X-ray Pair Distribution Function Research Articles

Observation of a potential-dependent switch of water-oxidation mechanism on Co-oxide-based catalysts

Summary O–O bond formation is a key elementary step of the water-oxidation reaction. However, it is still unclear how the mechanism of O–O coupling depends on the applied electrode potential. Herein, using water-in-salt electrolytes, we systematically altered the water activity, which enabled us to probe the O–O bond-forming mechanism on heterogeneous Co-based catalysts as a function of applied potential. We discovered that the water-oxidation mechanism is sensitive to the applied potential: At relatively low driving force, the reaction proceeds through an intramolecular oxygen coupling mechanism, whereas the water nucleophilic attack mechanism prevails at high driving force. The observed mechanistic switch has major implications for the understanding and control of the water-oxidation reaction on heterogeneous catalysts.

Local Distortions and Metal–Semiconductor–Metal Transition in Quasi-One-Dimensional Nanowire Compounds AV3Q3Oδ (A = K, Rb, Cs and Q = Se, Te)

Metal cluster compounds have garnered renewed interest in the search for novel superconductors and topological semimetals owing to structural instabilities of metal-cluster geometries and broken symmetries. Here we synthesized needle-like crystals of the V-cluster-based quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) materials AV3Q3Oδ (A = K, Rb, Cs, Q = Se, Te) which can also be viewed as being composed of parallel nanowires. We examine how changes in their average and local structure control their electronic properties. All compounds crystallize in the TlFe3Te3-type structure (P63/m space group) with infinite (V3Q3)− double-walled columnar chains separated by A+ cations. Our single-crystal and synchrotron powder diffraction studies indicate oxygen atoms partially occupy the center site of the V6 octahedral metal cluster cages in KV3Te3O0.33, RbV3Te3O0.32, and CsV3Te3O0.35, whereas KV3Se3 is structurally oxygen-free. Our synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analyses indicate that the oxygen-free V6 cluster octahedra in KV3Se3 are highly distorted perpendicular to the chain direction even at room temperature, reducing the symmetry of the average structure from hexagonal P63/m to monoclinic P21/m. Our theoretical calculation supports this P21/m distortion and suggests the structure further distorts to P21 or P21/c at lower temperatures. In contrast, the oxygen-centered V-cluster in KV3Te3O0.33 exhibits a V3-triangle-trimerization along the chain direction. This feature is discernible from the local PDF and is consistent with lattice dynamical calculations based on density functional theory. Resistivity measurements indicate that KV3Se3 exhibits metallic behavior, whereas a dramatic metal–semiconductor–metal transition emerges in KV3Te3O0.33, RbV3Te3O0.32, and CsV3Te3O0.35 because of oxygen disorder and changes in local structure captured from our electronic structure analyses of the Fermi surface. Our investigation of the AV3Q3Oδ family demonstrates the importance of understanding local changes in structure driven by electronic instabilities, which can guide the search for new quantum materials in other low-dimensional cluster-compound materials.

The Role of Metal Substitution in Tuning Anion Redox in Sodium Metal Layered Oxides Revealed by X-Ray Spectroscopy and Theory.

We investigate high-valent oxygen redox in the positive Na-ion electrode P2-Na0.67-x [Fe0.5 Mn0.5 ]O2 (NMF) where Fe is partially substituted with Cu (P2-Na0.67-x [Mn0.66 Fe0.20 Cu0.14 ]O2 , NMFC) or Ni (P2-Na0.67-x [Mn0.65 Fe0.20 Ni0.15 ]O2 , NMFN). From combined analysis of resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and X-ray near-edge structure with electrochemical voltage hysteresis and X-ray pair distribution function profiles, we correlate structural disorder with high-valent oxygen redox and its improvement by Ni or Cu substitution. Density of states calculations elaborate considerable anionic redox in NMF and NMFC without the widely accepted requirement of an A-O-A' local configuration in the pristine materials (where A=Na and A'=Li, Mg, vacancy, etc.). We also show that the Jahn-Teller nature of Fe4+ and the stabilization mechanism of anionic redox could determine the extent of structural disorder in the materials. These findings shed light on the design principles in TM and anion redox for positive electrodes to improve the performance of Na-ion batteries.

