Electrolytic production of metallic uranium from U3O8 in a 20-kg batch scale reactor</p> </p>

Summary The electrolytic reduction of U₃O₈ powder was carried out using LiCl-Li₂O molten salt in a 20-kg U₃O₈ batch cell to verify the feasibility of the process. As the current passes the cell, the decomposition of Li₂O and the reduction of U₃O₈ occur simultaneously in a cathode assembly and oxygen gas evolvs at the anode. The results from a 20-kg U₃O₈ scale cell were compared with data obtained from a bench scale cell. The results suggest a successful demonstration of this process, exhibiting a reduction conversion of U₃O₈ of more than 99% in a batch.</p> </p>     

Reduction Processes in the Course of Mechanochemical Synthesis of Li1+xV3O8

Mechanical activation (MA) of the LiOH+V₂O₅ and Li₂CO₃+V₂O₅ mixtures followed by brief heating at 673 K was used to prepare dispersed Li_1+xV₃O₈. It was shown that structural transformations during MA are accompanied by reduction processes. EPR spectra of Li_1+xV₃O₈ are attributed to vanadyl VO²⁺ ions with weak exchange interaction. The interaction of localized electrons (V⁴⁺ ions) with electron gas (delocalized electrons), which is exhibited through the dependence of EPR line width of vanadium ions versus measurement temperature (C–S–C relaxation), is revealed. It is shown that C–S–C relaxation is different for intermediate and final products. The properties of mechanochemically prepared Li_1+xV₃O₈ are compared with those of HT-Li_1+xV₃O₈, obtained by conventional solid state reaction. Mechanochemically prepared Li_1+xV₃O₈ is characterized by a similar amount of vanadium ions, producing electron gas, but a higher specific surface area.     

A combined X-ray and neutron Rietveld study of the chemically lithiated electrode materials Li2.7V3O8 and Li4.8V3O8

The lithium insertion in the positive electrode material Li_1+αV₃O₈ (α close to 0.1-0.2) includes a phenomenon near 2.6 V (voltage vs. the Li metal electrode), the mechanism being a two-phase process with the transformation from ca. Li_2.9V₃O₈ to ca. Li₄V₃O₈. Near 2.4 V down to 2 V, Li is inserted in a single phase up to ca. Li₅V₃O₈. Chemical Li insertions have been performed in a Li_1.1V₃O₈ precursor prepared at 350 °C and the structures of the products Li_2.7V₃O₈ (before the 2.6 V phenomenon) and Li_4.8V₃O₈ (near the expected maximum) have been studied by a combined Rietveld refinement of X-ray and neutron diffraction data. The structure of Li_4.8V₃O₈ is an ordered derivative of the rock-salt type, with all the Li and V ions in slightly distorted octahedral sites. Li_2.7V₃O₈ has a poor crystallization state and, although the expected V₃O₈ layers are obtained, only a part of the Li sites have been reliably determined. Between adjacent V₃O₈ layers, several unidentified sites are likely weakly occupied, thus giving a markedly disordered character for the structure of the compound formed just before the transition at 2.6 V. The atomic shifts at the transition are briefly discussed.     

Synthesis and structure analysis of tetragonal Li7La3Zr2O12 with the garnet-related type structure

We have successfully synthesized a high-purity polycrystalline sample of tetragonal Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂. Single crystals have been also grown by a flux method. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis verifies that tetragonal Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ has the garnet-related type structure with a space group of I4₁/acd (no. 142). The lattice constants are a=13.134(4) Å and c=12.663(8) Å. The garnet-type framework structure is composed of two types of dodecahedral LaO₈ and octahedral ZrO₆. Li atoms occupy three crystallographic sites in the interstices of this framework structure, where Li(1), Li(2), and Li(3) atoms are located at the tetrahedral 8a site and the distorted octahedral 16f and 32g sites, respectively. The structure is also investigated by the Rietveld method with X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. These diffraction patterns are identified as the tetragonal Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ structure determined from the single-crystal data. The present tetragonal Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ sample exhibits a bulk Li-ion conductivity of σ_b=1.63×10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ and grain-boundary Li-ion conductivity of σ_gb=5.59×10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹ at 300 K. The activation energy is estimated to be E_a=0.54 eV in the temperature range of 300–560 K.     

