The document discusses lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) as a potential bifunctional electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). It finds that lithium cobalt oxide synthesized at a lower temperature of 400°C (LT-LiCoO2), which adopts a lithiated spinel structure, exhibits higher OER activity than layered LiCoO2 synthesized at 800°C (HT-LiCoO2) or spinel cobalt oxide. Chemically delithiated LT-LiCoO2 samples show both high OER and ORR activities, making spinel-type LT-Li0.5CoO2 a potential bifunctional electro
This document provides an overview of metal complexes and organometallics. It discusses the structure, bonding, and applications of inorganic complexes and coordination compounds. Key topics covered include ligands, isomerism, crystal field theory, and the spectrochemical series. Organometallics such as metal carbonyls, ferrocene, and Grignard reagents are also introduced. Important applications of coordination compounds are highlighted in areas like extraction of metals, analytical chemistry, biology, medicine, and industry.
This document summarizes three new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) synthesized using the flexible aldrithiol linker and pyromellitate ligand with cobalt(II), nickel(II), and copper(II) metal centers. The three MOFs have the formulas [Co(aldrithiol)(pyromellitate)0.5(H2O)2]n (1), [Ni2(aldrithiol)2(pyromellitate)(H2O)2]n·2n(C2H5OH)·11n(H2O) (2), and [Cu(aldrithiol)2(pyromellitate)]n·2n(
The document discusses the accidental discovery of sandwich complexes and their structures. It summarizes that in 1951, two groups discovered cyclopentadienyl complexes of metals which had unexpected properties that did not match what was expected. This led to proposals of sandwich structures by Wilkinson/Woodward and Fischer. Their work to synthesize various metallocenes resulted in a shared Nobel Prize in 1973. Sandwich complexes have since been found to have applications including in making carbon nanotubes.
REDOX POTENTIAL MEASUREMENT AND ITS APPLICATION IN SOIL FERTILITYKARTHIKEYANB30
What is mean redox reaction, How to measure redox condition in soil, Application of redox potential in nutrient management, Kinetics of pH, EC, Nutrients in soil
This document provides a summary of key concepts in oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions:
1) Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between chemical species, either through the complete transfer of electrons to form ionic bonds, or partial transfer to form covalent bonds. Oxidation is the loss of electrons and reduction is the gain of electrons.
2) Redox pairs are couples of oxidized and reduced forms of elements that differ in their oxidation state. Common redox pairs include Fe3+/Fe2+, O2/H2O, and MnO4-/MnO2.
3) The standard electrode potential (E°) indicates the tendency of half-reactions to occur.
This document provides an overview of metal clusters presented by Joel M. Smith at a Baran Group meeting. It begins with definitions of "cluster" and "metal cluster". The document then discusses the history of metal clusters, including important discoveries of polyoxometallates and metal carbonyl clusters. Preparation methods for metal clusters such as solution synthesis, hydrothermal synthesis, and reductive methods under CO atmosphere are described. Examples of reactions catalyzed by metal carbonyl clusters and polyoxometallate clusters are provided, including carbonylation, C-H oxidation, and dehydrogenation reactions.
This document summarizes the growth and characterization of Fe(III) doped Ni L-Histidine Hydrochloride monohydrate crystals. The crystals were grown using a slow evaporation technique and characterized using XRD, EPR, optical absorption, FT-IR, and TGA/DTA analyses. XRD analysis confirmed the crystal structure was maintained after doping. EPR and optical absorption spectra indicated Fe(III) ions were incorporated into the crystal lattice in octahedral symmetry sites. FT-IR analysis showed the characteristic vibrations of functional groups in the crystal. TGA/DTA showed the material was thermally stable up to 183°C.
This document provides an overview of metal complexes and organometallics. It discusses the structure, bonding, and applications of inorganic complexes and coordination compounds. Key topics covered include ligands, isomerism, crystal field theory, and the spectrochemical series. Organometallics such as metal carbonyls, ferrocene, and Grignard reagents are also introduced. Important applications of coordination compounds are highlighted in areas like extraction of metals, analytical chemistry, biology, medicine, and industry.
This document summarizes three new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) synthesized using the flexible aldrithiol linker and pyromellitate ligand with cobalt(II), nickel(II), and copper(II) metal centers. The three MOFs have the formulas [Co(aldrithiol)(pyromellitate)0.5(H2O)2]n (1), [Ni2(aldrithiol)2(pyromellitate)(H2O)2]n·2n(C2H5OH)·11n(H2O) (2), and [Cu(aldrithiol)2(pyromellitate)]n·2n(
The document discusses the accidental discovery of sandwich complexes and their structures. It summarizes that in 1951, two groups discovered cyclopentadienyl complexes of metals which had unexpected properties that did not match what was expected. This led to proposals of sandwich structures by Wilkinson/Woodward and Fischer. Their work to synthesize various metallocenes resulted in a shared Nobel Prize in 1973. Sandwich complexes have since been found to have applications including in making carbon nanotubes.
REDOX POTENTIAL MEASUREMENT AND ITS APPLICATION IN SOIL FERTILITYKARTHIKEYANB30
What is mean redox reaction, How to measure redox condition in soil, Application of redox potential in nutrient management, Kinetics of pH, EC, Nutrients in soil
This document provides a summary of key concepts in oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions:
1) Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between chemical species, either through the complete transfer of electrons to form ionic bonds, or partial transfer to form covalent bonds. Oxidation is the loss of electrons and reduction is the gain of electrons.
2) Redox pairs are couples of oxidized and reduced forms of elements that differ in their oxidation state. Common redox pairs include Fe3+/Fe2+, O2/H2O, and MnO4-/MnO2.
3) The standard electrode potential (E°) indicates the tendency of half-reactions to occur.
This document provides an overview of metal clusters presented by Joel M. Smith at a Baran Group meeting. It begins with definitions of "cluster" and "metal cluster". The document then discusses the history of metal clusters, including important discoveries of polyoxometallates and metal carbonyl clusters. Preparation methods for metal clusters such as solution synthesis, hydrothermal synthesis, and reductive methods under CO atmosphere are described. Examples of reactions catalyzed by metal carbonyl clusters and polyoxometallate clusters are provided, including carbonylation, C-H oxidation, and dehydrogenation reactions.
This document summarizes the growth and characterization of Fe(III) doped Ni L-Histidine Hydrochloride monohydrate crystals. The crystals were grown using a slow evaporation technique and characterized using XRD, EPR, optical absorption, FT-IR, and TGA/DTA analyses. XRD analysis confirmed the crystal structure was maintained after doping. EPR and optical absorption spectra indicated Fe(III) ions were incorporated into the crystal lattice in octahedral symmetry sites. FT-IR analysis showed the characteristic vibrations of functional groups in the crystal. TGA/DTA showed the material was thermally stable up to 183°C.
The document provides information on naming and identifying different types of chemical compounds including:
- Ionic compounds can be identified by their metal and nonmetal components and named using stock nomenclature.
- Molecular compounds contain two nonmetals and include acids, hydrocarbons, and binary compounds.
- Practice problems are provided to test the ability to identify, name, and write formulas for various ionic and molecular compounds.
The document discusses Group II elements and their reactions. It describes the properties of Group II elements including their metallic properties, conductivity, and ability to react with acids to produce hydrogen. It then discusses the specific uses of magnesium, calcium, and barium compounds. Finally, it provides examples of reactions of magnesium, calcium, and strontium with oxygen, hydrochloric acid, and carbon dioxide to form various compounds.
This document provides a checklist of important experiments in chemistry for SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) students. It lists 14 chemistry topics and the key experiments students should be able to describe for each topic. These include experiments on the structure of the atom, chemical formulae and equations, the periodic table of elements, electrochemistry, acids and bases, salts, rate of reaction, carbon compounds, oxidation and reduction, and thermochemistry. For each experiment, students are expected to describe the apparatus, materials, procedure, observations, analysis, and interpreting data. The document also analyzes which chemistry topics were examined in SPM Paper 3 from 2003 to 2011.
The document outlines syllabus statements from the Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science syllabus regarding the periodic table and properties of elements. It describes classifying elements in the periodic table by atomic number and using it to predict properties based on groups and periods. It discusses trends in properties across periods, including metallic/non-metallic character, and group properties such as alkali metals showing trends in melting point and reaction with water. It also covers transition elements having high densities and melting points and forming colored compounds to act as catalysts, and noble gases being unreactive but having uses such as argon in lamps and helium in balloons.
The document describes the synthesis and characterization of a Schiff base ligand and its transition metal complexes with Cu(II), Co(II), and Ni(II).