Amorphous dispersions of flubendazole in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose: Formulation stability assisted by pair distribution function analysis

We use X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis applied to high-energy synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data to evaluate the amorphous solid dispersions interactions and their aging stability. The obtained systems are based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (hypromellose) derivatives and flubendazole (FBZ) drug dispersions prepared using a spray-dryer technique. We carry out stability studies under aging parameters (40 °C/75% relative humidity) to tune the systems’ recrystallization. The results reveal that ion-base interactions between the drug-polymer matrix are responsible for reducing clustering processes yielding slower recrystallization and different ordering in the hypromellose phthalate (HPMCP/FBZ) and hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMC-AS/FBZ) systems and complete drug clustering in hypromellose (HPMC-E3/FBZ). The structural ordering was accessed using differential X-ray PDFs that revealed the region between 3.5 Å and 5.0 Å could be related to FBZ intermolecular interactions and is more ordered for the least stable system (HPMC-E3/FBZ) and less ordered for the most stable system (HPMCP/FBZ). These results show that the ion-base interactions between drug and matrix occur at these intermolecular distances.

Topochemical Deintercalation of Li from Layered LiNiB: toward 2D MBene.

The pursuit of two-dimensional (2D) borides, MBenes, has proven to be challenging, not the least because of the lack of a suitable precursor prone to the deintercalation. Here, we studied room-temperature topochemical deintercalation of lithium from the layered polymorphs of the LiNiB compound with a considerable amount of Li stored in between [NiB] layers (33 at. % Li). Deintercalation of Li leads to novel metastable borides (Li∼0.5NiB) with unique crystal structures. Partial removal of Li is accomplished by exposing the parent phases to air, water, or dilute HCl under ambient conditions. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and solid-state 7Li and 11B NMR spectroscopy, combined with X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis and DFT calculations, were utilized to elucidate the novel structures of Li∼0.5NiB and the mechanism of Li-deintercalation. We have shown that the deintercalation of Li proceeds via a "zip-lock" mechanism, leading to the condensation of single [NiB] layers into double or triple layers bound via covalent bonds, resulting in structural fragments with Li[NiB]2 and Li[NiB]3 compositions. The crystal structure of Li∼0.5NiB is best described as an intergrowth of the ordered single [NiB], double [NiB]2, or triple [NiB]3 layers alternating with single Li layers; this explains its structural complexity. The formation of double or triple [NiB] layers induces a change in the magnetic behavior from temperature-independent paramagnets in the parent LiNiB compounds to the spin-glassiness in the deintercalated Li∼0.5NiB counterparts. LiNiB compounds showcase the potential to access a plethora of unique materials, including 2D MBenes (NiB).

Crystal Structure of Moganite and Its Anisotropic Atomic Displacement Parameters Determined by Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction and X-ray/Neutron Pair Distribution Function Analyses

The crystal structure of moganite from the Mogán formation on Gran Canaria has been re-investigated using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray/neutron pair distribution function (PDF) analyses. Our study for the first time reports the anisotropic atomic displacement parameters (ADPs) of a natural moganite. Rietveld analysis of synchrotron XRD data determined the crystal structure of moganite with the space group I2/a. The refined unit-cell parameters are a = 8.7363(8), b = 4.8688(5), c = 10.7203(9) Å, and β = 90.212(4)°. The ADPs of Si and O in moganite were obtained from X-ray and neutron PDF analyses. The shapes and orientations of the anisotropic ellipsoids determined from X-ray and neutron measurements are similar. The anisotropic ellipsoids for O extend along planes perpendicular to the Si-Si axis of corner-sharing SiO4 tetrahedra, suggesting precession-like movement. Neutron PDF result confirms the occurrence of OH over some of the tetrahedral sites. We postulate that moganite nanomineral is stable with respect to quartz in hypersaline water. The ADPs of moganite show a similar trend as those of quartz determined by single-crystal XRD. In short, the combined methods can provide high-quality structural parameters of moganite nanomineral, including its ADPs and extra OH position at the surface. This approach can be used as an alternative means for solving the structures of crystals that are not large enough for single-crystal XRD measurements, such as fine-grained and nanocrystalline minerals formed in various geological environments.

