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Multicomponent rare earth oxide (REO) nanocrystalline powders containing up to seven equiatomic rare earth elements were successfully synthesized in a single-phase CaF 2-type (Fm-3 m) structure. The addition of more than six elements resulted in the formation of a secondary phase. Annealing at 1000°C for 1 h led to the formation of a single-phase (Ia-3) even in the 7-component system. In the absence of cerium (Ce 4+), secondary phases were observed irrespective of the number of cations or the extent of thermal treatment indicating that cerium cations played a crucial role in stabilizing the multicomponent REOs into a phase pure structure. IMPACT STATEMENT Multicomponent equiatomic rare earth oxides pioneer a new group of materials that crystallize into a single-phase structure with the dominant role of a single element instead of entropy.

This article reports on the investigation of LaSrMnO 4 with K 2 NiF 4 type structure for use as an intercalation based high voltage cathode material with high capacity for fluoride ion batteries (FIBs). Charging was performed against PbF 2 based anodes and shows that fluoride intercalation proceeds stepwise to form LaSrMnO 4 F and LaSrMnO 4 F 2−x . Ex-situ X-ray diffraction experiments were recorded for different cutoff voltages for a deeper understanding of the charging process, highlighting additional potential of the method to be used to adjust fluorine contents more easily than using conventional fluorination methods. A discharging capacity of approximately 20−25 mAh/g was found, which is ∼4−5 times higher compared to what was reported previously on the discharging of BaFeO 2.5 /BaFeO 2.5 F 0.5 , approaching discharge capacities for conversion based fluoride ion batteries. Density functional theory based calculations confirm the observed potential steps of approximately 1 and 2 V for the first (LaSrMnO 4 → LaSrMnO 4 F) and second (LaSrMnO 4 F → LaSrMnO 4 F 2−x ) intercalation steps against Pb-PbF 2 , respectively. Additionally, a detailed structure analysis was performed for chemically prepared LaSrMnO 4 F 2−x (x ∼ 0.2), showing strong similarity to the product which is obtained after charging the batteries to voltages above 2 V against Pb-PbF 2 . It was observed that charging and discharging kinetics as well as coulomb efficiencies are limited for the batteries in the current state, which can be partly assigned to overpotentials arising from the use of conversion based anode composites and the stability of the charged sample toward carbon black and the current collectors. Therefore, the structural stability of LaSrMnO 4 F 2 on the deintercalation of fluoride ions was demonstrated by a galvanostatic discharging to −3 V against Pb-PbF 2 , which can be used to compensate such overpotentials, resulting in almost complete recovery of fluorine free LaSrMnO 4 with a discharge capacity of ∼100 mAh/g. This is the first report showing that selective extraction of fluoride ions from an oxyfluoride matrix is possible, and it highlights that compounds with K 2 NiF 4 type structure can be considered as interesting host lattices for the reversible intercalation/deintercalation of fluoride ions within intercalation based FIBs.

Na 3 PS 4 is one of the most promising Na + conductors, relevant for applications that can leverage its high ionic conductivity, such as solid-state batteries. Currently, two crystalline phases of the material have been identified, and it has been thought to melt above 500 °C. In contrast, based on diffraction, ab initio simulations, impedance spectroscopy, and thermal analysis, we show that Na 3 PS 4 remains solid above this temperature and transforms to a third polymorph, γ, exhibiting fast-ion conduction and an orthorhombic crystal structure. We show that the fast Na + -conduction is associated with rotational motion of the thiophosphate polyanions pointing to a plastic crystal. These findings are of major importance for the development and understanding of new polyanion-based solid electrolytes.

La2CoO4, a new promising intercalation-based cathode material for fluoride ion batteries with improved cycling stability.

In this paper we examine the effect of Ga doping on the structure and conductivity of the high Li ion content garnet-related system, La(3)Zr(2)Li(7)O(12). Without Ga doping, La(3)Zr(2)Li(7)O(12) is tetragonal and has low Li ion conductivity. The introduction of Ga leads to a change to a cubic unit cell, and a large enhancement in the conductivity. Prior structural studies of La(3)Zr(2)Li(7)O(12) have shown the presence of both tetrahedral and distorted octahedral sites for Li, and the low conductivity can be explained by the ordered nature of the Li distribution. The present structural study of La(3)Zr(2)Ga(0.5)Li(5.5)O(12) shows that Ga substitutes onto the tetrahedral site. Despite the presence of non-mobile Ga(3+) on the Li sites, the conductivity is enhanced as a result of the introduction of vacancies in the Li sites, and consequent disorder on the Li sublattice. Further work has suggested that over time in air, there is some H(+)/Li(+) exchange, and consequently some variation in the conductivity.

AbstractIn this review, we discuss recent developments in the use of low-temperature fluorination routes for the topochemical modification of mixed metal oxide compounds. By applying such methods, material properties (such as magnetism, superconductivity, electrical conductivity, and ionic conductivity) can be tuned in a wide range. Furthermore, oxide fluoride compounds are interesting from a structural point of view, and while differentiating between oxide and fluoride ions has proved to be difficult using diffraction methods, strategies (e.g., bond valence sum calculations) to overcome this problem have been shown to be possible. In addition, this review concludes with an outlook on future prospects in the field of oxide fluoride compounds.

Fluoride-ion batteries: a comprehensive review.