data is consistent with the presence of Ce 4+ and Eu 2+ . Clear correlations between the alkali ion site occupancy, the ionic radius of the alkali cations, and the average bond length of Ce 4+ /Eu 2+ –S, were established. UV–vis diffuse reflectance data were collected for Ce 1.50 4+ Eu 1.50 2+ CuSiS 7 and a band gap of 1.9(1) eV was established.
The behavior of highly concentrated electrolytes departs radically from the dilute-solution theory, yet the molecular origin of this transformation remains unresolved. Here, we identify the conformational isomerization of molecular ions as a decisive, previously unrecognized control parameter governing structure and transport in crowded aqueous electrolytes. Across a series of fluorosulfonimide anions, we show that increasing concentration drives a collective shift from extended transoid to compact cisoid conformers, revealed by small-angle X-ray scattering, vibrational spectroscopy, pulsed-field gradient NMR, and molecular dynamics simulations. This conformational transition triggers a collapse of the hydrogen-bonded water network and the emergence of densely packed ionic domains with confined water, producing a qualitative change in Li+ transport from solvent-mediated diffusion to network-confined hopping. Anion size and asymmetry systematically tune the onset of this transition, demonstrating that molecular geometry dictates mesoscale organization and dynamics in the ion-rich regime. Our results establish ion conformation, not merely composition or coordination, as a fundamental thermodynamic variable in concentrated solutions, providing a chemical framework that unifies solvation structure and transport in water-in-salt electrolytes and suggesting new principles for designing dense ionic media.
Block copolymers (BCPs) can spontaneously self-assemble into various nanostructured morphologies which enable their diverse applications in selective membranes, polymer electrolytes, and optoelectronics. To expand the range of nanostructures accessible to block copolymers, we designed dynamic block copolymers (DBCPs) that combine the phase separation of traditional block copolymers with the supramolecular self-assembly of periodic dynamic polymers. We demonstrate that DBCPs synthesized with a periodic block sequence self-assemble into high aspect ratio supramolecular nanofibers with well-ordered PEG and PDMS domains, in contrast to those synthesized with a random sequence which do not form nanofibers but have disordered morphologies. The periodicity of the block sequence ensures regular placement of dynamic bonds along the polymer chain, which enables stacking of the hydrogen bonding units into ordered 1D supramolecular nanofibers and delays the onset of terminal flow by up to 60 °C compared to the random block sequence. The hierarchically assembled supramolecular nanofibers display complex mechanical and thermal phase behavior arising from the interplay between phase separation of the dissimilar polymer backbones and supramolecular interactions between dynamic bonds. Despite identical bulk composition, the periodic DBCPs demonstrate ionic conductivity values over two orders of magnitude higher than their random counterparts due to the formation of well-ordered, interconnected, high aspect ratio ion-transporting PEG domains. In conclusion, these results highlight the potential for DBCPs as an emerging material platform to achieve advanced, self-assembled nanostructured morphologies.
Rare-earth chromites ( R Cr O 3 ) are an important subclass of functional materials with interesting magnetic, electrical, and catalytic properties that make them promising for various applications. In this paper, we report comparisons on the structural and magnetic properties of HoCr O 3 with those of H o 0.67 T m 0.33 Cr O 3 and H o 0.67 G d 0.33 Cr O 3 powder samples, which were doped by T m 3 + (or G d 3 + ) ions at the A -site with ionic radius smaller (or larger) than that of H o 3 + ion. The structural properties of the samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy carried out at ambient. The band gaps of the three samples were determined by analyzing their ultraviolet Vis spectra. Magnetic studies carried out from 5 K to 300 K show that the Néel temperature ( T N Cr , where C r 3 + ions order) increases with an increase in the average A -site ( R -site) ionic radius, tolerance factor, and Cr1-O1-Cr1 bond angle but decreases with an increase in the orthorhombic strain factor. In addition, the application of external hydrostatic pressure was found to enhance T N Cr of HoCr O 3 , similar to the effect observed by doping HoCr O 3 with G d 3 + ions. These changes in T N Cr with A -site doping and hydrostatic pressure are related to changes in C r 3 + - C r 3 + exchange coupling resulting from changes in the Cr1-O1-Cr1 bond angle and Cr1-O1 bond lengths, respectively. Temperature dependent paramagnetic susceptibility data of the samples was fitted to the modified Curie-Weiss law that included the Dzyloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Isothermal magnetization data showed that the magnetic behavior of the samples changes from canted antiferromagnetic at low temperatures to paramagnetic at higher temperatures. The large magnetocaloric entropy change was observed in HoCr O 3 , which was enhanced by Gd doping but lowered by Tm doping, showing its tunability by A -site doping. Correlation between magnetoelectric properties and magnetization is discussed.
