59Co and 6,7Li MAS NMR in Polytypes O2 and O3 of LiCoO2

A Universal Plug-and-Play Approach to In Situ Multinuclear Magnetic Resonance Analysis of Electrochemical Phenomena in Commercial Battery Cells

Advancing electrochemical energy storage devices relies on versatile analytical tools capable of revealing the molecular mechanisms behind the function and degradation of battery materials in situ. The nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon plays a pivotal role in fundamental studies of energy materials and devices because of its exceptional sensitivity to local environments and the dynamics of many electrochemically relevant elements. The jelly roll architecture is one of the most energy-dense and, therefore, most popular concepts implemented in pouch, prismatic, and cylindrical Li- and Na-ion cells. Such widely commercialized designs, however, represent a significant obstacle for a range of powerful in situ magnetic resonance-based methodologies due to negligible radio frequency electromagnetic field penetration through conductive metal casings and current collectors. In this work, we introduce an experimental setup that enables direct RF wave transmission through the cell terminals and current collectors, and provides efficient excitation and detection of NMR signals. An RF adapter designed as a plug-and-play device effectively turns the battery cell into an NMR probe that can be tuned to a broad range of Larmor frequencies. Due to its exceptional sensitivity, versatility, and multinuclear capability, the proposed methodology is suitable for fundamental research and industrial high-throughput screening applications. In situ NMR lineshapes provide a direct quantitative description of the chemical environments of electrochemically active elements and enable new metrics for the accurate assessment of state-of-charge (SoC) and state-of-health (SoH). Specifically, in commercial pouch cells based on lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide, and sodium nickel iron manganese oxide chemistries, 7Li and 23Na NMR data unambiguously show electrochemical transformations between intercalated and metallic forms of charge carrier ions, and reveal anisotropic magnetic properties of the electrode coating.

Electron and Spin Delocalization in [Co6 Se8 (PEt3 )6 ]0/+1 Superatoms

Molecular clusters can function as nanoscale atoms/superatoms, assembling into superatomic solids, a new class of solid-state materials with designable properties through modifications on superatoms. To explore possibilities on diversifying building blocks, here we thoroughly studied one representative superatom, Co6 Se8 (PEt3 )6 . We probed its structural, electronic, and magnetic properties and revealed its detailed electronic structure as valence electrons delocalize over inorganic [Co6 Se8 ] core while ligands function as an insulated shell. 59 Co SSNMR measurements on the core and 31 P, 13 C on the ligands show that the neutral Co6 Se8 (PEt3 )6 is diamagnetic and symmetric, with all ligands magnetically equivalent. Quantum computations cross-validate NMR results and reveal degenerate delocalized HOMO orbitals, indicating aromaticity. Ligand substitution keeps the inorganic core nearly intact. After losing one electron, the unpaired electron in [Co6 Se8 (PEt3 )6 ]+1 is delocalized, causing paramagnetism and a delocalized electron spin. Notably, this feature of electron/spin delocalization over a large cluster is attractive for special single-electron devices.

Molecular Magnetic Materials Based on {Co III (Tp*)(CN) 3 } − Cyanidometallate: Combined Magnetic, Structural and 59 Co NMR Study

The cyanidocobaltate of formula fac‐PPh₄[Co^III(^Me2Tp)(CN)₃] ⋅ CH₃CN (1) has been used as a metalloligand to prepare polynuclear magnetic complexes (^Me2Tp=hydrotris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)borate). The association of 1 with in situ prepared [Fe^II(bik)₂(MeCN)₂](OTf)₂ (bik=bis(1‐methylimidazol‐2‐yl)ketone) leads to a molecular square of formula {[Co^III{(^Me2Tp)}(CN)₃]₂[Fe^II(bik)₂]₂}(OTf)₂ ⋅ 4MeCN ⋅ 2H₂O (2), whereas the self‐assembly of 1 with preformed cluster [Co^II₂(OH₂)(piv)₄(Hpiv)₄] in MeCN leads to the two‐dimensional network of formula {[Co^II₂(piv)₃]₂[Co^III(^Me2Tp)(CN)₃]₂ ⋅ 2CH₃CN}_∞ (3). These compounds were structurally characterized via single crystal X‐ray analysis and their spectroscopic (FTIR, UV‐Vis and ⁵⁹Co NMR) properties and magnetic behaviours were also investigated. Bulk magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that 1 is diamagnetic and 3 is paramagnetic throughout the explored temperature range, whereas 2 exhibits sharp spin transition centered at ca. 292 K. Compound 2 also exhibits photomagnetic effects at low temperature, selective light irradiations allowing to promote reversibly and repeatedly low‐spin⇔high‐spin conversion. Besides, the diamagnetic nature of the Co(III) building block allows us studying these compounds by means of ⁵⁹Co NMR spectroscopy. Herein, a ⁵⁹Co chemical shift has been used as a magnetic probe to corroborate experimental magnetic data obtained from bulk magnetic susceptibility measurements. An influence of the magnetic state of the neighbouring atoms is observed on the ⁵⁹Co NMR signals. Moreover, for the very first time, ⁵⁹Co NMR technique has been successfully introduced to investigate molecular materials with distinct magnetic properties.