The Schiff base ligand was synthesized by the condensation of 3-(3-nitrophenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde and o-amino phenol. Metal complexes were prepared by reacting the Schiff base ligand with acetate salts of Cu(II), Co(II), and Ni(II).
The complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, IR, UV-Vis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectrometry, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and thermal analysis. Spectroscopic data
Electrode - Electrolyte Interface Studies in Lithium BatteriesMarine Cuisinier
Compilation of studies conducted at the Institut des Matériaux de Nantes under the supervision of Dr. Dominique Guyomard between 2008 and 2012.
Focused on solid-state NMR to characterize interphases between positive electrode and electrolyte.
Synthesis and characterization of complexes of schiff base [1, 2 diphenyl -...Alexander Decker
This document describes the synthesis and characterization of a Schiff base ligand and its complexes with various metal ions. The ligand (HL) was prepared in two steps by reacting 3-aminoacetophenone with hydrazine monohydrate to form an intermediate, which was then reacted with salicylaldehyde. The ligand was characterized using various techniques. The metal complexes were prepared by reacting the ligand with metal chlorides in a 1:1 molar ratio. The complexes were characterized using techniques such as elemental analysis, conductivity, IR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Based on the data, the complexes were found to have tetrahedral geometry except for the nickel complex which was square planar.
The document summarizes the acid-base behavior of the highest oxidation state oxides of the period 3 elements (sodium to chlorine). It finds that the oxides trend from strongly basic on the left (Na2O) to strongly acidic on the right (Cl2O7), with Al2O3 in the middle being amphoteric. Each oxide is then discussed individually in terms of its reaction with water and whether it demonstrates acidic, basic, or no reactivity.
Synthesis and characterization of mixed ligand complexes of some metals with ...Taghreed Al-Noor
This document summarizes the synthesis and characterization of mixed ligand metal complexes containing nicotinamide and L-phenylalanine. The complexes were synthesized and analyzed using various techniques such as melting point, solubility, molar conductivity, UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The complexes had the general formula [M(NA)2(phe)]Cl, where M is a divalent metal ion such as Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) or Hg(II). The study showed that L-phenylalanine acted as a bidentate ligand through its carboxylate and amine groups, while nicotinamide coordinated as
The document discusses different types of isomerism seen in coordination compounds, including structural isomerism (ionization, polymerization, hydrate, linkage, coordination, ligand isomerism) and stereoisomerism (geometric, optical isomerism). It provides examples of each type of isomerism. It also discusses the number of possible isomers for coordination compounds based on their coordination number and ligand arrangement.
This document summarizes a research article that studied the selective oxidation of styrene using Mg-Co-Al hydrotalcite-like catalysts with air as the oxidant. Several Mg-Co-Al catalysts with varying Co content were synthesized and characterized. The catalysts were tested for styrene oxidation and showed good activity and stability. Both styrene conversion and product selectivity depended on the cobalt substitution level. Cobalt ions within the hydrotalcite lattice acted as active sites for styrene epoxidation.
1) The document discusses testing the thermodynamic stability of lithium titanate (LTO) for use in lithium ion battery anodes.
2) The precursors of LTO (lithium carbonate and titanium dioxide) were reacted in a molten salt media of LiCl-KCl at 450°C for 8 hours.
3) X-ray diffraction analysis of the final product showed peaks corresponding to lithium titanate and excess titanium dioxide, indicating the precursors did not fully react to form single phase LTO at this lower temperature.
The document provides information about the elements in Group 14 of the periodic table. It begins by introducing the group and listing the elements carbon, silicon, germanium, tin, and lead. It then provides details about each element, including their physical properties, oxidation states, occurrence in nature, and important uses. The document discusses topics like allotropes of carbon, silicon semiconductor applications, germanium use in electronics, tin uses in alloys and solder, and properties of lead like its low melting point.
The document discusses the physical and chemical properties of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals. It provides details about their ionization energies, reactivity, reactions with water and other substances, and color imparted to flames. Alkali metals have low melting points due to weak metallic bonding. Their reactivity increases down the group as ionization energy decreases. Alkaline earth metals have higher melting points than alkali metals due to smaller atomic size and stronger metallic bonds. Their reactivity is also less than alkali metals.
1. The document describes the synthesis and characterization of novel Schiff base ligands and their transition metal complexes.
2. Several heterocyclic aldehydes and aniline derivatives were synthesized and used to prepare Schiff bases. These include Schiff bases derived from 4-methylumbelliferone and N-methylpropane-1,3-diamine.
3. The Schiff bases were characterized using analytical techniques like NMR, MS and IR spectroscopy. They were then used to prepare transition metal complexes which will be explored for potential biological activities.
Acid soil formation and classification of acid soil in indiaKARTHIKEYANB30
Genesis of soil acidity,acid soil forming factors, pedogenic process influence the acid soil, acid soil classification, amelioration of soil acidity-chemistry of liming, equivalent acidity,neutralizing value or calcium carbonate equivalent
Revision Slides for AQA A-Level Chemistry on the Group Two Elements. Designed for the new Exam Series of June 2017, but relevant for all series and exam boards.
Role of the morphology and surface planes on the catalytic activity of spinel...Science Padayatchi
The electrocatalytic activity of the spinel oxide LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 with
different morphologies (cubic, spherical, octahedral, and truncated octahedral) has been
investigated for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solutions that is of
interest for metal−air batteries. The OER activity increases in the order truncated
octahedral < cubic < spherical < octahedral, despite a larger surface area (2.9 m2 g−1) for
the spherical sample compared to nearly similar surface areas (0.3−0.7 m2 g−1) for the
other three samples. The high activity of the octahedral sample is attributed to the
regular octahedral shape with low-energy {111} surface planes, whereas the lowest
activity of the truncated octahedral sample is attributed to the high-energy {001} surface
planes. The octahedral sample also exhibits the lowest Tafel slope of 70 mV dec−1 with
the highest durability whereas the truncated octahedral sample exhibits the highest Tafel
slope of 120 mV dec−1 with durability similar to the cubic and spherical samples. The
study demonstrates that the catalytic activities of oxide catalysts could be tuned and
optimized by controlling the surface morphologies/planes via novel synthesis approaches.
The synthesis and characterization of three new metal chalcogenide aerogels, Chalcogels,
AFe3Zn3S17 (A= Na, K, or Rb) is described. Alkali metal polychalcogenides (Na2S5, K2S5, or Rb2S5)
reactwith metal acetate like Fe(OAc)2 and Zn(OAc)2in formamide solutionforming extended polymeric
frameworks by gelation. Chalcogels obtained aftersupercritical drying have BET surface areas of
430, 444, and 435 m
2
/g for NaFe3Zn3S17, KFe3Zn3S17, and RbFe3Zn3S17, respectively. The effect of the
counter ions (K, Na, and Rb) wasstudied by examined the adsorption capacities of the resulting
chalcogels toward different gases and volatile organic compounds. The measurements showed that
CO2 and toluene adsorption capacities increase with the polarizability of the surface atoms in the
following order: Rb chalcogel> K chalcogel> Na chalcogel.This finding reveals a trend based on
cation size and acid–base surface properties that might have a significant impact on altering
adsorptive properties of chalcogels by using more polarizable counter ions.
A first principles study into the properties and activities of rare-earth and...Hnakey Lora
This document discusses density functional theory calculations to study the properties and activities of rare-earth and transition metal materials for environmental catalysis and medical applications. It examines the mechanisms of ceria-based oxygen storage materials, NOx removal, and low-temperature catalysis. Specific topics covered include oxygen vacancy formation in ceria, the roles of cerium and zirconium in oxygen storage capacity, NO oxidation on precious metals and their oxides, and low-temperature CO and ethylene combustion using gold films, cobalt oxide, and manganese oxide catalysts.
The document provides information on naming and identifying different types of chemical compounds including:
- Ionic compounds can be identified by their metal and nonmetal components and named using stock nomenclature.
- Molecular compounds contain two nonmetals and include acids, hydrocarbons, and binary compounds.
- Practice problems are provided to test the ability to identify, name, and write formulas for various ionic and molecular compounds.
The document discusses Group II elements and their reactions. It describes the properties of Group II elements including their metallic properties, conductivity, and ability to react with acids to produce hydrogen. It then discusses the specific uses of magnesium, calcium, and barium compounds. Finally, it provides examples of reactions of magnesium, calcium, and strontium with oxygen, hydrochloric acid, and carbon dioxide to form various compounds.