The results of three experimental studies related to the inorganic/organic battery separator operating mechanism are described: saponification of the plasticizer, resistivity of the simulated separators, and zincate diffusion through the separators. The inorganic/organic separator appears to be a particular example of a general class of ionic conducting films composed of inorganic fillers and/or substrates bonded together by an organic polymer containing an incompatible plasticizer that may be leached by the electrolyte. The I/O separator functions as a microporous film of varying tortuosity with essentially no specific chemical inhibition to zincate diffusion.
Predictive understanding of the solvation-dependent reactivity and molecular interaction of electrolyte ions and solvent molecules on reactive electrodes has been a major challenge but is essential for addressing instabilities and surface passivation that occur at electrode-electrolyte interface (EEI) of multivalent Mg batteries. In this work, the isolated intrinsic reactivities of prominent chemical species present in magnesium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonimide) (Mg(TFSI) 2 ) in diglyme (G2) electrolytes, including ionic (TFSI - , [Mg(TFSI)] + , [Mg(TFSI):G2] + , [Mg(TFSI):2G2] + ) as well as neutral molecules (G2) on magnesium vanadate cathode (MgV 2 O 4 ) surface has been studied using a combination of first-principles calculations and multimodal analysis of well-defined cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) layers. Here, our calculations show that non-solvated [Mg(TFSI)] + is the strongest adsorbing species on the MgV 2 O 4 surface compared to all other ions while fully solvated [Mg(TFSI):2G2] + are least favorable to decomposition. The cleavage of C-S bonds in TFSI - to form CF 3 - is predicted to be most desired pathway for all ionic species, which is followed by the cleavage of C-O bonds of G2 to yield CH 3 + or OCH 3 - species. The strong stabilization and electron transfer between ionic electrolyte species and MgV 2 O 4 is found to significantly favor these decomposition reactions on the surface compared to intrinsic gas phase dissociation. Experimentally, we used state-of-the-art ion soft landing to selectively deposit mass-selected TFSI - , [Mg(TFSI):G2] + and [Mg(TFSI):2G2] + on MgV 2 O 4 thin film to form well-defined electrolyte-MgV 2 O 4 interface. Analysis of soft-landed interphase using X-ray photoelectron, X-ray absorption near edge structure, electron energy-loss spectroscopies as well as transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of decomposition species (e.g., MgFx, carbonates) formed in the interfacial region and the higher amount of MgFx with [Mg(TFSI):G2] + , which corroborates the theoretical observation. Overall, we established the mechanistic pathway for the electrolyte-induced formation of passivating fluorides on MgV 2 O 4 cathode facilitated by the surface adsorption and charge transfer, which provided essential knowledge for rational design of stable electrolytes for multivalent cathodes.