Magnetism and ion diffusion in honeycomb layered oxide [Formula: see text]

In the quest for developing novel and efficient batteries, a great interest has been raised for sustainable K-based honeycomb layer oxide materials, both for their application in energy devices as well as for their fundamental material properties. A key issue in the realization of efficient batteries based on such compounds, is to understand the K-ion diffusion mechanism. However, investigation of potassium-ion (K[Formula: see text]) dynamics in materials using e.g. NMR and related techniques has so far been very challenging, due to its inherently weak nuclear magnetic moment, in contrast to other alkali ions such as lithium and sodium. Spin-polarised muons, having a high gyromagnetic ratio, make the muon spin rotation and relaxation ([Formula: see text]SR) technique ideal for probing ions dynamics in these types of energy materials. Here we present a study of the low-temperature magnetic properties as well as K[Formula: see text] dynamics in honeycomb layered oxide material [Formula: see text] using mainly the [Formula: see text]SR technique. Our low-temperature [Formula: see text]SR results together with complementary magnetic susceptibility measurements find an antiferromagnetic transition at [Formula: see text] K. Further [Formula: see text]SR studies performed at higher temperatures reveal that potassium ions (K[Formula: see text]) become mobile above 200 K and the activation energy for the diffusion process is obtained as [Formula: see text] meV. This is the first time that K[Formula: see text] dynamics in potassium-based battery materials has been measured using [Formula: see text]SR. Assisted by high-resolution neutron diffraction, the temperature dependence of the K-ion self diffusion constant is also extracted. Finally our results also reveal that K-ion diffusion occurs predominantly at the surface of the powder particles. This opens future possibilities for potentially improving ion diffusion as well as K-ion battery device performance using nano-structuring and surface coatings of the particles.

Probing Al Distribution in LiCo0.96Al0.04O2 Materials Using 7Li, 27Al, and 59Co MAS NMR Combined with Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction

We prepared Al-doped LCO (LCA) powders with low Al content (4%) with a controlled Li/(Co + Al) stoichiometry by a solid-state reaction using Li₂CO₃ and two types of Co/Al precursors: simply mixed (Co₃O₄ and Al₂O₃) or heat-treated (Co₃O₄ and Al₂O₃). These samples were thereby used to propose a reliable protocol with the aim to discuss the homogeneity of the Al doping for LiCo_1-yAl_yO₂ (LCA) prepared with low Al content by evidencing the distribution of Al within the powders, which clearly affects the electrochemical profiles of associated LCA//Li cells. For all samples we initially also characterized the Li/(Co + Al) stoichiometry by ⁷Li MAS NMR, to discard the possible effect of excess Li in the samples. Synchrotron XRD combined with ²⁷Al and ⁵⁹Co MAS NMR then provided a deep understanding of the doping homogeneity at the powder or particle scale. We showed that doping the Co₃O₄ spinel precursor by reacting it with Al₂O₃ may be avoided, as it most likely leads to an inhomogeneous mixture of Co₃O₄ and Co_3-zAl_zO₄ as precursor, eventually reflecting in the final LiCo_0.96Al_0.04O₂ powder, which shows a nonhomogeneous Al distribution. We believe that such a detailed characterization should be the first step toward a deeper understanding of the real beneficial effect(s) of Al doping on the high voltage performance of LCO.

Synthesis, crystal and electronic structures, and magnetic properties of LiLn9Mo16O35 (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) compounds containing the original cluster Mo16O36

The new compounds LiLn(9)Mo(16)O(35) (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) were synthesized from stoichiometric mixtures of Li(2)MoO(4), Ln(2)O(3), Pr(6)O(11) or CeO(2), MoO(3), and Mo heated at 1600 °C for 48 h in a molybdenum crucible sealed under a low argon pressure. The crystal structure, determined from a single crystal of the Nd member, showed that the main building block is the Mo(16)O(36) unit, the Mo(16) core of which is totally new and results from the fusion of two bioctahedral Mo(10) clusters. It can also be viewed as a fragment of an infinite twin chain of edge-sharing Mo(6) octahedra. The Mo(16)O(36) cluster units share some oxygen atoms to form infinite chains running parallel to the b axis, which are separated by the rare-earth and lithium cations. (7)Li-NMR experiments, carried out at high field on the nonmagnetic LiLa(9)Mo(16)O(35), provided insights into the local environment of the lithium ions. Magnetic susceptibility measurements confirmed the trivalent oxidation state of the magnetic rare-earth cations and indicated the absence of localized moments on the Mo(16) clusters. The electronic structure of the LiLn(9)Mo(16)O(35) compounds was analyzed using molecular and periodic quantum calculations. The study of the molecular orbital diagrams of isolated Mo(16)O(36) models allowed the understanding of this unique metallic architecture. Periodic density functional theory calculations demonstrated that few interactions occur between the Mo(16) clusters, and predicted semiconducting properties for LiLn(9)Mo(16)O(35) as a band gap of 0.57 eV was computed for the lanthanum phase.