The Ternary System Li2O-Al2O3-B2O3: Compounds and Phase Relations

The ternary system Li₂O-Al₂O₃-B₂O₃ is reinvestigated with solid-state reaction and X-ray powder diffraction technique to clarify some long-standing uncertainties. The phase relations are constructed based on the phase identifications of 51 ternary samples. Six ternary compounds, Li₂AlB₅O₁₀, LiAlB₂O₅, Li₃AlB₂O₆, Li₂AlBO₄, LiAl₇B₄O₁₇ and a compound with a composition close to 0.66Li₂O·0.06Al₂O₃·0.28B₂O₃, are observed or confirmed in this system, and the thermal stability of these ternary compounds is also discussed on the basis of DTA experimental results.     

Luminescence and vibrational spectra of Ba5Li2W3O15

The infrared and Raman spectra of Ba₅Li₂W₃O₁₅ are reported down to 200 cm^?1. From the internal stretching modes of the tungstate octahedra the crystallographic order between lithium and tungsten in the face-sharing octahedra can be derived. The green tungstate luminescence shows a low quenching temperature that is described with the Dexter-Klick-Russell model. The U⁶⁺ ion shows a yellow emission in Ba₅Li₂W₃O₁₅. There is ample evidence for two different U⁶⁺ centers with different decay times (10 and 80 μsec) and different emission and excitation spectra. One of these is located in a single layer of tungstate octahedra, the other in a double layer of octahedra.     

Polyol-mediated synthesis of Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticle and its electrochemical properties

Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ nanoparticles were precipitated from ethylene glycol solution of titanium tetra isopropoxide (Ti(O-iPr)₄) and Li₂O₂ by refluxing at 197 °C for 12 h. The obtained particles were filtered and dried at 100 °C for 12 h, and the dried powder samples were heated at 320, 500 and 800 °C for 3 h. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the obtained samples exhibited a good fit with the spinel phase. The field emission-SEM images of the dried powder sample and the samples heated at 320, 500 and 800 °C for 3 h showed a uniform spherical morphology with a particle size of 5, 8, 10 and 400 nm, respectively. According to the results of electrochemical testing, the dried powder sample and the samples heated at 320, 500, and 800 °C for 3 h showed initial capacities of 200, 310, 320, and 260 mA h/g, respectively, at a current density of 0.05 mA/cm². Nanosized (6–8 nm) particles with good crystallinity were obtained by controlling the synthesis conditions. The sample heated at 500 °C for 3 h exhibited a high capacity and an excellent rate capability over 60 cycles.     

A study of the formation of LiNbO3 in the system Li2CO3Nb2O5

The formation process of LiNbO₃ in the system Li₂CO₃Nb₂O₅ was discussed from the results of non-isothermal or isothermal TG experiments and X-ray analysis. The mixture Li₂CO₃ and Nb₂O₅ in mole ratios of 1:3, 1:1 or 3:1 was heated at a rate of 5°C min^?1 or at various temperatures fixed in the range 475 to 677°C. If the system has a composition of Li₂CO₃ + 3Nb₂O₅ or 3Li₂CO₃ + Nb₂O₅, the reaction between Li₂CO₃ and Nb₂O₅ proceeds with CO₂ evolution to form LiNbO₃ at ca. 300–600°C, but Nb₂O₅ or Li₂CO₃ remains unreacted. A composition of Li₂CO₃ + Nb₂O₅ gives LiNbO₃ at 300–700°C. The diffusion of Li₂O through the layer of LiNbO₃ is rate-controlling with an activation energy of 51 kcal mol^?1. The reaction between LiNbO₃ and Nb₂O₅ gives LiNb₃O₈ at 600–700°C. At 700–800°C, a slight formation of Li₃NbO₄ occurs by the reaction between LiNbO₃ and Li₂O at the outer surface of LiNbO₃ and the Li₂O component of Li₃NbO₄ diffuses toward the boundary of the LiNb₃O₈ layer through the LiNbO₃ layer. The single phase of LiNbO₃ is formed above 850°C.     