Li 2 S holds a promising role as a high-capacity Li-containing cathode, circumventing use of metallic lithium in constructing next-generation batteries to replace current Li-ion batteries. However, progress of Li 2 S cathode has been plagued by its intrinsic drawbacks, including high activation potentials, poor rate performance, and rapid capacity fading during long cycling. In this work, a series of Li 2 S/transition metal (TM) nanocomposites are synthesized via a lithiothermic reduction reaction, and it is realized that the presence of TMs in Li 2 S matrix can transform electrochemical behaviors of Li 2 S. On the one hand, the incorporation of W, Mo, or Ti greatly increases electronic and ionic conductivity of Li 2 S composites and inhibits the polysulfide dissolution via the TM—S bond, effectively addressing the drawbacks of Li 2 S cathodes. In particular, Li 2 S/W and Li 2 S/Mo exhibit the highest ionic conductivity of solid-phase Li-ion conductors ever-reported: 5.44 × 10 –2 and 3.62 × 10 –2 S m –1 , respectively. On the other hand, integrating Co, Mn, and Zn turns Li 2 S into a prelithiation agent, forming metal sulfides rather than S 8 after the full charge. These interesting findings may shed light on the design of Li 2 S-based cathode materials.
Here, this study investigates the electronic structure and bonding properties of rare-earth antimonide compounds, specifically Yb 4 Sb 3 and La 4 Sb 3 , utilizing density functional theory calculations. The analysis reveals that Yb 4 Sb 3 exhibits a predominantly ionic character whereas La 4 Sb 3 displays a greater degree of covalent bonding. Moreover, the presence of divalent ytterbium leads to p-type conduction at high temperatures in Yb 4 Sb 3 . Conversely, La 4 Sb 3 displays n-type conduction because of a larger electronic transfer from the rare-earth metal towards antimony. These findings provide valuable insights into the structural and electronic properties that govern the performance of R 4 Sb 3 compounds, contributing to the development of advanced materials for thermoelectric energy conversion.
Adhesion, friction, and wear behavior of glasses and ionic solids are reviewed. These materials are shown to behave in a manner similar to other solids with respect to adhesion. Their friction characteristics are shown to be sensitive to environmental constituents and surface films. This sensitivity can be related to a reduction in adhesive bonding and the changes in surficial mechanical behavior associated with Rehbinder and Joffe effects. Both friction and wear properties of ionic crystalline solids are highly anisotropic. With metals in contact with ionic solids the fracture strength of the ionic solid and the shear strength in the metal and those properties that determine these will dictate which of the materials undergoes adhesive wear. The chemical activity of the metal plays an important role in the nature and strength of the adhesive interfacial bond that develops between the metal and a glass or ionic solid.
In a recent study [J. Phys. Chem. B 126, 4584–4598 (2022)], we have used infrared spectroscopy to investigate the solvation and dynamics of solitary water in ionic liquids and dipolar solvents. Complex shapes observed for water OH-stretching bands, common to all high-polarity solvents, were assigned to water in several solvation states. Here, in the present study, classical molecular dynamics simulations of a single water molecule in four ionic liquids and three dipolar solvents were used to test and refine this interpretation. Consistent with past assignments, simulations show solitary water usually donates two hydrogen bonds to distinct solvent molecules. Such symmetrically solvated water produces the primary pair of peaks identified in the OH spectra of water in nearly all solvents. We had further proposed that additional features flanking this main peak are due to asymmetric solvation states, states in which only one OH group makes a hydrogen bond to solvent. Such states were found in significant concentrations in all of the systems simulated. Simulations of the OH stretching spectra using a semiclassical description and the vibrational map developed by Auer and Skinner [J. Chem. Phys. 128, 224511–224512 (2008)] provided semi-quantitative agreement with experiment. Analysis of species-specific spectra confirmed assignment of the additional features in the experimental spectra to asymmetrically solvated water. The simulations also showed that rapid water motions cause a marked motional narrowing compared with the inhomogeneous limit. This narrowing is largely responsible for making the additional features due to minority solvation states manifest in the spectra.
