Effect of Conducting Salts in Ionic Liquid Electrolytes for Enhanced Cyclability of Sodium-Ion Batteries.

The electrochemical performance of ionic liquid electrolytes containing different sodium salts dissolved in 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMPTFSI) evaluated in a half-cell configuration using spherical P2-NaCoMnO (NCO) cathodes are reported. Among the various electrolytes investigated, sodium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (NaFSI) (0.5 M) in BMPTFSI shows the best electrochemical performance with a significant improvement in cycling stability (90% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 50 mA g in a half cell versus Na metal anode) compared with conventional NaClO (1 M) in ethylene carbonate/propylene carbonate electrolytes (39% retention after 500 cycles).

Identifying the Origin and Contribution of Surface Storage in TiO (B) Nanotube Electrode by In Situ Dynamic Valence State Monitoring.

Fundamental insight into the surface charging mechanism of TiO (B) nanomaterials is limited due to the complicated nature of lithiation behavior, as well as the limitations of available characterization tools that can directly probe surface charging process. Here, an in situ approach is reported to monitor the dynamic valence state of TiO (B) nanotube electrodes, which utilizes in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to identify the origin and contribution of surface storage. A real-time correlation is elucidated between the rate-dependent electrode performance and dynamic Ti valence-state change.

Note: Electrochemical cell for in operando X-ray diffraction measurements on a conventional X-ray diffractometer.

Electrochemical in operando X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a powerful method to analyze structural changes of energy storage materials while inserting/de-inserting charge carriers, such as Li- or Na-ions, into/from a host structure. The design of an XRD in operando cell is presented, which enables the use of thin (6 μm) aluminum foil as X-ray window as a non-toxic alternative to conventional beryllium windows. Owing to the reduced thickness, diffraction patterns and their changes during cycling can be observed with excellent quality, which was demonstrated for two cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries in a half-cell set-up, P2-Na(0.

Derivatives of the triaminoguanidinium ion, 3. Multiple N-functionalization of the triaminoguanidinium ion with isocyanates and isothiocyanates.

1,2,3-Triaminoguanidinium chloride was combined with benzaldehyde and hydratropic aldehyde to furnish the corresponding tris(imines), which were converted into 1,2,3-tris(benzylamino)guanidinium salts by catalytic hydrogenation in the former, and by borane reduction in the latter case. The resulting alkyl-substituted triaminoguanidinium salts underwent a threefold carbamoylation with aryl isocyanates to furnish 1,2,3-tris(ureido)guanidinium salts, while p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate led only to a mono-ureido guanidinium salt. With aryl isothiocyanates, 3-hydrazino-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione derivatives were obtained.