Lithium assisted electrochemical reduction of uranium oxide in room temperature ionic liquid

Lithium assisted electrochemical reduction of U₃O₈ in the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (MPPiNTf₂), was studied to explore the feasibility of using RTILs for direct electrochemical reduction of uranium oxide at near ambient temperature. The electrochemical behavior of Li⁺ in MPPiNTf₂ at stainless steel electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The cyclic voltammogram of LiNTf₂ in MPPiNTf₂ at 373 K consisted of a surge in cathodic current occurring at a potential of −2.8 V (vs. Fc/Fc⁺) due to the reduction of Li(I) to metallic form. The nucleation phenomenon observed in the voltammogram was investigated by chronoamperometry. Electrodeposition of metallic lithium on U₃O₈ particles contained in a stainless steel (SS) basket was carried out to examine the feasibility of reducing U₃O₈ to metallic form. The results are discussed in this paper.     

Direct AAS determination of Co, Cr, Cu, Mn and Ni in U3O8 by electrothermal atomization

Summary An atomic absorption spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of chromium, cobalt, copper, manganese and nickel in U₃O₈ by electrothermal atomization of 5 mg powder samples. Nanogram amounts of all the elements can be estimated with a precision ranging between 7–12%. The non-specific absorption due to U₃O₈ for these measurements is negligible. The use of graphite powder with U₃O₈ in equal or double the sample amount improves sensitivity for the analyte element and prolongs the life of the atomizer.

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Direkte AAS-Bestimmung von Co, Cr, Cu, Mn und Ni in U₃O₈ durch elektrothermische Atomisierung

Zusammenfassung Das entwickelte AAS-Verfahren geht von pulverförmigen 5mg-Proben aus. Nanogramm-Mengen der genannten Elemente können mit einer Genauigkeit im Bereich von 7–12% bestimmt werden. Die durch U₃O₈ verursachte unspezifische Absorption ist zu vernachlässigen. Durch Graphitzusatz (in der gleichen oder doppelten Menge der Probe) wird die Empfindlichkeit der Bestimmung verbessert und die Lebensdauer des Atomizers verlängert.

     

New conducting phase in the Li2O-ZnO-Nb2O5 system: Existence conditions

The conducting phase Li₆ZnNb₄O₁₄ in the Li₂O-ZnO-Nb₂O₅ system has been obtained by solid-phase synthesis from Li₃NbO₄, Li_{1 − x} NbO₃, and LiZnNbO₄. The new phase exists in the temperature range of (904 ± 5)–(1145 ± 5)°C. Quenching the synthesis product from 960°C yields this phase in a metastable state at room temperature. The Li₆ZnNb₄O₁₄ phase has been characterized by thermal analysis, chemical analysis, and X-ray powder diffraction. The ohmic resistance of ceramic Li₆ZnNb₄O₁₄ has been determined by complex impedance measurements. The activation energy of conduction, derived from the temperature dependence of conductivity, is E _a = 0.273 ± 0.001 eV. The conductivity of the phase at 300°C is 1.2 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹.     

Magnetic and Mössbauer studies on α-Fe2O3Li2O system

A study has been made of the structural and thermal phase behavior of the mixed system αFe₂O₃xLi₂O with a view toward investigating the changes occurring in the properties of different compositions due to substitution of diamagnetic Li⁺ for Fe³⁺ at B sites in the inverse spinel lattice. This also indicates whether the addition of Li₂O, over and above that (x = 0.2) required for the formation of the spinel LiFe₅O₈, enters the substitutional or interstitial sites. Characterization by X-ray powder diffraction, initial magnetic susceptibility, magnetic hysteresis, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and differential thermal analysis clearly indicates that Li⁺ does not enter the spinel lattice, but forms a biphasic system LiFe₅O₈ and LiFeO₂, which are not miscible.     

