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Titanium migration driven by Li vacancies in Li(1-x)Ti2O4 spinel
A Kitada1, A M Arevalo-Lopez, J P Attfield
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|June 4, 2015
Summary
Gentle oxidation of lithium titanate spinel (LiTi2O4) with water produces a Li-deficient material. This study reveals Ti cations migrate to alternative sites, limited by lithium vacancy concentration.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid-State Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
Background:
- Lithium titanate spinel (LiTi2O4) is a material with potential applications in energy storage.
- Understanding cation migration mechanisms is crucial for optimizing material properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural changes in lithium titanate spinel upon gentle oxidation with water.
- To elucidate the cation migration pathways and their limiting factors.
Main Methods:
- Gentle oxidation of LiTi2O4 with water at room temperature.
- Combined X-ray and neutron Rietveld analysis for structural determination.
Main Results:
- Formation of Li-deficient Li0.33Ti2O4.
- Observation that 28% of titanium (Ti) cations are displaced to alternative octahedral sites.
- Correlation of Ti migration with lithium (Li) vacancy concentration.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a detailed structural model for the Li-deficient phase.
- Ti-migration is confirmed to be a key process, limited by the concentration of Li vacancies.
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