Sb−5s lone pair dynamics and collinear magnetic ordering in Ba2FeSbSe5

Neutron diffraction and X-ray pair distribution function (XPDF) experiments were performed in order to investigate the magnetic and local crystal structures of Ba2FeSbSe5 and to compare them to the average (i.e. long-range) structural model, previously obtained by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Changes in the local crystal structure (i.e. in the second coordination sphere) are observed upon cooling from 295 K to 95 K resulting in deviations from the average (i.e. long-range) crystal structure. This work demonstrates, that these observations cannot be explained by local or long-range magnetoelastic effects involving Fe-Fe correlations. Instead, we found, that the observed differences between local and average crystal structure can be explained by Sb-5s lone pair dynamics. We also find, that below the N\'eel temperature (TN = 58 K), the two distinct magnetic Fe3+ sites order collinearly, such that a combination of antiparallel and parallel spin arrangements along the b-axis results. The nearest-neighbor arrangement (J1 = 6 {\AA}) is fully antiferromagnetic, while next-nearest-neighbor interactions are ferromagnetic in nature.

Identification of LiH and nanocrystalline LiF in the solid-electrolyte interphase of lithium metal anodes.

A comprehensive understanding of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) composition is crucial to developing high-energy batteries based on lithium metal anodes. A particularly contentious issue concerns the presence of LiH in the SEI. Here we report on the use of synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction and pair distribution function analysis to identify and differentiate two elusive components, LiH and LiF, in the SEI of lithium metal anodes. LiH is identified as a component of the SEI in high abundance, and the possibility of its misidentification as LiF in the literature is discussed. LiF in the SEI is found to have different structural features from LiF in the bulk phase, including a larger lattice parameter and a smaller grain size (<3 nm). These characteristics favour Li+ transport and explain why an ionic insulator, like LiF, has been found to be a favoured component for the SEI. Finally, pair distribution function analysis reveals key amorphous components in the SEI.

Non-equilibrium metal oxides via reconversion chemistry in lithium-ion batteries

Binary metal oxides are attractive anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Despite sustained effort into nanomaterials synthesis and understanding the initial discharge mechanism, the fundamental chemistry underpinning the charge and subsequent cycles—thus the reversible capacity—remains poorly understood. Here, we use in operando X-ray pair distribution function analysis combining with our recently developed analytical approach employing Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations and non-negative matrix factorisation to study the charge reaction thermodynamics of a series of Fe- and Mn-oxides. As opposed to the commonly believed conversion chemistry forming rocksalt FeO and MnO, we reveal the two oxide series topotactically transform into non-native body-centred cubic FeO and zincblende MnO via displacement-like reactions whose kinetics are governed by the mobility differences between displaced species. These renewed mechanistic insights suggest avenues for the future design of metal oxide materials as well as new material synthesis routes using electrochemically-assisted methods.

Pair distribution function and 71Ga NMR study of aqueous Ga3+ complexes.

The atomic structures, and thereby the coordination chemistry, of metal ions in aqueous solution represent a cornerstone of chemistry, since they provide first steps in rationalizing generally observed chemical information. However, accurate structural information about metal ion solution species is often surprisingly scarce. Here, the atomic structures of Ga3+ ion complexes were determined directly in aqueous solutions across a wide range of pH, counter anions and concentrations by X-ray pair distribution function analysis and 71Ga NMR. At low pH (<2) octahedrally coordinated gallium dominates as either monomers with a high degree of solvent ordering or as Ga-dimers. At slightly higher pH (pH ≈ 2–3) a polyoxogallate structure is identified as either Ga30 or Ga32 in contradiction with the previously proposed Ga13 Keggin structures. At neutral and slightly higher pH nanosized GaOOH particles form, whereas for pH > 12 tetrahedrally coordinated gallium ions surrounded by ordered solvent are observed. The effects of varying either the concentration or counter anion were minimal. The present study provides the first comprehensive structural exploration of the aqueous chemistry of Ga3+ ions with atomic resolution, which is relevant for both semiconductor fabrication and medical applications.

Revealing Local Disorder in a Silver-Bismuth Halide Perovskite upon Compression.