While the synthesis of chloro formamidinium chloride has been known for over one century, no solid‐state structure of a chlorine‐substituted formamidinium compound has been reported up to now. Herein, we describe syntheses, solid‐state structures, and vibrational properties of four chloro formamidinium compounds, namely [ClC(NH 2 ) 2 ]Cl ( 1 ), [ClC(NH 2 ) 2 ](AuCl 4 ) ( 2 ), [ClC(NH 2 ) 2 ] 2 (PdCl 4 ) ( 3 ), and [ClC(NH 2 ) 2 ] 2 (PtCl 6 ) ( 4 ), as determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD). 1 and 3 crystallize in the monoclinic space group P 2 1 / c , 2 in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn , whereas 4 adopts the triclinic space group P 1 . By using a combination of high‐resolution time‐of‐flight neutron powder diffraction, state‐of‐the‐art DFT calculations as well as IR spectroscopy, the prior SCXRD result was fully confirmed and augmented by determining the hydrogen‐bonded molecular networks. First‐principles electronic‐structure calculations corroborate the ionic nature of these salts by showing very flat, molecular‐like bands next to the Fermi level, in addition to indirect bandgaps. This study underlines the upmost importance of complementing diffraction data by ab initio calculations, as theory‐derived anisotropic displacement parameters served as fixed numerical entries.
The salt compounds NaB 11 H 14 , Na-7-CB10H13, Li-7-CB 10 H 13 , Na-7,8-C 2 B 9 H 12 , and Na-7,9-C 2 B 9 H 12 all contain geometrically similar, monocharged, nido-undeca(carba)borate anions (i.e., truncated icosohedral-shaped clusters constructed of only 11 instead of 12 {B-H} + {C-H} vertices and an additional number of compensating bridging and/or terminal H atoms). We used first-principles calculations, X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, neutron vibrational spectroscopy, neutron elastic-scattering fixed-window scans, quasielastic neutron scattering, and electrochemical impedance measurements to investigate their structures, bonding potentials, phase-transition behaviors, anion orientational mobilities, and ionic conductivities compared to those of their closo-poly(carba)borate cousins. All exhibited order-disorder phase transitions somewhere between room temperature and 375 K. All disordered phases appear to possess highly reorientationally mobile anions (> ~10 10 jumps s -1 above 300 K) and cation-vacancy-rich, close-packed or body-center-cubic-packed structures [like previously investigated closo-poly(carba)borates]. Moreover, all disordered phases display superionic conductivities but with generally somewhat lower values compared to those for the related sodium and lithium salts with similar monocharged 1-CB 9 H 10 - and CB 11 H 12 - closo-carbaborate anions. This study significantly expands the known toolkit of solid-state, poly(carba)borate-based salts capable of superionic conductivities and provides valuable insights into the effect of crystal lattice, unit cell volume, number of carbon atoms incorporated into the anion, and charge polarization on ionic conductivity.
The relationship between solution properties and processing parameters for novel yttria-alumina-zirconia nanofibers electrospun in a constant electric field is explored through systematic variation of precursor content and aging of the polymer gel. The upper solution viscosity and conductivity limit for electrospinning with an electric field strength of 0.84 kV/cm were ~1000 cP and ~5 mS/cm, respectively. There is a predictive relationship between volumetric flow rate and solution viscosity, conductivity, and surface tension; however, there is not a strong relationship between as-spun fiber diameters, ranging between 100 and 300 nm, and any solution property. The gelation mechanism by which aqueous polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP), zirconium acetate, and aluminum/yttrium nitrate solutions age is speculated to arise from zirconium acetate hydrolysis and polymerization, facilitating intermolecular hydrogen bonding between zirconium acetate complexes, PVP functional groups, and disassociated ionic species. The 4YSZ-Al 2 O 3 ceramic nanofiber diameters ranged between 50 and 100 nm depending on the volume percent of the ceramic phases. The annealed fibers appear amorphous and without excessive grain coarsening, indicating that a heat treatment of 1000°C for 2 hours is sufficient to produce tough, refractory nanofibrous membranes relevant for high-temperature filtration applications.
A series of CAS SCF and multi-reference CI calculations are used to describe the lowest states of TiN. The bonding in all states is described as a triple bond involving the Ti 3d orbitals. The system has some ionic character as seen from both population analysis and dipole moment. The origins of the excited states are discussed.