This document provides a checklist of important experiments in chemistry for SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) students. It lists 14 chemistry topics and the key experiments students should be able to describe for each topic. These include experiments on the structure of the atom, chemical formulae and equations, the periodic table of elements, electrochemistry, acids and bases, salts, rate of reaction, carbon compounds, oxidation and reduction, and thermochemistry. For each experiment, students are expected to describe the apparatus, materials, procedure, observations, analysis, and interpreting data. The document also analyzes which chemistry topics were examined in SPM Paper 3 from 2003 to 2011.
The document outlines syllabus statements from the Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science syllabus regarding the periodic table and properties of elements. It describes classifying elements in the periodic table by atomic number and using it to predict properties based on groups and periods. It discusses trends in properties across periods, including metallic/non-metallic character, and group properties such as alkali metals showing trends in melting point and reaction with water. It also covers transition elements having high densities and melting points and forming colored compounds to act as catalysts, and noble gases being unreactive but having uses such as argon in lamps and helium in balloons.
The document describes the synthesis and characterization of a Schiff base ligand and its transition metal complexes with Cu(II), Co(II), and Ni(II).
The Schiff base ligand was synthesized by the condensation of 3-(3-nitrophenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde and o-amino phenol. Metal complexes were prepared by reacting the Schiff base ligand with acetate salts of Cu(II), Co(II), and Ni(II).
The complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, IR, UV-Vis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectrometry, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and thermal analysis. Spectroscopic data
Electrode - Electrolyte Interface Studies in Lithium BatteriesMarine Cuisinier
Compilation of studies conducted at the Institut des Matériaux de Nantes under the supervision of Dr. Dominique Guyomard between 2008 and 2012.
Focused on solid-state NMR to characterize interphases between positive electrode and electrolyte.
Synthesis and characterization of complexes of schiff base [1, 2 diphenyl -...Alexander Decker
This document describes the synthesis and characterization of a Schiff base ligand and its complexes with various metal ions. The ligand (HL) was prepared in two steps by reacting 3-aminoacetophenone with hydrazine monohydrate to form an intermediate, which was then reacted with salicylaldehyde. The ligand was characterized using various techniques. The metal complexes were prepared by reacting the ligand with metal chlorides in a 1:1 molar ratio. The complexes were characterized using techniques such as elemental analysis, conductivity, IR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Based on the data, the complexes were found to have tetrahedral geometry except for the nickel complex which was square planar.
The document summarizes the acid-base behavior of the highest oxidation state oxides of the period 3 elements (sodium to chlorine). It finds that the oxides trend from strongly basic on the left (Na2O) to strongly acidic on the right (Cl2O7), with Al2O3 in the middle being amphoteric. Each oxide is then discussed individually in terms of its reaction with water and whether it demonstrates acidic, basic, or no reactivity.
Synthesis and characterization of mixed ligand complexes of some metals with ...Taghreed Al-Noor
This document summarizes the synthesis and characterization of mixed ligand metal complexes containing nicotinamide and L-phenylalanine. The complexes were synthesized and analyzed using various techniques such as melting point, solubility, molar conductivity, UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The complexes had the general formula [M(NA)2(phe)]Cl, where M is a divalent metal ion such as Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) or Hg(II). The study showed that L-phenylalanine acted as a bidentate ligand through its carboxylate and amine groups, while nicotinamide coordinated as
The document discusses different types of isomerism seen in coordination compounds, including structural isomerism (ionization, polymerization, hydrate, linkage, coordination, ligand isomerism) and stereoisomerism (geometric, optical isomerism). It provides examples of each type of isomerism. It also discusses the number of possible isomers for coordination compounds based on their coordination number and ligand arrangement.
This document summarizes a research article that studied the selective oxidation of styrene using Mg-Co-Al hydrotalcite-like catalysts with air as the oxidant. Several Mg-Co-Al catalysts with varying Co content were synthesized and characterized. The catalysts were tested for styrene oxidation and showed good activity and stability. Both styrene conversion and product selectivity depended on the cobalt substitution level. Cobalt ions within the hydrotalcite lattice acted as active sites for styrene epoxidation.
1) The document discusses testing the thermodynamic stability of lithium titanate (LTO) for use in lithium ion battery anodes.
2) The precursors of LTO (lithium carbonate and titanium dioxide) were reacted in a molten salt media of LiCl-KCl at 450°C for 8 hours.
3) X-ray diffraction analysis of the final product showed peaks corresponding to lithium titanate and excess titanium dioxide, indicating the precursors did not fully react to form single phase LTO at this lower temperature.
The document provides information about the elements in Group 14 of the periodic table. It begins by introducing the group and listing the elements carbon, silicon, germanium, tin, and lead. It then provides details about each element, including their physical properties, oxidation states, occurrence in nature, and important uses. The document discusses topics like allotropes of carbon, silicon semiconductor applications, germanium use in electronics, tin uses in alloys and solder, and properties of lead like its low melting point.
The document discusses the physical and chemical properties of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals. It provides details about their ionization energies, reactivity, reactions with water and other substances, and color imparted to flames. Alkali metals have low melting points due to weak metallic bonding. Their reactivity increases down the group as ionization energy decreases. Alkaline earth metals have higher melting points than alkali metals due to smaller atomic size and stronger metallic bonds. Their reactivity is also less than alkali metals.
1. The document describes the synthesis and characterization of novel Schiff base ligands and their transition metal complexes.
2. Several heterocyclic aldehydes and aniline derivatives were synthesized and used to prepare Schiff bases. These include Schiff bases derived from 4-methylumbelliferone and N-methylpropane-1,3-diamine.
3. The Schiff bases were characterized using analytical techniques like NMR, MS and IR spectroscopy. They were then used to prepare transition metal complexes which will be explored for potential biological activities.
Acid soil formation and classification of acid soil in indiaKARTHIKEYANB30
Genesis of soil acidity,acid soil forming factors, pedogenic process influence the acid soil, acid soil classification, amelioration of soil acidity-chemistry of liming, equivalent acidity,neutralizing value or calcium carbonate equivalent
Revision Slides for AQA A-Level Chemistry on the Group Two Elements. Designed for the new Exam Series of June 2017, but relevant for all series and exam boards.
Similar to Spinel type lithium cobalt oxide as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions - nature communications
Role of the morphology and surface planes on the catalytic activity of spinel...Science Padayatchi
The electrocatalytic activity of the spinel oxide LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 with
different morphologies (cubic, spherical, octahedral, and truncated octahedral) has been
investigated for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solutions that is of
interest for metal−air batteries. The OER activity increases in the order truncated
octahedral < cubic < spherical < octahedral, despite a larger surface area (2.9 m2 g−1) for
the spherical sample compared to nearly similar surface areas (0.3−0.7 m2 g−1) for the
other three samples. The high activity of the octahedral sample is attributed to the
regular octahedral shape with low-energy {111} surface planes, whereas the lowest
activity of the truncated octahedral sample is attributed to the high-energy {001} surface
planes. The octahedral sample also exhibits the lowest Tafel slope of 70 mV dec−1 with
the highest durability whereas the truncated octahedral sample exhibits the highest Tafel
slope of 120 mV dec−1 with durability similar to the cubic and spherical samples. The
study demonstrates that the catalytic activities of oxide catalysts could be tuned and
optimized by controlling the surface morphologies/planes via novel synthesis approaches.
The synthesis and characterization of three new metal chalcogenide aerogels, Chalcogels,
AFe3Zn3S17 (A= Na, K, or Rb) is described. Alkali metal polychalcogenides (Na2S5, K2S5, or Rb2S5)
reactwith metal acetate like Fe(OAc)2 and Zn(OAc)2in formamide solutionforming extended polymeric
frameworks by gelation. Chalcogels obtained aftersupercritical drying have BET surface areas of
430, 444, and 435 m
2
/g for NaFe3Zn3S17, KFe3Zn3S17, and RbFe3Zn3S17, respectively. The effect of the
counter ions (K, Na, and Rb) wasstudied by examined the adsorption capacities of the resulting
chalcogels toward different gases and volatile organic compounds. The measurements showed that
CO2 and toluene adsorption capacities increase with the polarizability of the surface atoms in the
following order: Rb chalcogel> K chalcogel> Na chalcogel.This finding reveals a trend based on
cation size and acid–base surface properties that might have a significant impact on altering
adsorptive properties of chalcogels by using more polarizable counter ions.