The halide double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 has emerged as a promising nontoxic alternative to the lead halide perovskites APbX3 (A = organic cation or Cs; X = I or Br). Here, we perform high-pressure synchrotron X-ray total scattering on Cs2AgBiBr6 and discover local disorder that is hidden from conventional Bragg analysis. While our powder diffraction data show that the average structure remains cubic up to 2.1 GPa, analysis of the X-ray pair distribution function reveals that the local structure is better described by a monoclinic space group, with significant distortion within the Ag-Br and Bi-Br octahedra and off-centering of the Cs atoms. By tracking the distribution of interatomic Cs-Br distances, we find that the local disorder is enhanced upon compression, and we corroborate these results with molecular dynamics simulations. The observed local disorder affords new understanding of this promising material and potentially offers a new parameter to tune in halide perovskite lattices.

Capture and Decomposition of the Nerve Agent Simulant, DMCP, Using the Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF-8).

Understanding mechanisms of decontamination of chemical warfare agents (CWA) is an area of intense research aimed at developing new filtration materials to protect soldiers and civilians in case of state-sponsored or terrorist attack. In this study, we employed complementary structural, chemical, and dynamic probes and in situ data collection, to elucidate the complex chemistry, capture, and decomposition of the CWA simulant, dimethyl chlorophosphonate (DMCP). Our work reveals key details of the reactive adsorption of DMCP and demonstrates the versatility of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) as a plausible material for CWA capture and decomposition. The in situ synchrotron-based powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and pair distribution function (PDF) studies, combined with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), zinc K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), and Raman spectroscopies, showed that the unique structure, chemical state, and topology of ZIF-8 enable accessibility, adsorption, and hydrolysis of DMCP into the pores and revealed the importance of linker chemistry and Zn2+ sites for nerve agent decomposition. DMCP decontamination and decomposition product(s) formation were observed by thermogravimetric analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and phosphorus (P) K-edge XANES studies. Differential PDF analysis indicated that the average structure of ZIF-8 (at the 30 Å scale) remains unchanged after DMCP dosing and provided information on the dynamics of interactions of DMCP with the ZIF-8 framework. Using in situ PXRD and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), we showed that nearly 90% regeneration of the ZIF-8 structure and complete liberation of DMCP and decomposition products occur upon heating.

Evidence of Highly Anharmonic Soft Lattice Vibrations in a Zintl Rattler.

Here, we present lattice dynamics associated with the local chemical bonding hierarchy in Zintl compound TlInTe2 , which cause intriguing phonon excitations and strongly suppress the lattice thermal conductivity to an ultralow value (0.46-0.31 W m-1 K-1 ) in the 300-673 K. We established an intrinsic rattling nature in TlInTe2 by studying the local structure and phonon vibrations using synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) (100-503 K) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) (5-450 K), respectively. We showed that while 1D chain of covalently bonded transport heat with Debye type phonon excitation, ionically bonded Tl rattles with a frequency ca. 30 cm-1 inside distorted Thompson cage formed by . This highly anharmonic Tl rattling causes strong phonon scattering and consequently phonon lifetime reduces to ultralow value of ca. 0.66(6) ps, resulting in ultralow thermal conductivity in TlInTe2 .

Two-orbital degeneracy lifted local precursor to a metal-insulator transition in MgTi2O4

The recent discovery of a local fluctuating t2g orbital-degeneracy-lifted (ODL) state in CuIr2S4 as a high temperature precursor to the metal-insulator transition (MIT) opens the door to a possible widespread presence of precursor states in scarcely studied high-temperature regimes of transition metal based quantum materials. Although in CuIr2S4 the ODL state comprises one orbital per Ir, there is no fundamental reason to exclude multi-orbital ODL states in general. The MgTi2O4 spinel exhibits a MIT on cooling at Ts ~250 K, accompanied by Ti t2g orbital ordering (OO) and spin dimerization with the average symmetry reducing to tetragonal. It shares with CuIr2S4 the pyrochlore transition metal sublattice with active t2g orbitals. This, together with its different orbital filling (t2g1 vs t2g5.5) make it a candidate for hosting a multi-orbital ODL precursor state. By combining x-ray and neutron pair distribution function analyses to track the evolution of the local atomic structure across the MIT we find that local tetragonality already exists in the metallic globally cubic phase at high temperature. Local distortions exist up to at least 500 K. Significantly, the high temperature local state is not continuously connected to the OO band insulator ground state, and so the transition cannot be characterized as a trivial order-disorder type. The shortest Ti-Ti spin singlet dimer bonds expand abruptly on warming across the transition but remain shorter than those seen in the cubic structure. These seemingly contradictory observations can be understood within the model of a local fluctuating two-orbital t2g ODL precursor state. The ODL state in MgTi2O4 has a correlation length of about 1 nm at high temperature. We discuss that this extended character of the local distortions is consistent with the two-orbital nature of the ODL state imposed by the charge filling and the bond charge repulsion.

