Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of paramagnetic samples has the potential to provide a detailed insight into the environments and processes occurring in a wide range of technologically-relevant phases, but the acquisition and interpretation of spectra is typically not straightforward. Structural complexity and/or the occurrence of charge or orbital ordering further compound such difficulties. In response to such challenges, the present article outlines how the total Fermi contact (FC) shifts of NMR observed centers (OCs) may be decomposed into sets of pairwise metal−OC bond pathway contributions via solid-state hybrid density functional theory calculations. A generally applicable "spin flipping" approach is outlined wherein bond pathway contributions are obtained by the reversal of spin moments at selected metal sites. The applications of such pathway contributions in interpreting the NMR spectra of structurally and electronically complex phases are demonstrated in a range of paramagnetic Li-ion battery positive electrodes comprising layered LiNiO 2 , LiNi 0.125 Co 0.875 O 2 , and LiCr 0.125 Co 0.875 O 2 oxides; and olivine-type LiMPO 4 and MPO 4 (M = Mn, Fe, and Co) phosphates. The FC NMR shifts of all 6/7 Li and 31 P sites are decomposed, providing unambiguous NMR-based proof of the existence of local Ni 3+ -centered Jahn−Teller distortions in LiNiO 2 and LiNi 0.125 Co 0.875 O 2 , and showing that the presence of M 2+ /M 3+ solid solutions and/or M/M′ isovalent transition metal (TM) mixtures in the olivine-type electrodes should lead to broad and potentially interpretable NMR spectra. Clear evidence for the presence of a dynamic Jahn−Teller distortion is obtained for LiNi x Co 1−x O 2 . The results emphasize the utility of solidstate NMR in application to TM-containing battery materials and to paramagnetic samples in general.

Lithium dendrite growth in lithium ion and lithium rechargeable batteries is associated with severe safety concerns. To overcome these problems, a fundamental understanding of the growth mechanism of dendrites under working conditions is needed. In this work, in situ (7)Li magnetic resonance (MRI) is performed on both the electrolyte and lithium metal electrodes in symmetric lithium cells, allowing the behavior of the electrolyte concentration gradient to be studied and correlated with the type and rate of microstructure growth on the Li metal electrode. For this purpose, chemical shift (CS) imaging of the metal electrodes is a particularly sensitive diagnostic method, enabling a clear distinction to be made between different types of microstructural growth occurring at the electrode surface and the eventual dendrite growth between the electrodes. The CS imaging shows that mossy types of microstructure grow close to the surface of the anode from the beginning of charge in every cell studied, while dendritic growth is triggered much later. Simple metrics have been developed to interpret the MRI data sets and to compare results from a series of cells charged at different current densities. The results show that at high charge rates, there is a strong correlation between the onset time of dendrite growth and the local depletion of the electrolyte at the surface of the electrode observed both experimentally and predicted theoretical (via the Sand's time model). A separate mechanism of dendrite growth is observed at low currents, which is not governed by salt depletion in the bulk liquid electrolyte. The MRI approach presented here allows the rate and nature of a process that occurs in the solid electrode to be correlated with the concentrations of components in the electrolyte.

The growth of lithium microstructures during battery cycling has, to date, prohibited the use of Li metal anodes and raises serious safety concerns even in conventional lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, particularly if they are charged at high rates. The electrochemical conditions under which these Li microstructures grow have, therefore, been investigated by in situ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and susceptibility calculations. Lithium metal symmetric bag cells containing LiPF 6 in EC: DMC electrolytes were used. Distinct 7 Li NMR resonances were observed due to the Li metal bulk electrodes and microstructures, the changes in peak positions and intensities being monitored in situ during Li deposition. The changes in the NMR spectra, observed as a function of separator thickness and porosity (using Celgard and Whatmann glass microfiber membranes) and different applied pressures, were correlated with changes in the type of microstructure, by using SEM. Isotopically enriched 6 Li metal electrodes were used against natural abundance predominantly 7 Li metal counter electrodes to investigate radiofrequency (rf) field penetration into the Li anode and to confirm the assignment of the higher frequency peak to Li dendrites. The conclusions were supported by calculations performed to explore the effect of the different microstructures on peak position/broadening, the study showing that Li NMR spectroscopy can be used as a sensitive probe of the both the amount and type of microstructure formation.

Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is a common transient precursor to biogenic crystalline calcium carbonate, but factors controlling the amorphous to crystalline transformation remain unclear. We present a structural analysis and comparison of hydrated and partially dehydrated, synthetic ACC samples. Thermogravimetric analysis showed total H 2 O losses of 46% with heating to 115 °C and 75% for heating to 150 °C. The 1 H NMR spectra of hydrous ACC, obtained both directly and indirectly, via 13 C-detection, contain signals from four principal hydrogen environments: translationally rigid structural H 2 O, a restrictedly mobile H 2 O environment, fluidlike mobile H 2 O that is decoupled from rigid H and C, and hydroxyl. The retention of some restrictedly mobile H 2 O and lack of change in X-ray total scattering and absorption spectroscopy data for dehydrated ACC suggest that thermal dehydration does not significantly disrupt the calcium-rich ACC framework. NMR results and thermal analyses of samples dehydrated isothermally for extended periods indicate that the H 2 O loss mechanism is kinetically hindered and occurs in three stages: simultaneous loss of fluidlike mobile, restrictedly mobile, and rigid H 2 O → loss of restrictedly mobile and rigid H 2 O → loss of hydroxyl and trapped rigid and mobile components that cannot be removed without transformation to crystalline calcium carbonate.