A first principles study into the properties and activities of rare-earth and...Hnakey Lora
This document discusses density functional theory calculations to study the properties and activities of rare-earth and transition metal materials for environmental catalysis and medical applications. It examines the mechanisms of ceria-based oxygen storage materials, NOx removal, and low-temperature catalysis. Specific topics covered include oxygen vacancy formation in ceria, the roles of cerium and zirconium in oxygen storage capacity, NO oxidation on precious metals and their oxides, and low-temperature CO and ethylene combustion using gold films, cobalt oxide, and manganese oxide catalysts.
This document provides a review of solid electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. It discusses several types of solid electrolytes that have been investigated, including NASICON, garnet, perovskite, LISICON, LiPON, Li3N, sulfide, argyrodite, and anti-perovskite electrolytes. For NASICON-type electrolytes specifically, the document outlines their crystal structure, discusses how doping affects ionic conductivity, and notes issues like compatibility with anode materials. The review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of key solid electrolyte types and properties, as well as gaps that need to be addressed for all-solid-state batteries.
Carbon based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) Lav Kumar Kasaudhan
The document discusses carbon-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). It summarizes three journal papers on this topic. The first paper discusses the need for non-precious metal catalysts to replace platinum in fuel cells and issues with stability and durability. The second paper examines nitrogen and metal-containing catalysts and their activity. The third paper analyzes ORR activity on different fullerene molecules and active sites. Overall, the document reviews research gaps and findings on developing durable, non-precious metal catalysts for ORR.
Removal of Coke during Steam Reforming of Ethanol over La-CoOx Catalystinventy
Research Inventy : International Journal of Engineering and Science is published by the group of young academic and industrial researchers with 12 Issues per year. It is an online as well as print version open access journal that provides rapid publication (monthly) of articles in all areas of the subject such as: civil, mechanical, chemical, electronic and computer engineering as well as production and information technology. The Journal welcomes the submission of manuscripts that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence. Papers will be published by rapid process within 20 days after acceptance and peer review process takes only 7 days. All articles published in Research Inventy will be peer-reviewed.
Basics of free radicals.pptx............AlyaaKaram1
A free radical is a molecule or molecular fragment containing one or more unpaired electrons. Common types of free radicals include superoxide, hydroperoxyl, and hydroxyl radicals. These reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive with short lifespans and can damage tissues through chain reactions generating new ROS. ROS include superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen, nitric oxide, and peroxynitrite. Hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen are not free radicals but are included as ROS due to their reactivity. Free radicals can have planar or pyramidal configurations depending on the orbital occupied by the unpaired electron.
Recent advancements in tuning the electronic structures of transitional metal...Pawan Kumar
The smooth transition from finite non-renewables to renewable energy conversion technologies will require efficient electrocatalysts which can harness intermittent energies to store in the form of chemical bonds. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) impedes the widespread usage of water electrolyzers to convert H2O into H2 and persists as a bottleneck, including other energy conversion devices with sluggish four H+/e− kinetics. In this context, designing highly active and stable catalysts capable of driving a lower overpotential in the OER to produce continuous hydrogen (H2) is a primary demanded. This chapter discussed the mechanism of the OER in conventional adsorbate oxygen and lattice oxygen participation in transition metal oxides (TMOs). Further, the influences of surface engineering, doping, and defects in the TMOs and understanding the electronic structure to screen electrodes towards the structure–activity relationship are highlighted. Specifically, the adsorption strength of O 2p is understood in detail as its binding ability over the surface of TMOs can be correlated directly to the OER activity. The iterative development of TMOs in terms of understanding electronic structural attributes is essential for the commercial deployment of energy conversion technologies. The comprehensive outlook of this chapter investigates thoroughly how TMOs can be used as significant materials for the OER in the near future.
This summarizes a document describing research on using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrochemical reactors to treat polluted waters. Key points:
1) BDD electrodes have been used in various bench-scale electrochemical reactors, including undivided flow cells and trickle tower reactors, to degrade organic pollutants via electrochemical oxidation.
2) The BDD surface generates reactive oxygen species like hydroxyl radicals that can fully mineralize organic contaminants into CO2 and water. Operating parameters like current density and flow rate influence degradation rates.
3) Studies show these BDD reactors can achieve high removals of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) for
The document describes a method for synthesizing NiFe2O4 nanoparticles fully anchored within a carbon network using a facile pyrolysis technique. Key points:
- NiFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized within a carbon network using a polyol-assisted pyrolysis method without an external carbon source.
- Characterization with SEM and TEM showed the NiFe2O4 nanoparticles were uniformly distributed and fully embedded within the carbon network.
- Electrochemical testing showed the NiFe2O4/C anode delivered a reversible capacity of 381.8 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 1C rates and 263.7 mAh/g at a high rate of 5C, demonstrating enhanced performance over bare
1. The Wacker process oxidizes ethylene to acetaldehyde using a palladium and copper chloride catalyst. Ethylene coordinates to Pd which inserts an oxygen atom and isomerizes to acetaldehyde. CuCl2 helps reoxidize Pd to continue the catalytic cycle.
2. Metal-oxo complexes catalyze many oxidation reactions including allylic oxidation, olefin metathesis, aromatic oxidation, water oxidation, alkene dihydroxylation, and epoxidation of alkenes. These complexes form reactive M=O bonds.
3. Phase-transfer catalysis improves reactions of anionic oxo complexes by using large organic cations to transfer the oxo anion
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This document summarizes the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of various IrO2-based binary metal oxide electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. IrO2, IrxRu1-xO2, IrxSnx-1O2 and IrxTax-1O2 (where x is between 1 and 0.7) were synthesized via an adapted Adams fusion method. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy showed the materials formed nanocrystalline solid solutions. Electrochemical testing found that adding RuO2, SnO2, or Ta2O5 to IrO2 improved its catalytic performance for oxygen evolution. Specifically, Ir0.7Ru0.3O2 exhibited the best
Similar to Spinel type lithium cobalt oxide as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions - nature communications (20)
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Spinel type lithium cobalt oxide as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions - nature communications
1. ARTICLE
Received 24 Oct 2013 | Accepted 25 Apr 2014 | Published 27 May 2014
Spinel-type lithium cobalt oxide as a bifunctional
electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution and oxygen
reduction reactions
Thandavarayan Maiyalagan1, Karalee A. Jarvis1, Soosairaj Therese1, Paulo J. Ferreira1 & Arumugam Manthiram1
Development of efficient, affordable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction and
the oxygen reduction reaction is critical for rechargeable metal-air batteries. Here we present
lithium cobalt oxide, synthesized at 400 °C (designated as LT-LiCoO2) that adopts a lithiated
spinel structure, as an inexpensive, efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction.
The catalytic activity of LT-LiCoO2 is higher than that of both spinel cobalt oxide and layered
lithium cobalt oxide synthesized at 800 °C (designated as HT-LiCoO2) for the oxygen evo-
lution reaction. Although LT-LiCoO2 exhibits poor activity for the oxygen reduction reaction,
the chemically delithiated LT-Li1 À xCoO2 samples exhibit a combination of high oxygen
reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction activities, making the spinel-type LT-
Li0,5CoO2 a potential bifunctional electrocatalyst for rechargeable metal-air batteries. The
high activities of these delithiated compositions are attributed to the Co4O4 cubane subunits
and a pinning of the Co3 þ /4 þ :3d energy with the top of the O2 À :2p band.
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949
1 Materials Science and Engineering Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA. Correspondence and requests for materials should
be addressed to A.M. (email: manth@austin.utexas.edu).
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | 5:3949 | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949 | www.nature.com/naturecommunications 1
& 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
2. O
xygen electrochemistry plays a major role in energy
conversion and storage devices, particularly in the field of
fuel cells, metal-air batteries and water electrolysers1–3.
The major challenge in metal-air batteries and water electrolysis
is to design and develop economically feasible, earth-abundant,
inexpensive, efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution
reaction (OER)4. In nature, water electrolysis is performed by the
photosystem II water-oxidizing complex containing CaMn4Ox
clusters that are capable of promoting water oxidation with
significant turnover frequencies at low overpotentials4–8.
However, it is difficult to use these naturally occurring enzymes
in commercial electrochemical devices due to their instability
under the operating conditions9. Precious-metal electrocatalysts
such as Pt, IrO2 and RuO2 are normally employed, but their low
abundance and high cost prohibit their practical use10. Pt exhibits
inadequate OER activity due to the formation of the insulating
platinum oxides. RuO2 becomes unstable at high potentials due to
the formation of higher-valent ruthenium oxides. IrO2 is the best
electrocatalyst so far for OER. Moreover, it is difficult to get both
acceptable OER and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities
with the same material. Therefore, a burgeoning effort by
chemists is to develop inexpensive materials with high
electrocatalytic activity and stability for OER or preferably for
both OER and ORR, but it remains a daunting scientific
challenge. In addition, electrolysis of water is generally
preferred in alkaline medium over acidic medium because of
the less expensive materials for construction and less
susceptibility to corrosion11–13.