Structural Characterization of Amorphous VS4 and Its Amorphous Phase Transformation during Li Insertion

Vanadium sulfide (VS4) is one of the promising positive electrode materials for high capacity lithium ion secondary batteries. In this study, we prepared an amorphous VS4 (a-VS4) by mechanical treatment of the crystalline VS4 (c-VS4) and characterize its local structure. Furthermore, its lithium insertion/extraction behavior was investigated using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray pair distribution function (PDF), and Raman spectroscopy analyses.Crystalline VS4 was synthesized from V2S3 (99%, Kojundo Chemical Lab.) and S (99.9%, Wako).1 The mixture was heated in a sealed glass tube under vacuum at 400 °C for 12 h. Then, the amorphous VS4 was prepared from the crystalline sample by mechanical milling for 40 h at 270 rpm. A working electrode was prepared from a mixture of the active material (a-VS4), conductive carbon, and Teflon binder in a weight ratio of 59:29:12. Coin-type or laminate-type cells were assembled in an Ar-filled glove box. The cells were cycled between 1.5 and 2.6 V at a constant current density of 59.8 mA g–1 using a TOSCAT-3100 battery-testing system (Toyo System). They were then carefully disassembled at selected discharge/charge states in the glove box and rinsed with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) to remove the residual electrolyte solution.Local structures of c-VS4 and a-VS4 were characterized and the structural changes of the electrode samples were examined by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray PDF analyses, and Raman spectroscopy. Operando 7Li NMR measurements were performed to study the Li insertion/extraction process under electrochemical operation.2 It is known that c-VS4 has a unique structure, in which the Peierls-distorted one-dimensional chains of V-V bonds along the c axis are loosely connected to each other through van der Waals interactions. We confirmed that a-VS4 shows a chain structure similar to that of c-VS4. The chain structure is found to change drastically during the Li insertion process to form amorphous Li3VS4, where the V ions become tetrahedrally coordinated by S ions. The valence states of V and S ions simultaneously change from V4+ and S– (a-VS4) to V5+ and S2– (a-Li3VS4), respectively. When the Li insertion proceeds further (i.e., a-Li3+d VS4), the valence state of V ion is reduced, and a broad 7Li NMR peak shifts to higher frequencies (Fig. 1). After the 1st cycle, the amorphous VS4 recovers the chain-like structure although it is highly disordered. It is also found that the conversion reaction to metallic V and Li2S are observed when the cell is discharged to 0.2 V.This study indicates that the Li insertion/extraction process of the amorphous sulfur-rich transition metal (TM) sulfides such as a-VS4 and a-TiS4 3 involves the amorphous-amorphous phase transformation, which is related to the changes in the bonding nature of sulfide species and the coordination number of TM ions. The amorphous host structure can accommodate these modifications, which is clearly different from the Li insertion/extraction mechanism in crystalline electrode materials.This work is based on results obtained from a project, “Research and Development Initiative for Scientific Innovation of New Generation Batteries 2 (RISING2)”, JPNP16001, commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). References Koganei et al., Solid State Ionics, 323, 32-36 (2018).Shimoda et al., RSC adv. 9, 23979-23985 (2019).Sakuda et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 139, 8796-8799 (2017). Figure 1

Mechanistic Understanding and Rapid Electrochemical Reduction of Silica for Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

