Hydrous ruthenium oxide (RuO2·xH2O or RuO
x
H
y
) is a mixed proton−electron conductor which could be
used in fuel cells and ultracapacitors. Its charge-storage (pseudocapacitance) and electrocatalytic properties
vary with water content and are maximized near the composition RuO2·0.5 mol % H2O. We studied the
atomic structure of RuO2·xH2O as a function of water content from x = 0.84 to 0.02 using X-ray diffraction
and atomic pair density function (PDF). Even though the diffraction patterns of samples containing 0.84 to
0.35 mole of water are suggestive of “amorphous” structures, the PDF analysis clearly shows that up to 0.7
nm, the short-range atomic structure of all of these RuO2·xH2O samples resembles that of the anhydrous
rutile RuO2 structure. We conclude that RuO2·xH2O is a composite of anhydrous rutile-like RuO2 nanocrystals
dispersed by boundaries of structural water associated with Ru−O. Metallic conduction is supported by the
rutile-like nanocrystals, while proton conduction is facilitated by the structural water along the grain boundaries.
This structural picture explains the charge-storage and electrocatalytic properties of RuO2·xH2O in terms of
competing percolation networks of metallic and protonic conduction pathways, that vary in volume as a
function of the water content of the RuO2·xH2O. The control and optimization of electron and proton conducting
volumes and pathways will lead to improved performance and guide the design of new materials.
The metastability of lithium electrodeposition continues to be a scientific mystery. Local ionic depletion has been conventionally argued to be a root cause for nonlinear morphological manifestations. Given the bulk nature of electrolyte transport limitation, it should be absent for very small interelectrode separations; however, even under such conditions, sustained electrodeposition is not observed. We find that the passivating film formed due to lithium's high reactivity alters the surface energies and in turn deposition preference for fresh lithium. This asymmetry in deposition preference leads to nonuniform surface structure growth and traps the electrolyte layer. Such electrolyte confinement causes polarization, even at subcritical currents. The existence of confined electrolyte and associated electrochemical complexations is proved through temperature-controlled electrodeposition experiments.Letter http://pubs.acs.org/journal/aelccp
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