Simulations of molecular dynamics in solid-state NMR spectra of spin-1 nuclei including effects of CSA- and EFG-terms up to second order

By numerical simulations MAS and QCPMG methods for acquiring spectra of spin-1 nuclei were compared in order to determine the most sensitive experiment for analysis of molecular dynamics. To comply with the large quadrupolar constants for 14N and the CSA reported for 6Li both of these interactions are included up to second order. For 2H and 6Li both QCPMG and single-pulse MAS experiments were suitable for dynamics studies whereas the single-pulse MAS experiment were the method of choice for investigation of 14N dynamics for C(Q)'s larger than 750kHz at 14.1T. This property prohibits excitation of the 14N lineshape using either single hard or softer composite rf-pulses. Focusing on 14N it was demonstrated that the centerband lineshape is sensitive toward both off-MAS and CSA effects. In addition, excitation by real-time pulses showed that proper lineshapes corresponding to a site with a C(Q) of 3MHz may be excited by a very short pulse.

6/7Li NMR study of the Li1-zNi1+zO2 phases

A series of Li1-zNi1+zO2 materials have been synthesised by the coprecipitation route. An X-ray diffraction study was carried out on these materials using the Rietveld method to determine the departure from the ideal stoichiometry z, which ranges from 0 to 0.138. The actual Li/Ni ratio was also checked by chemical analyses using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) for each sample. The stoichiometric sample (z approximately 0) was obtained using a 15% Li excess. (6/7)Li NMR results from LiNiO2 (z approximately 0) show that the asymmetric shape of the NMR signal is due to anisotropy. Calculations give evidence that the paramagnetic dipolar interaction from the electron spins carried by Ni is anisotropic but does not completely explain the experimental anisotropy. (6)Li MAS NMR (magic angle spinning NMR) experiments and temperature standardisation NMR measurements unambiguously assign the isotropic position at +726 ppm. The static-echo NMR spectra of the non-stoichiometric Li1-zNi1+zO2 phases also exhibit an asymmetric shape whose width increases with the departure from the ideal stoichiometry z. (6/7)Li static and MAS NMR show that the 2zNi(2+) ions thus formed modify the dipolar interaction within the materials and also affect the Fermi contact interaction, since a distribution of Li environments is observed using (6)Li NMR for non-stoichiometric samples.

Cobalt-59 NMR and X-ray diffraction studies of hydrated and dehydrated (+/-)-tris(ethylenediamine) cobalt(III) chloride

Cobalt-59 NMR experiments have been carried out on single-crystal and polycrystalline (powder) samples of (+/-)-tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) chloride trihydrate, (+/-)-[Co(en)(3)]Cl(3) x 3H(2)O, and of its dehydrate. In addition, the X-ray crystal structure of the dehydrated sample has been determined. X-ray diffraction measurements confirm a long-held assumption that dehydration has only minor effects on the structure of the [Co(en)(3)](3+) cation. Nevertheless, these small differences have a detectable effect on the 59Co nuclear magnetic resonance properties of these compounds; in particular, the nuclear quadrupole coupling constant, C(Q). Straightforward identification of the c-axis for large single crystals of (+/-)-[Co(en)(3)]Cl(3).3H(2)O and of its dehydrate allowed us to obtain single-crystal 59 Co NMR data by orienting the crystals in an MAS rotor. Data collected on single crystals and polycrystalline samples indicate that C(Q)=-3.05+/-0.05 and -2.80+/-0.05 MHz for the hydrated and dehydrated samples, respectively; the signs have been assigned on the basis of a point charge model. The chemical shift tensor principal components were also determined: for the hydrated sample, delta(perpendicular)=7281+/-2 ppm, delta(parallel)=7004+/-4 ppm and delta(iso)=7189 ppm; for the dehydrated sample, delta(perpendicular)=7288+/-2 ppm, delta(parallel)=7008+/-4 ppm and delta(iso)=7195 ppm. The electric field gradient and chemical shift tensors are axially symmetric, as required by crystal symmetry.

59Co, 23Na NMR and electric field gradient calculations in the layered cobalt oxides NaCoO2 and HCoO2

59Co and 23Na NMR has been applied to the layered cobalt oxides NaCoO(2) and HCoO(2) at three different magnetic field strengths (4.7, 7.1 and 11.7T). The 59Co and 23Na quadrupole and anisotropic shift tensors have been determined by iterative fitting of the NMR line shapes at the three magnetic field strengths. Due to the large 59Co quadrupole interaction in NaCoO(2), a frequency-swept irradiation procedure was used to alleviate the limited bandwidth of the excitation. While the 59Co and 23Na shift and quadrupole coupling tensors in NaCoO(2) are found to be coincident and axially symmetric in agreement with the crystal symmetry requirements, the fits of the 59Co NMR spectra clearly show the presence of structural disorder in HCoO(2). The 23Na chemical shift anisotropy can be reproduced by shift tensor calculations using a point dipole model and considering that the magnetic susceptibility in NaCoO(2) is due to Van Vleck paramagnetism for Co(3+). Electric field gradient calculations using either the empirical point charge model or the ab initio full potential-linearized augmented plane wave method are compared with the experimental NMR data.