锂离子电池负极材料Li_(4-x)K_xTi_5O_(12)结构和电化学性能

采用固相反应的方法制备了尖晶石型Li4Ti5O12和K掺杂Li4-xKxTi5O12(x=0.02,0.04,0.06)。通过XRD、SEM、BET等对制备材料进行了分析。结果表明,K掺杂没有影响立方尖晶石型Li4Ti5O12的合成,同时也没有改变Li4Ti5O12的电化学反应过程。K掺杂Li4-xKxTi5O12具有比Li4Ti5O12小的颗粒粒径和比Li4Ti5O12大的比表面积、孔容积。适量的K掺杂能够明显改善Li4Ti5O12的电化学性能,尤其是倍率性能,但是过多的K掺杂却不利于材料电化学性能的提高。研究表明,Li3.96K0.04Ti5O12体现了相对较好的倍率性能和循环稳定性。0.5C下,首次放电比容量为161mAh·g-1,3.0和5.0C下,容量保持分别为138和121mAh·g-1。3.0C下,200次循环后容量保持为137mAh·g-1。     

Carrier distillation-ICAP approach for trace metal assay of U3O8 powder

Summary A new approach for the trace metal assay of U₃O₈ powder has been described. The carrier distillation technique used for selective volatilization of trace metals in U₃O₈ with d.c. arc excitation is adapted for the release of analytes from the solid sample into the ICAP source by inductively heating the sample. The experimental parameters have been optimised for the direct determination of Cd, Cu, K, Na, Ni and Pb. The performance of the method developed here is tested for the precision and accuracy of determinations by analysing spiked U₃O₈ samples and NBL U₃O₈ reference standards (standard deviation 2–9%). The method appears promising to be developed as a highly precise analytical optical emission spectrometric method as it adds to the ingenuity of the carrier distillation method, the advantages of ICAP.

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Bestimmung von Metallspuren in U₃O₈-Pulver durch Trägerdestillation/ICAP

Zusammenfassung Das Trägerdestillationsverfahren zur selektiven Verdampfung von Spurenmetallen in U₃O₈ im Gleichstrombogen wurde mit induktiver Probeerhitzung für ICAP angepaßt. Die experimentellen Parameter wurden für die direkte Bestimmung von Cd, Cu, K, Na, Ni und Pb optimiert. Die Leistungsfähigkeit des Verfahrens wurde mit Hilfe von Proben mit bestimmten Zusätzen sowie mit zertifiziertem Referenzmaterial überprüft (Standardabweichung 2–9%). Durch die Verbindung der Vorteile von Trägerdestillation und ICAP bietet sich eine Methode von hoher Präzision.

     

Li3PO4表面修饰提高球形LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4正极材料的性能

通过共沉淀法制备了球形LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄@Li₃PO₄复合材料,并采用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、红外光谱(FT-IR)、循环伏安(CV)、电化学阻抗谱(EIS)及充放电测试研究了其结构与电化学性能.XRD和SEM表明,Li₃PO₄包覆影响了球形LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄的晶格常数.CV和EIS表明,质量百分数5% Li₃PO₄包覆的LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄具有比纯LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄更高的锂离子嵌脱可逆性,更大的锂离子扩散系数和更小的电荷转移电阻,说明在锂离子扩散过程中,质量百分数5%Li₃PO₄包覆的LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄具有更高的电子电导率.充放电测试表明,原位Li₃PO₄改性提高了材料的电子电导率、电化学活性,进而提高了高倍率放电容量.质量百分数5% Li₃PO₄包覆的LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄提高的电化学性能归因于Li₃PO₄的包覆、纳米颗粒组成球形的粒径引起的高的电子电导率和小的电化学极化.     

A neutron diffraction study of the d and d lithium garnets Li3Nd3W2O12 and Li5La3Sb2O12

The garnets Li₃Nd₃W₂O₁₂ and Li₅La₃Sb₂O₁₂ have been prepared by heating the component oxides and hydroxides in air at temperatures up to 950 °C. Neutron powder diffraction has been used to examine the lithium distribution in these phases. Both compounds crystallise in the space group with lattice parameters a=12.46869(9) Å (Li₃Nd₃W₂O₁₂) and a=12.8518(3) Å (Li₅La₃Sb₂O₁₂). Li₃Nd₃W₂O₁₂ contains lithium on a filled, tetrahedrally coordinated 24d site that is occupied in the conventional garnet structure. Li₅La₃Sb₂O₁₂ contains partial occupation of lithium over two crystallographic sites. The conventional tetrahedrally coordinated 24d site is 79.3(8)% occupied. The remaining lithium is found in oxide octahedra which are linked via a shared face to the tetrahedron. This lithium shows positional disorder and is split over two positions within the octahedron and occupies 43.6(4)% of the octahedra. Comparison of these compounds with related d⁰ and d¹⁰ phases shows that replacement of a d⁰ cation with d¹⁰ cation of the same charge leads to an increase in the lattice parameter due to polarisation effects.     

