Abstract: Sodium-ion batteries are attracting great attention due to their low cost and abundance of sodium. The O3-type NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 layered oxide material is a promising candidate for positive electrodes (cathodes) in Na-ion batteries. However, its stable electrochemical performance is restricted by the upper voltage limit of 4.0 V (vs Na/Na+), which allows for reversibly removing 0.5-0.55 Na+ per formula unit, corresponding to the capacity of 120-130 mAh.g(-1). Further reduction of sodium content inevitably accelerates capacity degradation, and this issue calls for a detailed study of the redox reactions that accompany the electrochemical (de)intercalation of a large amount of sodium. Here, we present operando and ex situ studies using powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy combined with Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy. Our approach reveals the sequence of the redox transitions that occur during the charge and discharge of O3-NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2. Our data show that in addition to nickel and iron cations oxidizing to M+4, a part of iron transforms into the “3 + delta” state owing to the fast electron exchange Fe3+ + Fe4+ <-> Fe4+ + Fe3+. This process freezes upon cooling the material to 35 K, producing Fe4+ cations, some of which occupy tetrahedral positions.

Abstract: Pb2MnTeO6, a new double perovskite, was synthesized. Its crystal structure was determined by synchrotron X-ray and powder neutron diffraction. Pb2MnTeO6 is monoclinic (I2/m) at room temperature with a regular arrangement of all the cations in their polyhedra. However, when the temperature is lowered to similar to 120 K it undergoes a phase transition from I2/m to C2/c structure. This transition is accompanied by a displacement of the Pb atoms from the center of their polyhedra due to the 6s2 lone-pair electrons, together with a surprising off-centering of Mn2+ (d5) magnetic cations. This strong first-order phase transition is also evidenced by specific heat, dielectric, Raman, and infrared spectroscopy measurements. The magnetic characterizations indicate an anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) order below TN approximate to 20 K; analysis of powder neutron diffraction data confirms the magnetic structure with propagation vector k = (0 1 0) and collinear AFM spins. The observed jump in dielectric permittivity near similar to 150 K implies possible anti-ferroelectric behavior; however, the absence of switching suggests that Pb2MnTeO6 can only be antipolar. First-principle calculations confirmed that the crystal and magnetic structures determined are locally stable and that anti-ferroelectric switching is unlikely to be observed in Pb2MnTeO6.

Abstract: Scheelite related compounds (A',A '') [(B',B '')O-4], with B', B '' = W and/or Mo are promising new light-emitting materials for photonic applications, including phosphor converted LEDs (light-emitting diodes). In this paper, the creation and ordering of A-cation vacancies and the effect of cation substitutions in the scheelite-type framework are investigated as a factor for controlling the scheelite-type structure and luminescent properties. CaGd2(1-x)Eu2x(MoO4)(4(1-y))(WO4)(4y) (0 <= x <= 1, 0 <= y <= 1) solid solutions with scheelite-type structure were synthesized by a solid state method, and their structures were investigated using a combination of transmission electron microscopy techniques and powder X-ray diffraction. Within this series all complex molybdenum oxides have (3 + 2)D incommensurately modulated structures with superspace group I4(1)/a(alpha,beta,0)00(-beta,alpha,0)00, while the structures of all tungstates are (3 + 1)D incommensurately modulated with superspace group I2/b(alpha beta 0)00. In both cases the modulation arises because of cation-vacancy ordering at the A site. The prominent structural motif is formed by columns of A-site vacancies running along the c-axis. These vacant columns occur in rows of two or three aligned along the [110] direction of the scheelite subcell. The replacement of the smaller Gd3+ by the larger Eu3+ at the A-sublattice does not affect the nature of the incommensurate modulation, but an increasing replacement of Mo6+ by W6+ switches the modulation from (3 + 2)D to (3 + 1)D regime. Thus, these solid solutions can be considered as a model system where the incommensurate modulation can be monitored as a function of cation nature while the number of cation vacancies at the A sites remain constant upon the isovalent cation replacement. All compounds' luminescent properties were measured, and the optical properties were related to the structural properties of the materials. CaGd2(1-x)(MoO4)(4(1-y))(WO4)(4y) phosphors emit intense red light dominated by the D-5(0)-F-7(2) transition at 612 nm, along with other transitions from the D-5(1) and D-5(0) excited states. The intensity of the 5D0-7F2 transition reaches a maximum at x = 0.5 for y = 0 and 1.