Transition metal oxides containing highly oxidized redox
couples such as Ir4 þ /6 þ , Ru4 þ /8 þ , Co3 þ /4 þ , Ni3 þ /4 þ ,
Mn3 þ /4 þ and Fe3 þ /4 þ are known as active centres for OER.
The electrochemical performance of oxides for OER follows
the order, IrO24RuO24Co3O4 and Ni-containing cobalt
oxides4Fe, Pb, Mn containing oxides. Among the numerous
low-cost oxides investigated, cobalt oxides are promising for both
OER and ORR14–18 and have been largely studied as stable
electrocatalysts for OER in highly alkaline solutions19. For
example, spinel NiCo2O4 and Co3O4 have been found by
several groups to show good efficiency and long-term
performance, but they underperform relative to IrO2 (ref. 20).
Co3O4 nanoparticles have also been anchored onto suitable
conducting supports to prevent the agglomeration of
nanoparticles and thereby increase the electrocatalytic activity.
Recently, Liang et al.21 have used Co3O4 nanocrystals anchored
onto graphene, while Frei and co-workers22 have developed
efficient water oxidation electrocatalysts by supporting MnOx and
Co3O4 clusters on mesoporous silica scaffolds. Also, Kanan
et al.23 have used cobalt phosphate as an electrocatalyst for water
oxidation.
With an aim to develop highly active electrocatalysts based on
earth-abundant elements for both OER and ORR, we focus here
on LiCoO2 as an electrocatalyst. LiCoO2 has been intensively
studied as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries24. LiCoO2
is known to exist in two forms as described below. The LiCoO2
sample synthesized at high temperatures (B800 °C) has the
a-NaFeO2 structure (space group: R3m) in which the Liþ and
Co3 þ ions order on alternate {111} planes of the rock salt
structure due to the large size and charge differences between the
Liþ and Co3 þ ions25. We designate this high-temperature form
as HT-LiCoO2. In contrast, the LiCoO2 sample synthesized at
lower temperatures (B 400 °C) adopts a lithiated spinel structure
{Li2}16c[Co2]16dO4 in which the Co3 þ ions occupy all the 16d
octahedral sites, while the Liþ ions occupy all the 16c octahedral
sites of the spinel framework (space group: Fd3m)26. We
designate this low-temperature form as LT-LiCoO2. In this
paper, we compare the activities of LT-LiCoO2 and HT-LiCoO2
having the same composition but different structures for OER in
alkaline medium. LT-LiCoO2 and HT-LiCoO2, both consisting of
Co3 þ ions, offer a unique platform to explore the structure-
activity relationship for OER. While LT-LiCoO2 consists of the
cubane-like cubic Co4O4 units, HT-LiCoO2 consists of LiCo3O4
units. Also, the changes in the surface structure of LT-LiCoO2
and its OER activity as a function of the firing time and
temperature around 400 °C are presented. We also compare the
OER and ORR activities of chemically delithiated LT-Li1 À xCoO2
as a function of lithium content (0rxr0.5) and the oxidation
state of Co with an aim to utilize it as a bifunctional
electrocatalyst for OER and ORR.
Results
Bulk and surface structures. Both the atomic and electronic
structures, particularly on the surface under the electrochemical
operating conditions, play a critical role in imparting the elec-
trocatalytic activity for OER and ORR. Figure 1a shows the X-ray
diffraction patterns of LT-LiCoO2, HT-LiCoO2 and Co3O4. While
the LT-LiCoO2 synthesized at 400 °C shows a single reflection
around 2yE63° corresponding to the {440} plane of the cubic
lithiated spinel (Fd3m), it splits into the (108) and (110) reflec-
tions of the layered HT-LiCoO2 structure (R3m) on heating to
800 °C27–30. Also, the (220) reflection present in Co3O4 is absent
in LT-LiCoO2 due to the absence of ions with high scattering
68 1.2
0.0
(110)
1.61.41.2
1.61.41.2
(108)
(113)
(110)
(108)
(107)
(015)
(104)
(006)(012)
(101)
(003)(111)
(311)
(222)
(400)
(311)
(511)
(440)
(531)
(440)
(440)
(440)
(511)
(422)
(400)
(222)
(311)
(220)
(111)
Co3O4
LT-LiCoO2
HT-LiCoO2
HT-LiCoO2
LT-LiCoO2
Co3O4
Co3+
Co3+
Co3+
Co4+
Co4+
Co4+
0.4
0
2
4
0
1
2
1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6676665646040
2 Theta (degrees) Potential (V versus RHE)
Currentdensity(mAcm–2
)
Intensity(a.u.)
20
a b
Figure 1 | X-ray diffraction patterns and electrochemical behaviour of electrocatalysts. (a) X-ray diffraction patterns of Co3O4, LT-LiCoO2 and
HT-LiCoO2, illustrating the splitting of the (440) reflection in the cubic spinel LT-LiCoO2 into (108) and (110) reflections in the rhombohedral-layered
LT-LiCoO2 as shown in the expanded region of 2y ¼ 64–68°. (b) Cyclic voltammograms of Co3O4, LT-LiCoO2 and HT-LiCoO2 in 0.1 M KOH at scan
rate of 5 mVsÀ 1. The purple, blue and green colours in the structures shown in the insets of b refer, respectively, to the polyhedra of Co3 þ , Co2 þ and
Liþ ions.
ARTICLE NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949
2 NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | 5:3949 | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949 | www.nature.com/naturecommunications
2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
3. power in the 8a tetrahedral sites of the spinel lattice in LT-
LiCoO2. Co3O4 has the cubic spinel structure with a cation
distribution of (Co2 þ )8a[Co2
3 þ ]16dO4 in which all the Co3 þ ions
occupy the 16d octahedral sites, while all Co2 þ ions occupy the
8a tetrahedral sites. Supplementary Fig. 1 shows the Rietveld
refinement of the X-ray diffraction data of LT-LiCoO2 and HT-
LiCoO2 along with Co3O4. The observed and calculated patterns
match well with each other, validating the cubic lithiated spinel
structure of LT-LiCoO2. The structural parameters obtained from
the Rietveld refinement are given in Supplementary Table 1.
Figure 2 shows the aberration-corrected high angular annular
dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)
images of the three samples, viewed down the 011½ Š zone axis. The
atomic arrangement in the Co3O4 particle matches that expected
for the spinel lattice with the space group Fd3m, where the Co3 þ
ions occupy the octahedral sites and Co2 þ ions occupy the
tetrahedral sites (Fig. 2c,d). The particle maintains this structure
all the way to the surface on both the {001} and {111} planes
(Fig. 2a,b, respectively). As a comparison, the surfaces of the {001}
and the {111} planes in HT-LiCoO2 are shown in Fig. 2e,f. The
overall structure matches that of a trigonal lattice with the space
group R3m (Fig. 2g,h). For ease of comparison, we will use the
cubic system, which is the most basic structure of HT-LiCoO2, for
the notation of the planes in both the figures and the discussion of
HT-LiCoO2. The bulk structure of HT-LiCoO2 is maintained all
the way to the surface on the {111} planes (Fig. 2f), but shows
some variation for a few layer of the {001} surface (Fig. 2e). At
this surface, there are some bright atomic columns of Co that
appear in the Li layers, suggesting that some Co might have
moved into the lithium layer at the {001} cubic surface. The bulk
structure of LT-LiCoO2 is shown in Fig. 2i, and it indicates that
the structure corresponds to a spinel lattice with the space group
Fd3m and Co and Li occupying, respectively, all the 16d and 16c
octahedral sites (Fig. 2j,k). The structure of the {001} planes is
maintained all the way to the surface (Fig. 2i). The structure of
the {111} planes at the surface, however, is modified under certain
synthesis conditions (Fig. 3). For example, for a firing
temperature of 370 °C for 7 days, the spinel structure is
maintained all the way to the {111} surface (Fig. 3a). For firing
temperatures of 385 and 400 °C for 7 days, however, a few atomic
layers of the {111} surface planes have transformed to the layered
HT-LiCoO2 (Fig. 3b,c). In contrast, for a firing temperature of
a b c
e f g
i j
d
[111]
h
k
[111]
[111]
[112]
[112]
[112]
Figure 2 | Aberration-corrected HAADF-STEM images of electrocatalyts. HAADF-STEM images of (a–d) Co3O4, (e–h) HT-LiCoO2 and (i–k) LT-LiCoO2
viewed down the 011½ Š zone axis, showing the surface structure at the (a,e,i) {001} plane and (b,f) {111} plane. These surface planes are indicated
by black bars and arrows in the image and circles in the inset fast Fourier transform’s (FFT’s). The unit cells for each composition with octahedral and
tetrahedral arrangements are overlaid on higher magnification images that have been deconvoluted to reduce noise in (c,g,j)44. The blue, purple and
green atoms refer, respectively, to Co 2 þ , Co3 þ and Liþ . The simulated STEM images are shown in (d,h,k). To facilitate a comparison of the three
materials, the deconvoluted and simulated images have been rotated relative to the STEM images, so that all the {111} planes lie on the horizontal axis.