The use of silica as an active material within a lithium-ion battery requires a pre-treatment. The electrochemical reduction between silica and lithium is partially irreversible and is postulated to produce silicon as a reaction product. The silicon formed can reversibly react with lithium to produce stable capacities, higher than current graphite materials. However, both the electrochemical reduction pathway and the electrochemical reduction products are unknown, thereby hampering the design, optimisation and use of such systems. Here we uncover the pathway for the electrochemical reduction and, for the first time, identify elemental silicon as a product of the reduction. We discovered new methods for studying the electrochemical reduction reaction – they are based on monitoring and analysing the capacity increase and the current flow as the material is reduced. Our results conclusively show that silica must be reduced to introduce reversible capacity and that this reduction reaction time can be greatly reduced using a constant load discharge at elevated temperature. Characterisation with total scattering X-ray pair distribution function shows the reduction products are amorphous in nature and confirmed why previous diffraction characterisation attempts were unsuccessful. Our results can help better understand the electrochemical reduction of any silica material. We anticipate these results can be used as a starting point for the development of a scaled-up synthesis route for in-situ reduced silica anodes and their incorporation into lithium-ion full cells.

Disordered Cubic Spinel Structure in the Delithiated Li2MnO3 revealed By Difference Pair Distribution Function Analysis

An archetypical Li-rich layered oxide, Li2MnO3, shows a large initial charge capacity of ~350 mAh g-1 with little oxidation of the constituent Mn ions, yet, the crystal structure of delithiated Li2MnO3 is still unclarified because the structural disorder induced by the considerable Li extraction makes the analysis challenging. We have performed X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis in combination with the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to reveal the disordered crystalline structure of the electrochemically delithiated Li2MnO3. The XRPD and TEM analyses clarified the formation of a low-crystallinity phase in the light of the average structure. The XAS and PDF analyses revealed that the MnO6–based framework was rearranged with maintaining the MnO6 octahedral coordination after the initial charge. The difference pair distribution function (d-PDF) technique was therefore employed to extract the structural information of the low-crystallinity disordered phase. The delithiated phase was found to have a structure similar to the cubic spinel, LiMn2O4, rather than that of delithiated LiMn2O4 (l-MnO2). In addition, the middle-range order of the delithiated phase deteriorated after the charge, indicating a decrease of coherent domain size to a single nm order. The composite structure formed after the first charge, therefore, consists of the disordered cubic spinel structure and unreacted Li2MnO3. The formation of the composite structure “activates” the electrode material structurally and eventually induces characteristic large capacity of this material.

Understanding the Lithiation Pathways of Tetrel Clathrates with Synchrotron X-Ray Characterization

Tetrel clathrates are materials composed of cage-like frameworks of covalently bonded Group IV (Si, Ge, Sn) elements containing guest atoms in the center of each cage. Our group has been investigating the electrochemical properties of Si and Ge clathrates for potential applications as Li-ion battery anodes. Our studies have found that in some cases the Li-alloying pathways are distinctly different in clathrates compared to those seen in the diamond cubic analogs. For example, the Ba8Al16Si30 Type I clathrate does not undergo a Li-alloying reaction [1] while the Ba8Ge43 clathrate does [2]. In the case of Ba8Ge43, the reaction pathway appears to follow an amorphous phase transformation, in contrast to diamond cubic Ge, which undergoes several phase transformations to form crystalline Li-Ge phases [3].In this work, we employ synchrotron X-ray pair-distribution function (PDF) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and in situ heating experiments to elucidate the electrochemically induced structural changes in Ge and Sn clathrates and how they differ from those in the elemental analogs. The Type I Ba8Ge43 and Type VIII Ba8Ga16Sn30 clathrates are chosen and compared to diamond cubic Ge and beta-Sn. The PDF method allows us to probe the local structure of the amorphous phases that form after lithiation, while in situ heating experiments enable us to observe structural changes to the amorphous phases upon moderate heating. The insights learned from the structural characterizations are then used to explain the differences in the electrochemistry between the Tetrel clathrates and their elemental analogs.The results suggest that the amorphous phases that are part of the final lithiated state of Ba8Ge43 have local structures similar to the Li-Ge crystalline phases. We conclude that the Ba atoms prevent the bulk nucleation of Li-Ge crystalline phases and restrict the Li-Ge ordering to the scale of 10-15 Å, resulting in a solid solution mechanism and a lower reaction voltage compared to cubic-Ge. Similar analysis of the Type VIII Ga-Sn clathrate (Ba8Ga16Sn30) results in a similar lithiation path showing a solely amorphous phase transformation. These results give insight to the fundamentals of how the initial structure of group IV materials affect their Li-alloying properties and structures. Figure 1 (a) Unit cell of Ba8Ge43, purple atoms are Ge and green atoms are Ba. (b) PDFs of the lithiation of Ba8Ge43 at different states of lithiation. (c) PDFs of cubic-Ge at different states of lithiation.[1] R. Zhao. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 9 (2017) 41246–41257.[2] A. Dopilka. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 10 (2018) 37981–37993.[3] H. Jung. Chem. Mater. 27 (2015) 1031–1041. Figure 1

