Comparative study of the implementation of tin and titanium oxide nanoparticles as electrodes materials in Li-ion batteries

Transition metal oxides potentially present higher specific capacities than the current anodes based on carbon, providing an increasing energy density as compared to commercial Li-ion batteries. However, many parameters could influence the performance of the batteries, which depend on the processing of the electrode materials leading to different surface properties, sizes or crystalline phases. In this work a comparative study of tin and titanium oxide nanoparticles synthesized by different methods, undoped or Li doped, used as single components or in mixed ratio, or alternatively forming a composite with graphene oxide have been tested demonstrating an enhancement in capacity with Li doping and better cyclability for mixed phases and composite anodes

Solvate Structures and Computational/Spectroscopic Characterization of Lithium Difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) Electrolytes

Lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) is a relatively new salt designed for battery electrolyte usage. Limited information is currently available, however, regarding the ionic interactions of this salt (i.e., solvate formation) when it is dissolved in aprotic solvents. Vibrational spectroscopy is a particularly useful tool for identifying these interactions, but only if the vibrational bands can be correctly linked to specific forms of anion coordination. Single crystal structures of LiDFOB solvates have therefore been used to both explore the DFOB-center dot center dot center dot Li+ cation coordination interactions and serve as unambiguous models for the assignment of the Raman vibrational bands. The solvate crystal structures determined indude (monoglyme)(2):LiDFOB, (1,2-diethoxyethane)(3/2):LiDFOB, (acetonitrile)(3):LiDFOB, (acetonitrile)(1):LiDFOB, (dimethyl carbonate)(3/2):LiDFOB, (succinonitrile)(1):LiDFOB, (adiponitrile)(1):LiDFOB, (PMDETA)(1):LiDFOB, (CRYPT-222)(2/3):LiDFOB, and (propylene carbonate)(1):LiDFOB. DFT calculations have been incorporated to provide additional insight into the origin (i.e., vibrational modes) of the Raman vibrational bands to aid in the interpretation of the experimental analysis