Scale bar, 2 nm.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949 ARTICLE
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | 5:3949 | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949 | www.nature.com/naturecommunications 3
2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
4. 400 °C for 4 days, only the first layer has transformed to the
layered HT-LiCoO2 phase (Fig. 3d).
Electrochemical behaviour. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs)
recorded for all the three electrocatalysts under the same
experimental conditions at a scan rate of 5 mV sÀ 1 are presented
in Fig. 1b. The enlarged CVs and the CVs recorded for an
extended number of cycles are shown in Supplementary Fig. 2.
The CV of Co3O4 is characterized by a single anodic peak before
the OER and a single cathodic peak, which have been attributed
to the quasi-reversible redox couple (CoO2/CoOOH) occurring
on Co3O4 surface15,31. The CV of HT-LiCoO2 differs
considerably from that of Co3O4. HT-LiCoO2 shows two peaks
during the anodic process and two peaks during the cathodic
process, and the redox peaks become more pronounced during
extended CV cycling (Supplementary Fig. 2b). Unlike in Co3O4,
the Co3 þ /4 þ oxidation/reduction in HT-LiCoO2 is accompanied
by lithium extraction/insertion. Also, HT-LiCoO2 is known to
insert protons into the lattice during chemical delithiation (with
NO2BF4 even in acetonitrile medium) for x40.5 in HT-
Li1 À xCoO2 and transform from the O3-layered structure to the
P3-layered structure32,33. While the Liþ ions are in octahedral
sites in the O3 structure, the Liþ /Hþ ions are in prismatic sites
in the P3 structure. Thus, the occurrence of two peaks during the
anodic or cathodic process is due to the extraction/insertion of
Liþ /Hþ into two different crystallographic sites. It should be
noted that the second anodic peak is weak and it becomes
invisible at higher scan rates (for example, 20 mV sÀ 1), possibly
due to the slow kinetics associated with the extraction/insertion of
Liþ /Hþ from/into the prismatic sites. LT-LiCoO2 also shows
two anodic peaks (Fig. 1b and Supplementary Fig. 2), but the
second peak is much weaker even at a slow scan rate of 5 mV sÀ 1.
This is because the lithium diffusion rate is much slower in
LT-LiCoO2, which has a lithiated spinel structure formed
at low temperatures, possibly with defects, compared with that
in HT-LiCoO2 that has a well-formed, well-ordered layered
structure30,34. In addition, LT-LiCoO2 may also undergo
structural transformations at deep lithium extraction, involving
possibly proton insertion, due to the instability at high Co4 þ
contents. Thus, the occurrence of two peaks is due the extraction/
insertion of Liþ /Hþ from/into two different lattice sites. It is
clear that the anodic peak corresponding to lithium extraction is
sensitive to diffusion coefficient and the CV scan rate35.
Furthermore, the anodic peak in LT-LiCoO2 occurs at a lower
potential (1.43 V) than that in HT-LiCoO2 (1.49 V), despite the
same composition and oxidation state of Co, reflecting the
influence of crystal structure (spinel-like versus layered).
Supplementary Table 2 gives the potential and redox couples
for various electrocatalysts.
Nocera’s group36 has pointed out that the structurally strained,
unstable Co4 þ species on the surface acts as an intermediate
species for OER. They have also demonstrated Co4 þ active site
formation by EPR during the OER conditions. Rasiyah et al.37
have shown a relationship between the onset potential for OER
and the potential of the lower oxide/higher oxide couple. For
example, the redox couples of IrO2 and RuO2 occurring at lower
potentials results in lower OER onset potentials for both
compositions37. Thus, the occurrence of the Co3 þ /Co4 þ redox
couple peak at a lower potential in LT-LiCoO2 leads to lower
OER onset potential compared with those of HT-LiCoO2 and
Co3O4 (Supplementary Table 2).
The electrocatalytic activities of Co3O4, LT-LiCoO2, HT-LiCoO2
and the conventional IrO2 samples for OER were studied by linear
sweep voltammetry in oxygen-saturated 0.1 M KOH solution at a
scan rate of 20 mV sÀ 1. The mass normalized OER activities
(Fig. 4a) of the samples increase in the order: HT-LiCoO2o
Co3O4oIrO2oLT-LiCoO2. Among the electrocatalysts studied,
the layered HT-LiCoO2 sample exhibits the lowest OER activity,
close to that of the well-studied Co3O4, while the LT-LiCoO2
sample (prepared at 400 °C for 7 days) exhibits the highest OER
activity that is even slightly better than that of the well-known IrO2
electrocatalyst. However, IrO2 shows a lower OER onset potential
compared with LT-LiCoO2. Also, LT-LiCoO2 exhibits much
higher OER activity than the best-studied perovskite oxide
Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3 À d (refs 2,38) (Supplementary Table 3).
Linear sweep voltammograms cycles of LT-LiCoO2 in 0.1 M
KOH at pH ¼ 13 are shown in Supplementary Fig. 3. Interestingly,
the OER activity is found to increase gradually, approach a stable
value after 100 cycles, and then decrease slowly after 200 cycles.
Anodic linear scanning voltammograms for OER on the LT-
LiCoO2 electrodes at different sweep rates are shown in
Supplementary Fig. 4.The current density increases with increasing
sweeping rate. The high OER activity of LT-LiCoO2 is consistent
with the high activity observed recently for the photocatalytic
oxidation of water39. To understand the OER activities further, the
Tafel plot analysis is shown in Supplementary Fig. 5. The Tafel
slope observed for Co3O4 (67 mV decÀ 1) is in good agreement
with those reported for Co3O4 nanocrystals on a graphene
support31. The LT-LiCoO2 and LT-Li0.5CoO2 samples exhibit
smaller Tafel slopes of, respectively, 52 and 60 mV decÀ 1 than
Co3O4 and HT-LiCoO2, which is consistent with the reported
values of 63 mV decÀ 1 for lithium-doped Co3O4 in alkaline
electrolytes37. Also, LT-LiCoO2 and LT-Li0.5CoO2 exhibit higher
exchange current densities than Co3O4 and HT-LiCoO2. The
higher exchange current density and smaller Tafel slope of
LT-LiCoO2 attest to its good electrocatalytic activity for OER.
The large difference between the OER performances of
LT-LiCoO2 and HT-LiCoO2 again reflects the importance of
a b
c d
Figure 3 | Aberration-corrected HAADF-STEM images of LT-LiCoO2.
HAADF-STEM images of LT-LiCoO2 viewed down the 011½ Š zone axis
showing the atomic structure of the {111} planes at the surface for samples
prepared at (a) 370 °C for 7 days, (b) 385 °C for 7 days, (c) 400 °C
for 7 days and (d) 400 °C for 4 days. These surface planes are indicated by
black bars and arrows in the image and circles in the inset fast Fourier
transform ‘s (FFT’s). The scale bars are 2 nm.
ARTICLE NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949
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2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
5. structural features for OER, for example, Co4O4 cubane units in
LT-LiCoO2 versus LiCo3O4 units in HT-LiCoO2. Finally, despite
the same spinel framework, the spinel Co3O4 sample shows much
lower activity (similar to that of layered LT-LiCoO2) than the
lithiated spinel LT-LiCoO2 sample. This difference may be due to
the presence of Co2 þ ions in the 8a tetrahedral sites of Co3O4
and the difficulty of oxidizing the tetrahedral-site Co2 þ ions
before oxidizing the octahedral-site Co3 þ ions to Co4 þ . This
again reflects the importance of surface atomic arrangements and
electronic structures for OER.
Figure 4b compares the OER activities of the LT-LiCoO2
samples prepared under various conditions. As seen, the sample
fired at 400 °C for 7 days shows the highest OER activity, while
the sample fired at 370 °C for 7 days shows the lowest OER
activity, but all of them exhibit higher activity than HT-LiCoO2.