Abstract: Solid solutions of BiFe1xMnxO3 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) were prepared at ambient pressure and at 6 GPa. The ambient-pressure (AP) phases crystallize in space group R3c similarly to BiFeO3. The high-pressure (HP) phases crystallize in space group R3c for x = 0.05 and in space group Pnma for 0.15 ≤ x ≤ 0.4. The structure of HP-BiFe0.75Mn0.25O3 was investigated using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, electron diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. HP-BiFe0.75Mn0.25O3 has a PbZrO3-related √2ap × 4ap × 2√2ap (ap is the parameter of the cubic perovskite subcell) superstructure with a = 5.60125(9) Å, b = 15.6610(2) Å, and c = 11.2515(2) Å similar to that of Bi0.82La0.18FeO3. A remarkable feature of this structure is the unconventional octahedral tilt system, with the primary ab0a tilt superimposed on pairwise clockwise and counterclockwise rotations around the b-axis according to the oioi sequence (o stands for out-of-phase tilt, and i stands for in-phase tilt). The (FeMn)O6 octahedra are distorted, with one longer metaloxygen bond (2.222.23 Å) that can be attributed to a compensation for covalent BiO bonding. Such bonding results in the localization of the lone electron pair on Bi3+ cations, as confirmed by electron localization function analysis. The relationship between HP-BiFe0.75Mn0.25O3 and antiferroelectric structures of PbZrO3 and NaNbO3 is discussed. On heating in air, HP-BiFe0.75Mn0.25O3 irreversibly transforms to AP-BiFe0.75Mn0.25O3 starting from about 600 K. Both AP and HP phases undergo an antiferromagnetic ordering at TN ≈ 485 and 520 K, respectively, and develop a weak net magnetic moment at low temperatures. Additionally, ceramic samples of AP-BiFe0.75Mn0.25O3 show a peculiar phenomenon of magnetization reversal.

Abstract: In this paper, with the example of two different polymorphs of KEu(MoO4)2, the influence of the ordering of the A-cations on the luminescent properties in scheelite related compounds (A′,A″)n[(B′,B″)O4]m is investigated. The polymorphs were synthesized using a solid state method. The study confirmed the existence of only two polymorphic forms at annealing temperature range 9231203 K and ambient pressure: a low temperature anorthic α-phase and a monoclinic high temperature β-phase with an incommensurately modulated structure. The structures of both polymorphs were solved using transmission electron microscopy and refined from synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data. The monoclinic β-KEu(MoO4)2 has a (3+1)-dimensional incommensurately modulated structure (superspace group I2/b(αβ0)00, a = 5.52645(4) Å, b = 5.28277(4) Å, c = 11.73797(8) Å, γ = 91.2189(4)o, q = 0.56821(2)a*0.12388(3)b*), whereas the anorthic α-phase is (3+1)-dimensional commensurately modulated (superspace group I1̅(αβγ)0, a = 5.58727(22) Å, b = 5.29188(18)Å, c = 11.7120(4) Å, α = 90.485(3)o, β = 88.074(3)o, γ = 91.0270(23)o, q = 1/2a* + 1/2c*). In both cases the modulation arises due to Eu/K cation ordering at the A site: the formation of a 2-dimensional Eu3+ network is characteristic for the α-phase, while a 3-dimensional Eu3+-framework is observed for the β-phase structure. The luminescent properties of KEu(MoO4)2 samples prepared under different annealing conditions were measured, and the relation between their optical properties and their structures is discussed.

Abstract: A broad range of cationic nonstoichiometry has been demonstratedfor the Li-rich layered rock-salt-type oxide Li2MoO3, which has generally been considered as a phase with a well-defined chemical composition. Li2+xMo1-xO3(-0.037 <= x <= 0.124) solid solutions were synthesized via hydrogen reduction ofLi2MoO4in the temperature range of 650-1100 degrees C, withxdecreasing with theincrease of the reduction temperature. The solid solutions adopt a monoclinicallydistorted O3-type layered average structure and demonstrate a robust localordering of the Li cations and Mo3triangular clusters within the mixed Li/Mocationic layers. The local structure was scrutinized in detail by electron diffractionand aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microcopy (STEM),resulting in an ordering model comprising a uniform distribution of the Mo3clusters compatible with local electroneutrality and chemical composition. The geometry of the triangular clusters with their oxygenenvironment (Mo3O13groups) has been directly visualized using differential phase contrast STEM imaging. The established localstructure was used as input for density functional theory (DFT)-based calculations; they support the proposed atomic arrangementand provide a plausible explanation for the staircase galvanostatic charge profiles upon electrochemical Li+extraction fromLi2+xMo1-xO3in Li cells. According to DFT, all electrochemical capacity in Li2+xMo1-xO3solely originates from the cationic Moredox process, which proceeds via oxidation of the Mo3triangular clusters into bent Mo3chains where the electronic capacity of the clusters depends on the initial chemical composition and Mo oxidation state defining the width of the first charge low-voltageplateau. Further oxidation at the high-voltage plateau proceeds through decomposition of the Mo3chains into Mo2dimers and further into individual Mo6+cations

