3 research outputs found
Mg Intercalation in Layered and Spinel Host Crystal Structures for Mg Batteries
We investigate electrochemical properties
of Mg in layered and spinel intercalation compounds from first-principles
using TiS<sub>2</sub> as a model system. Our calculations predict
that Mg<sub><i>x</i></sub>TiS<sub>2</sub> in both the layered
and spinel crystal structures exhibits sloping voltage profiles with
steps at stoichiometric compositions due to Mg-vacancy ordering. Mg
ions are predicted to occupy the octahedral sites in both layered
and spinel TiS<sub>2</sub> with diffusion mediated by hops between
octahedral sites that pass through adjacent tetrahedral sites. Predicted
migration barriers are substantially higher than typical Li-migration
barriers in intercalation compounds. The migration barriers are shown
to be very sensitive to lattice parameters of the host crystal structure.
We also discuss the possible role of rehybridization between the transition
metal and the anion in affecting migration barriers
Phase Stability and Transport Mechanisms in Antiperovskite Li<sub>3</sub>OCl and Li<sub>3</sub>OBr Superionic Conductors
We
investigate phase stability and ionic transport mechanisms in
two recently discovered superionic conductors, Li<sub>3</sub>OX (X
= Cl, Br), from first principles. These compounds, which have an antiperovskite
crystal structure, have potential applications as solid electrolytes
in Li-ion batteries. We identify a low-barrier three-atom hop mechanism
involving Li interstitial dumbbells. This hop mechanism is facile
within the (001) crystallographic planes of the perovskite crystal
structure and is evidence for the occurrence of concerted motion,
similar to ionic transport in other solid electrolytes. Our first-principles
analysis of phase stability predicts that antiperovskite Li<sub>3</sub>OCl (Li<sub>3</sub>OBr) is metastable relative to Li<sub>2</sub>O
and LiCl (LiBr) at room temperature. We also find that although the
band gap of Li<sub>3</sub>OCl exceeds 5 eV, the metastable antiperovskite
becomes susceptible to decomposition into Li<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, LiCl and LiClO<sub>4</sub> above an applied voltage of 2.5 V, suggesting
that these compounds are most suited for low-voltage Li batteries
provided the formation of Li<sub>2</sub>O can be suppressed
Ab Initio Structure Search and in Situ <sup>7</sup>Li NMR Studies of Discharge Products in the Li–S Battery System
The
high theoretical gravimetric capacity of the Li–S battery
system makes it an attractive candidate for numerous energy storage
applications. In practice, cell performance is plagued by low practical
capacity and poor cycling. In an effort to explore the mechanism of
the discharge with the goal of better understanding performance, we
examine the Li–S phase diagram using computational techniques
and complement this with an in situ <sup>7</sup>Li NMR study of the
cell during discharge. Both the computational and experimental studies
are consistent with the suggestion that the only solid product formed
in the cell is Li<sub>2</sub>S, formed soon after cell discharge is
initiated. In situ NMR spectroscopy also allows the direct observation
of soluble Li<sup>+</sup>-species during cell discharge; species that
are known to be highly detrimental to capacity retention. We suggest
that during the first discharge plateau, S is reduced to soluble polysulfide
species concurrently with the formation of a solid component (Li<sub>2</sub>S) which forms near the beginning of the first plateau, in
the cell configuration studied here. The NMR data suggest that the
second plateau is defined by the reduction of the residual soluble
species to solid product (Li<sub>2</sub>S). A ternary diagram is presented
to rationalize the phases observed with NMR during the discharge pathway
and provide thermodynamic underpinnings for the shape of the discharge
profile as a function of cell composition