New insights into the application of pair distribution function studies to biogenic and synthetic hydroxyapatites

Biogenic and synthetic hydroxyapatites are confounding materials whose properties remain uncertain, even after years of study. Pair distribution function (PDF) analysis was applied to hydroxyapatites in the 1970’s and 1980’s, but this area of research has not taken full advantage of the relatively recent advances in synchrotron facilities. Here, synchrotron X-ray PDF analysis is compared to techniques commonly used to characterise hydroxyapatite (such as wide angle X-ray scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis) for a range of biogenic and synthetic hydroxyapatites with a wide range of carbonate substitution. Contributions to the pair distribution function from collagen, carbonate and finite crystallite size were examined through principal component analysis and comparison of PDFs. Noticeable contributions from collagen were observed in biogenic PDFs when compared to synthetic PDFs (namely r < 15 Å), consistent with simulated PDFs of collagen structures. Additionally, changes in local structure were observed for PDFs of synthetic hydroxyapatites with differing carbonate content, notably in features near 4 Å, 8 Å and 19 Å. Regression models were generated to predict carbonate substitution from peak position within the PDFs.

Dynamic Core-Shell and Alloy Structures of Multimetallic Nanomaterials and Their Catalytic Synergies.

ConspectusMultimetallic nanomaterials containing noble metals (NM) and non-noble 3d-transition metals (3d-TMs) exhibit unique catalytic properties as a result of the synergistic combination of NMs and 3d-TMs in the nanostructure. The exploration of such a synergy depends heavily on the understanding of the atomic-scale structural details of NMs and 3d-TMs in the nanomaterials. This has attracted a great deal of recent interest in the field of catalysis science, especially concerning the core-shell and alloy nanostructures. A rarely asked question of fundamental significance is how the core-shell and alloy structural arrangements of atoms in the multimetallic nanomaterials dynamically change under reaction conditions, including reaction temperature, surface adsorbate, chemical environment, applied electrochemical potential, etc. The dynamic evolution of the core-shell/alloy structures under the reaction conditions plays a crucial role in the catalytic performance of the multimetallic nanocatalysts.This Account focuses on the dynamic structure characteristics for several different types of composition-tunable alloy and core-shell nanomaterials, including phase-segregated, elemental-enriched, dynamically evolved, and structurally different core-shell structures. In addition to outlining core-shell/alloy structure formation via processes such as seed-mediated growth, thermochemical calcination, adsorbate-induced evolution, chemical dealloying, underpotential deposition/galvanic displacement, etc., this Account will highlight the progress in understanding the dynamic core-shell/alloy structures under chemical or catalytic reaction conditions, which has become an important focal point of the research fronts in catalysis and electrocatalysis. The employment of advanced techniques, especially in situ/operando synchrotron high-energy X-ray diffraction and pair distribution function analyses, has provided significant insights into the dynamic evolution processes of NM/3d-TM nanocatalysts under electrocatalytic or fuel cell operating conditions. Examples will highlight Pt- or Pd-based nanoparticles and nanowires alloyed with various 3d-TMs with a focus on their structural evolution under reaction conditions. While the dynamic process is complex, the ability to gain an insight into the evolution of core-shell and alloy structures under the catalytic reaction condition is essential for advancing the design of multimetallic nanocatalysts. This Account serves as a springboard from fundamental understanding of the core-shell and alloy structural dynamics to the various applications of nanostructured catalysts/electrocatalysts, especially in the fronts of energy and environmental sustainability.