Abstract: The crystal structures of the beta and gamma polymorphs of Sr3WO6 and the gamma <->beta phase transition have been investigated using electron diffraction, synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, and neutron powder diffraction. The gamma-Sr3WO6 polymorph is stable above T-c approximate to 470 K and adopts a monoclinically distorted double perovskite A(2)BB'O-6= Sr2SrWO6 structure (space group Cc, a = 10.2363(1)angstrom, b= 17.9007(1)angstrom, c= 11.9717(1)angstrom, beta=125.585(1)degrees at T= 1373 K, Z=12, corresponding to a = a(p)+1/2b(p) – 1/2c(p), b =3/2b(p) + 3/2c(p), c =-b(p) + c(p), a(p),b(p), c(p), lattice vectors of the parent Fm (3) over barm double perovskite structure). Upon cooling it undergoes a continuous phase transition into the triclinically distorted beta-Sr3WO6 phase (space group Cl, a = 10.09497(3)angstrom, b = 17.64748(5)angstrom, c = 11.81400(3)angstrom, alpha = 89.5470(2)degrees, beta= 125.4529(2)degrees, gamma =90.2889(2)degrees at T= 300 K). Both crystal structures of Sr3WO6 belong to a family of double perovskites with broken corner sharing connectivity of the octahedral framework. A remarkable feature of the gamma-Sr3WO6 structure is a non-cooperative rotation of the WO6 octahedra. One third of the WO6 octahedra are rotated by 45 about either the bp or the cp axis of the parent double perovskite structure. As a result, the WO6 octahedra do not share corners but instead share edges with the coordination polyhedra of the Sr cations at the B positions increasing their coordination number from 6 to 7 or 8. The crystal structure of the beta-phase is very close to the structure of the gamma-phase; decreasing symmetry upon the gamma ->beta transformation occurs because of unequal octahedral rotation angles about the bp and cp axes and increasing distortions of the WO6 octahedra.

Abstract: We demonstrate that changes in the unit cell structure of lithium battery cathode materials during electrochemical cycling in liquid electrolyte can be determined for particles of just a few hundred nanometers in size using in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The atomic coordinates, site occupancies (including lithium occupancy), and cell parameters of the materials can all be reliably quantified. This was achieved using electron diffraction tomography (EDT) in a sealed electrochemical cell with conventional liquid electrolyte (LP30) and LiFePO4 crystals, which have a well-documented charged structure to use as reference. In situ EDT in a liquid environment cell provides a viable alternative to in situ X-ray and neutron diffraction experiments due to the more local character of TEM, allowing for single crystal diffraction data to be obtained from multiphased powder samples and from submicrometer- to nanometer-sized particles. EDT is the first in situ TEM technique to provide information at the unit cell level in the liquid environment of a commercial TEM electrochemical cell. Its application to a wide range of electrochemical experiments in liquid environment cells and diverse types of crystalline materials can be envisaged.

Abstract: High-energy lithium-rich layered transition metal oxides are capable of delivering record electrochemical capacity and energy density as positive electrodes for Li-ion batteries. Their electrochemical behavior is extremely complex due to sophisticated interplay between crystal structure, electronic structure, and defect structure. Here we unravel an extra level of this complexity by revealing that the most typical representative Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2 material, prepared by a conventional coprecipitation technique with Na2CO3 as a precipitating agent, contains abundant coherent (001) grain boundaries with a Na-enriched P2-structured block due to segregation of the residual sodium traces. The trigonal prismatic oxygen coordination of Na triggers multiple nanoscale twinning, giving rise to incoherent (104) boundaries. The cationic layers at the (001) grain boundaries are filled with transition metal cations being Mn-depleted and Co-enriched; this makes them virtually not permeable for the Li+ cations, and therefore they negatively influence the Li diffusion in and out of the spherical agglomerates. These results demonstrate that besides the mechanisms intrinsic to the crystal and electronic structure of Li-rich cathodes, their rate capability might also be depreciated by peculiar microstructural aspects. Dedicated engineering of grain boundaries opens a way for improving inherently sluggish kinetics of these materials.