The lowest activity of the sample fired at 370 °C for 7 days could
be due to the incomplete solid state-reaction and the unreacted
raw materials on the surface. For a given firing temperature of
400 °C, the OER activity increases with increasing firing time
from 4–5 to 7 days. Similarly, for a given firing time of 7 days, the
OER activity increases with increasing firing temperature from
370–385 to 400 °C. These observations reflect the importance of
completing the solid-state reaction and realizing the optimum
surface structures favourable for OER. It is possible that the
presence of a few layers of layered HT-LiCoO2 on the surface of
LT-LiCoO2 and the consequent surface strains arising from slight
lattice mismatch between the two structures may play a role in
maximizing the OER activity; future in-depth investigation could
shed more light on this.
The long-term stability of the electrocatalysts is a critical factor
for them to be employed in practical devices. Accordingly, the
durability of the electrocatalysts for OER at an applied potential
of 1.7 V at pH ¼ 13 and 7 was evaluated by chronoamperometry
(Fig. 4c,d). The Co3O4 sample is stable both in alkaline (pH ¼ 13)
and neutral (pH ¼ 7) media as seen in Fig. 4c,d. Interestingly,
while the layered HT-LiCoO2 shows a decrease in OER activity
with time in alkaline medium (Fig. 4c) and even in neutral
medium (Fig. 4d), the lithiated spinel LT-LiCoO2 is stable in both
neutral and alkaline (pH ¼ 13) media with time (6 h) as seen in
Fig. 4c,d. Clearly, in addition to the higher OER activity, the
spinel LT-LiCoO2 offers stability advantages compared with the
layered HT-LiCoO2, in spite of a slightly larger surface area for
LT-LiCoO2 (9.6 m2 gÀ 1) compared with that for HT-LiCoO2
(1.7 m2 gÀ 1); the surface area of LT-LiCoO2 was similar to that of
Co3O4 (9.4 m2 gÀ 1). The stability differences again reflect the
importance of atomic arrangements for stable OER activity.
Chemically delithiated LT-Li1 À xCoO2. For an electrocatalyst to
be employed in rechargeable metal-air batteries, it should
display both acceptable OER and ORR activities. Accordingly, the
ORR activity of LT-LiCoO2 was evaluated with a rotating-disk
electrode (RDE) in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH electrolyte. As
seen in Fig. 5a, LT-LiCoO2 shows poor ORR activity, which is
worse than that of Co3O4. Considering that samples with
mixed-valent Co3 þ /4 þ are known to generally exhibit high
ORR activities40, lithium was extracted chemically from
LT-LiCoO2 with the oxidizer NO2BF4 in acetonitrile
medium33,41 to give LT-Li1 À xCoO2 (0rxr0.5) with mixed-
valent Co3 þ /4 þ . Interestingly, the ORR activity of the delithiated
LT-Li1 À xCoO2 samples increases with decreasing lithium content
and the LT-Li0.5CoO2 sample exhibits the highest ORR activity in
Fig. 5a. Figure 5b displays the OER activities of the delithiated
LT-Li1 À xCoO2 samples, and the OER activity decreases slightly
300200100
Currentdensity(mAcm–2
)
Currentdensity(mAcm–2
)Currentdensity(mAmg–1
)
Currentdensity(mAmg–1
)
Time (min)
0
0.00
0
100
200
300
400
a b
c d
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1.2 1.3
pH = 13 (0.1 M KOH) pH = 7 (0.1 M Phosphate buffer)
Potential (V versus RHE) Potential (V versus RHE)
1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.60 1.68 1.2
0
370 °C — 7 days
385 °C — 6 days
385 °C — 7 days
400 °C — 4 days
400 °C — 6 days
400 °C — 7 days
100
200
300
400
60
LT-LiCoO2
LT-LiCoO2
LT-LiCoO2
HT-LiCoO2
HT-LiCoO2
HT-LiCoO2
IrO2
Co3O4
Co3O4
Co3O4
40
OER onset
20
0
1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
300200100
Time (min)
0
Figure 4 | OER Performances of the electrocatalysts. (a) Linear sweep voltammograms of LT-LiCoO2, IrO2, Co3O4 and HT-LiCoO2 at a scan rate of
20 mVsÀ 1 at 1,600 r.p.m. in 0.1 M KOH at pH ¼ 13, with an expanded region shown on the right. (b) Effect of firing temperature and time on the OER
activity of LT-LiCoO2. (c) Chronoamperometry of LT-LiCoO2, Co3O4 and HT-LiCoO2 recorded at 1.7 V and 1,600 r.p.m. in 0.1 M KOH (pH ¼ 13).
(d) Chronoamperometry of LT-LiCoO2, Co3O4 and HT-LiCoO2 recorded at 1.7 V and 1,600 r.p.m. in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH ¼ 7). Some
fluctuations observed in the data points at high pH compared with the neutral pH arise from the formation of bubbles on the surface of the electrode. The
glassy carbon RDE electrodes were held under rotation at 1,600 r.p.m. during the course of the experiment in order to effectively remove the bubbles
formed during the OER. All activities are IR-corrected and normalized to the mass activity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949 ARTICLE
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | 5:3949 | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949 | www.nature.com/naturecommunications 5
2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
6. with decreasing lithium content. Nevertheless, the LT-Li0.5CoO2
sample exhibits 1.5 times higher OER activity than the
Co3O4 sample. However, the delithiated LT-Li0.5CoO2 sample
exhibits slightly lower stability than LT-LiCoO2 at pH ¼ 13
(Supplementary Fig. 6a). The ambient-temperature chemical
delithiation offers an approach to vary the d-electron count on
the transition-metal ion and explore its influence on ORR and
OER activities. In addition, the LT-LiCoO2 sample shows good
long-term stability for 20 h (Supplementary Fig. 6a), better than
the highest reported for perovskite Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3 À d (refs
2,38). Thus, the chemically delithiated spinel-type LT-Li0.5CoO2
exhibits a combination of high ORR and OER activities with good
stability, demonstrating it to be an excellent bifunctional
electrocatalyst.
Discussion
We have successfully demonstrated that the non-noble metal LT-
LiCoO2 synthesized at 400 °C exhibits superior OER activity, even
slightly better than that of IrO2. This is the highest mass activity
reported to date for a non-noble-metal electrocatalyst or a noble-
metal catalyst. For a material to have good OER activity, it
should have high electronic conductivity and great affinity for
adsorbed OHÀ intermediates. For example, IrO2 is known to be
the most active and stable electrocatalyst for OER in acid and
alkaline media due to its interesting electronic structure and
metallic conductivity. The OER reaction with IrO2 involves an
oxidation of low-spin Ir4 þ :5d5 (t2g
5 eg
0) ions to Ir6 þ :5d5 (t2g
3 eg
0) on
the surface. The decrease in crystal field stabilization energy
(CFSE) during this process has been suggested to make Ir6 þ
unstable37, favouring a facile OER reaction. Similarly, the high
OER activity of LT-LiCoO2 could be related to (i) the decrease
in CFSE during the oxidation of low-spin Co3 þ :3d6 (t2g
6 eg
0) ions
to Co4 þ :3d5 (t2g
5 eg
0) on the surface or the formation of
intermediate-spin Co3 þ (t2g
5 eg
1) ions on the surface under the
OER conditions in contact with the electrolyte and (ii) the high
(possibly metallic) conductivity arising from the partially filled t2g
orbitals of Co4 þ or intermediate-spin Co3 þ ions across the
shared octahedral edges of the spinel framework.
In addition, the high OER activity of LT-LiCoO2 may be
related to the Co4O4 cubane-like structure similar to that found in
natures’ water oxidation catalyst CaMn4Ox
4–8 as illustrated in
Fig. 5c and the pinning of the Co3 þ /4 þ :3d energy with the top of
the O2 À :2p band as shown in Fig. 5d. Direct coupling on
adjacent Co3 þ /4 þ ions across a large number of cubic faces can
facilitate the formation of O–O bonds easily as illustrated in
Fig. 5c, leading to an easier release of oxygen42,43. Similar
mechanisms could occur with other spinel OER electrocatalysts as
well, but the pinning of the Co3 þ /4 þ :3d energy with the top of
the O2 À :2p band may play a key role. In contrast, the presence of
LiCo3O4 units rather than Co4O4 units in HT-LiCoO2 diminishes
such coupling across the cubic faces, resulting in lower OER
activity.