Origin of the irreversible plateau (4.5 V) of Li[Li0.182Ni0.182Co0.091Mn0.545]O2 layered material

Layered LiNi_0.4Co_0.2Mn_0.4O₂, Li[Li_0.182Ni_0.182Co_0.091Mn_0.545]O₂, Li[Li_1/3Mn_2/3]O₂ powder materials were prepared by rheological phase method. XRD characterization shows that these samples all have analogous structure to LiCoO₂. Li[Li_0.182Ni_0.182Co_0.091Mn_0.545]O₂ can be considered to be the solid solution of LiNi_0.4Co_0.2Mn_0.4O₂ and Li[Li_1/3Mn_2/3]O₂. Detailed information from XRD, ex situ XPS measurement and electrochemical analysis of these three materials reveals the origin of the irreversible plateau (4.5 V) of Li[Li_0.182Ni_0.182Co_0.091Mn_0.545]O₂ electrode. The irreversible oxidation reaction occurred in the first charging above 4.5 V is ascribed to the contribution of Li[Li_1/3Mn_2/3]O₂ component, which maybe extract Li⁺ from the transition layer in Li[Li_1/3Mn_2/3]O₂ or Li[Li_0.182Ni_0.182Co_0.091Mn_0.545]O₂ through oxygen release. This step also activates Mn⁴⁺ of Li[Li_1/3Mn_2/3]O₂ or Li[Li_0.182Ni_0.182Co_0.091Mn_0.545]O₂, it can be reversibly reduced/oxidized between Mn⁴⁺ and Mn³⁺ in the subsequent cycles.     

Synthese et propriétés de conduction ionique des phases Li8−2xCaxCeO6 (0 < x ≤ 0,5) et Li6CaCeO6

The solid solution Li_8−2xCa_xCeO₆ (0 < x ≤ 0,5) and the definite phase Li₆CaCeO₆ have been obtained at 800°C through a study of Li---Ca---Ce---O system. Electrical measurements on the doped phases Li^tetr.₆ [Li_2-2xCa_xCe□]^oct.O₆ show that the conductivity varies slightly with the creation of vacancies in the octahedral layers. This result unambiguously confirms the following diffusion mechanism: the conduction is assumed essentially by lithium ions located in the tetrahedral layers. The compound Li₆CaCeO₆ is isostructural with Li₆In₂O₆. The cell is trigonal, Å, c = 10,603 Å, c/a = 1,058₇, and Z = 6. This new quaternary phase, which belongs to the same structural family of oxides of the type Li₈MO₆, either pure or doped with calcium, may be represented by the formula Li^tetr.₆[Ca Ce□]^oct.O₆. Electrical and structural data are correlated for this compound.     

The structures of lithium inserted metal oxides: Li2FeV3O8

Neutron diffraction powder profile analysis has been used to determine the structure of Li₂FeV₃O₈. The compound is prepared from FeV₃O₈, which has the VO₂(B) structure type, by a lithium insertion reaction employing n-BuLi. Only minimal distortion of the host lattice occurs on Li insertion. The Li ions occupy five coordinate square pyramidal sites with an average LiO bond distance of 2.04 Å. These five coordinate sites occur commonly in the capped perovskite cavities of crystallographic shear structures based on ReO₃.     

Reduction of U<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript> to U by a metallic reductant,Li

Reduction of U₃O₈ was investigated for the recycling of spent oxide fuel from a commercial nuclear power plant. The possible reduction methods were proposed and compared. Based on the thermodynamic analysis, Li metal was selected as a reductant. The optimum reaction temperature for the reduction of U₃O₈ was investigated at the wider reaction temperature range. The adverse oxidation of U metal by Li₂O at 1,000 °C was experimentally verified. Ellingham diagram was constructed to investigate the extent of the uranium oxides reduction when the reaction was carried out above melting point of U metal.