Abstract: Layered Li(M,Li)O2 (where M is a transition metal) ordered rock-salt-type structures are used in advanced metal-ion batteries as one of the best hosts for the reversible intercalation of Li ions. Besides the conventional redox reaction involving oxidation/reduction of the M cation upon Li extraction/insertion, creating oxygen-located holes because of the partial oxygen oxidation increases capacity while maintaining the oxidized oxygen species in the lattice through high covalency of the M–O bonding. Typical degradation mechanism of the Li(M,Li)O2 electrodes involves partially irreversible M cation migration toward the Li positions, resulting in gradual capacity/voltage fade. Here, using LiRhO2 as a model system (isostructural and isoelectronic to LiCoO2), for the first time, we demonstrate an intimate coupling between the oxygen redox and M cation migration. A formation of the oxidized oxygen species upon electrochemical Li extraction coincides with transformation of the layered Li1–xRhO2 structure into the γ-MnO2-type rutile–ramsdellite intergrowth LiyRh3O6 structure with rutile-like [1 × 1] channels along with bigger ramsdellite-like [2 × 1] tunnels through massive and concerted Rh migration toward the empty positions in the Li layers. The oxidized oxygen dimers with the O–O distances as short as 2.26 Å are stabilized in this structure via the local Rh–O configuration reminiscent to that in the μ-peroxo-μ-hydroxo Rh complexes. The LiyRh3O6 structure is remarkably stable upon electrochemical cycling illustrating that proper structural implementation of the oxidized oxygen species can open a pathway toward deliberate employment of the anion redox chemistry in high-capacity/high-voltage positive electrodes for metal-ion batteries. Upon chemical or electrochemical oxidation, layered LiRhO2 shows a unique structural transformation that involves both cation migration and oxidation of oxygen resulting in a stable tunnel-like rutile−ramsdellite intergrowth LiyRh3O6 structure. This structure demonstrates excellent performance with the steady and reversible capacity of ∼200 mAh/g. The stability of LiyRh3O6 is rooted in the accommodation of partially oxidized oxygen species through the formation of short O−O distances that are compatible with the connectivity of RhO6 octahedra.

Abstract: The crystal structure of the Sr2Fe2O5 brownmillerite has been investigated using electron diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy. The Sr2Fe2O5 structure demonstrates two-dimensional order: the tetrahedral chains with two mirror-related configurations (L and R) are arranged within the tetrahedral layers according to the −L−R−L−R− sequence, and the layers themselves are displaced with respect to each other over 1/2[111] or 1/2[11] vectors of the brownmillerite unit cell, resulting in different ordered stacking variants. A unified superspace model is constructed for ordered stacking sequences in brownmillerites based on the average brownmillerite structure with a = 5.5298(4)Å, b = 15.5875(12)Å, c = 5.6687(4)Å, and (3 + 1)-dimensional superspace group I2/m(0βγ)0s, q = βb* + γc*, 0 ≤ β ≤ 1/2, 0 ≤ γ ≤ 1.

Abstract: Direct observations of the ferroelectric domain boundaries in LiNbO3 are performed using high-resolution high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging, revealing a very narrow width of the domain wall between the 180° domains. The domain walls demonstrate local side-way meandering, which results in inclinations even when the overall wall orientation follows the ferroelectric polarization. These local meanders contain kinks with “head-to-head” and “tail-to-tail” dipolar configurations and are therefore locally charged. The charged meanders are confined to a few cation layers along the polarization direction and are separated by longer stretches of straight domain walls.

Abstract: The crystal structures of the three high-temperature polymorphs of K3AlF6 have been solved from neutron powder diffraction, synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, and electron diffraction data. The β-phase (stable between 132 and 153 °C) and γ-phase (stable between 153 to 306 °C) can be described as unusually complex superstructures of the double-perovskite structure (K2KAlF6) which result from noncooperative tilting of the AlF6 octahedra. The β-phase is tetragonal, space group I4/m, with lattice parameters of a = 13.3862(5) Å and c = 8.5617(3) Å (at 143 °C) and Z = 10. In this phase, one-fifth of the AlF6 octahedra are rotated about the c-axis by 45° while the other four-fifths remain untilted. The large 45° rotations result in edge sharing between these AlF6 octahedra and the neighboring K-centered polyhedra, resulting in pentagonal bipyramidal coordination for four-fifths of the K+ ions that reside on the B-sites of the perovskite structure. The remaining one-fifth of the K+ ions on the B-sites retain octahedral coordination. The γ-phase is orthorhombic, space group Fddd, with lattice parameters of a = 36.1276(4) Å, b = 17.1133(2) Å, and c = 12.0562(1) Å (at 225 °C) and Z = 48. In the γ-phase, one-sixth of the AlF6 octahedra are randomly rotated about one of two directions by 45° while the other five-sixths remain essentially untilted. These rotations result in two-thirds of the K+ ions on the B-site obtaining 7-fold coordination while the other one-third remain in octahedral coordination. The δ-phase adopts the ideal cubic double-perovskite structure, space group Fmm, with a = 8.5943(1) Å at 400 °C. However, pair distribution function analysis shows that locally the δ-phase is quite different from its long-range average crystal structure. The AlF6 octahedra undergo large-amplitude rotations which are accompanied by off-center displacements of the K+ ions that occupy the 12-coordinate A-sites.