Furthermore, the surface atomic arrangement of LT-LiCoO2 is
sensitive to the firing temperature (around 400 °C) and time. The
transformation of surface layers from a spinel-type arrangement
to a layer-type arrangement with increasing firing temperature or
time reveals that the spinel LT-LiCoO2 is metastable (kinetically
stabilized due to the lack of adequate ionic diffusion), and it tends
to transform to the thermodynamically more stable HT-LiCoO2,
by starting on the surface, with increasing firing temperature
and time.
Although LT-LiCoO2 with single-valent Co3 þ ions exhibits
poor ORR activity, the ORR activity could be drastically increased
by chemically extracting lithium from LT-LiCoO2 to give
LT-Li1 À xCoO2. The extraction of lithium from LT-LiCoO2
results in an oxidation of part of the Co3 þ ions to Co4 þ ions
and a creation of mixed-valent Co3 þ /4 þ ions. The strong
OER onset
60
50
40
30
20
10
1.62
Density of states
O2–
: 2p
Co3+/4+
: t2g
Co3+/4+
: eg
Energy
1.561.81.71.61.51.4
Potential (V versus RHE)Potential (V versus RHE)
1.31.2
0
100
200
300
400
0.90.80.70.60.50.40.30.2
–5
Currentdensity(mAcm–2
)
Currentdensity(mAmg–1
)
–4
–3
–2
–1
0a
c d
b
LT-LiCoO2
LT-LiCoO2
LT-Li0.8CoO2
LT-Li0.8CoO2
LT-Li0.6CoO2
LT-Li0.6CoO2
LT-Li0.5CoO2
LT-Li0.5CoO2
Co3O4
Co3O4
O
O Co
Co
Co
Co
Co
O
O
O
O
Co
Co
O
O
O
O Co
Co
Co
Co
Co
O
O
O
O
Co
Co
O
O
O
O Co
Co
Co
Co
Co
O
O
O
O
Co
Co
O
O
–O2
–2e–
–2H+
–2H+
–2e–
Peroxide
formation
O
H H H O O
O
O
OO
O
H HH
O
O Co
Co
Co
Co
Co
O
O
O
O
Co
Co
O
O
O
O
O
O Co
Co
Co
Co
Co
O
O
O
O
Co
Co
O
O
Figure 5 | Electrochemical performances of delithiated LT-Li1 À xCoO2 electrocatalysts. (a) ORR activities of LT-Li1 À xCoO2 for 0rxr0.5 in comparison
with Co3O4 in 0.1 M KOH at 1,600 r.p.m. (b) OER activities of LT-Li1 À xCoO2 for 0rxr0.5 in 0.1 M KOH at 1,600 r.p.m. with an expanded region shown
on the right. (c) Mechanism of OER on Co4O4 cubane units in LT-LiCoO2. (d) Qualitative one-electron energy diagram of Li1 À xCoO2, illustrating the pinning
of the Co3 þ /4 þ :3d energy with the top of the O2 À :2p band.
ARTICLE NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949
6 NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | 5:3949 | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949 | www.nature.com/naturecommunications
2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
7. covalency arising from a pinning of the Co3 þ /4 þ :3d states with
the top of the O2 À :2p band as shown in Fig. 5d along with the
high electronic conductivity arising from the partially filled
Co3 þ /4 þ :t2g band across the shared edges of the 3-dimensional
spinel framework lead to high ORR activity on extracting lithium
from LT-LiCoO2. Thus, the partially delithiated LT-Li0.5CoO2,
which could actually be a normal, ideal spinel (Li)8a[Co2]16dO4,
with mixed-valent Co3 þ /4 þ , offers a combination of high ORR
and OER activities. Overall, the spinel-type delithiated LT-
Li0.5CoO2 behaves as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for OER and
ORR in electrochemical devices such as rechargeable lithium-air
batteries. Moreover, the chemical delithiation approach presented
here to vary the number of d electrons on the transition-metal ion
without changing the structure could be explored systematically
with other compositions in the future (i) to correlate the
d-electron count to ORR and OER activities and (ii) to develop
a better understanding of the catalytic mechanisms of ORR
and OER.
Methods
Synthesis and characterization. IrO2 was purchased from Alfa Aesar. The
lithiated spinel LT-LiCoO2 samples were synthesized by a solid-state reaction of
stoichiometric amounts of Li2CO3 and Co3O4 at 370–400 °C for various durations
(4–7 days), followed by slow furnace cooling. The layered HT-LiCoO2 sample was
synthesized by solid-state reaction of stoichiometric amounts of Li2CO3 and Co3O4
at 800 °C for 24 h, followed by slow furnace cooling. The samples were char-
acterized by X-ray diffraction with Cu Ka radiation. A Rietveld refinement of the
X-ray diffraction data was carried out with the FullProf program. Multi-point
Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas of the samples were collected with
an automatic nitrogen gas sorption analyser (NOVA 2000, Quantachrome) using
physical adsorption at 77 K.
Chemical extraction of lithium from LT-LiCoO2 was carried out with a Schlenk
line under argon atmosphere at room temperature with the oxidizer NO2BF4 in
acetonitrile medium41:
LT-LiCoO2 þ xNO2BF4-LT-Li1 À xCoO2 þ xLiBF4 þ xNO2(1)
The amount of lithium extracted was controlled by altering the amount of
NO2BF4 in the reaction medium. Typically, 200 mg of LT-LiCoO2 was reacted
with a specific amount of NO2BF4 in 20 ml of anhydrous acetonitrile. After reacting
for 1 day, the product formed was washed several times with acetonitrile to
remove the byproduct LiBF4 and then dried in an air oven at 100 °C. The lithium
content in the delithiated sample was analysed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP)
analysis.
For STEM analysis, the powders were suspended in isopropanol, sonicated and
placed onto a lacey carbon grid. The samples thus prepared were imaged on a JEOL
ARM200F TEM/STEM equipped with a CEOS corrector (CEOS GmbH,
Heidelberg, Ger.) for the illuminating lenses and a high-angle annular dark-field
detector. Some of the high-resolution STEM images were deconvoluted using the
maximum entropy method implemented by Ishizuka and Abe44. To simulate the
STEM images, atomic models were created in Diamond 3.2i and exported to the
high-resolution electron microscopy simulation suite, which is a TEM/STEM
simulation software package based on the fast Fourier transform multislice
technique45. For all the compositions, the multislice simulations were carried out
assuming a step scanning size of 0.2 Å (less than the distance to be resolved) and a
minimum slice thickness of 1.0 Å. The Debye-Waller factor (B), which is related to
the mean square of the thermal displacement of an atom from its equilibrium
position, was taken from the literature. In particular, the structures and B values for
each atomic position were taken from the following: the crystal structure and
temperature factors were taken from Meza et al.46 for Co3O4, from our X-ray
diffraction data with temperature factors all set to one for LT-LiCoO2, and from
Rosolen et al.47 for HT-LiCoO2.
Electrochemical measurements. Typically, 16 mg of the electrocatalyst sample
and 3.2 mg of carbon black were dispersed in 8 ml of ethanol/water (1:1 ratio) and
73.2 ml of 5% Nafion solution by ultrasonication for 30 min to form a homogeneous
catalyst ink. The catalyst ink was then coated onto the RDE (0.196 cm2) at a
loading of 0.25 mgoxide cmÀ 2
disk and dried at room temperature. Before the coating
of the catalyst, the glassy carbon electrode (5 mm diameter) was polished with
Al2O3 paste (0.05 mm) and washed ultrasonically with double-distilled water. All
the electrochemical measurements were performed with a saturated calomel elec-
trode as the reference electrode and a platinum foil counter electrode at a scan rate
of 20 mV sÀ 1 in 0.1 M KOH by purging a slow stream of purified oxygen gas
towards the working electrode. The rotation speed of RDE was 1,600 r.p.m. for all
measurements. Infrared (current  internal resistance) compensation was applied
to linear sweep voltammetry experiments using the Nova software supplied with
the Autolab cyclic voltammetry instrument. All potentials reported in this paper
are relative to the reversible hydrogen electrode. The mass activity was normalized
to the loading of the oxide catalyst.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy
Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering under award number
DE-SC0005397.
Author contributions
T.M. carried out the synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry work. A.M.
designed the material system, initiated and supervised the research work, and involved in
the scientific discussions. K.A.J. and P.J.F. carried out the TEM characterization.
S.T. synthesized and characterized the chemically delithiated samples. T.M. and
A.M. prepared the manuscript.
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How to cite this article: Maiyalagan, T. et al. Spinel-type lithium cobalt oxide as a
bifunctional electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions.
Nat. Commun. 5:3949 doi: 10.1038/ncomms4949 (2014).
ARTICLE NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4949
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