Kazuma Gotoh

Sodium-Ion Intercalation Mechanism in MXene Nanosheets

MXene, a family of layered compounds consisting of nanosheets, is emerging as an electrode material for various electrochemical energy storage devices including supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and sodium-ion batteries. However, the mechanism of its electrochemical reaction is not yet fully understood. Herein, using solid-state (23)Na magic angle spinning NMR and density functional theory calculation, we reveal that MXene Ti3C2Tx in a nonaqueous Na(+) electrolyte exhibits reversible Na(+) intercalation/deintercalation into the interlayer space. Detailed analyses demonstrate that Ti3C2Tx undergoes expansion of the interlayer distance during the first sodiation, whereby desolvated Na(+) is intercalated/deintercalated reversibly. The interlayer distance is maintained during the whole sodiation/desodiation process due to the pillaring effect of trapped Na(+) and the swelling effect of penetrated solvent molecules between the Ti3C2Tx sheets. Since Na(+) intercalation/deintercalation during the electrochemical reaction is not accompanied by any substantial structural change, Ti3C2Tx shows good capacity retention over 100 cycles as well as excellent rate capability.

Recyclable Pd–graphene catalyst: mechanistic insights into heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis

Pd–graphene, a composite of Pd nanoparticles and exfoliated graphene, was used as a catalyst in organic reactions. In the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, Pd–graphene showed high reusability without aggregation of Pd nanoparticles. The intermediates of the reaction in the liquid phase, Ph–Pd–Br and Ph–Pd–OH, were detected by ESI-MS.

Hydrogen bonding in 1,2-diazine–chloranilic acid (2 : 1) studied by a 14N nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor and multi-temperature X-ray diffraction

Protons involved in the H-bond system in 1,2-diazine-chloranilic acid (2 : 1) are assumed to be in jumping motion in the double-minimum potential corresponding to the two extreme electronic states of O-H...N and O-...H-N+. 14N nuclear quadrupole coupling constants were determined by 1H-14N nuclear quadrupole double resonance. Assuming that the observed coupling constants are result of a fast exchange of the two extreme electronic states, the coupling constants for each state were estimated by use of the equilibrium populations of the two extreme states determined from multi-temperature X-ray single-crystal diffraction. It was suggested that not only the population but also the electron distribution of the extreme electronic states itself changes with temperature.

Phase transition and temperature dependent electronic state of an organic ferroelectric, phenazine–chloranilic acid (1:1)

The isotope effect of hydrogen motion in an organic ferroelectric, phenazine (Phz)–chloranilic acid (H2ca and D2ca for normal and deuterated compounds, respectively) co-crystal, was studied by 35Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR). Besides a ferroelectric transition at Tc = 253 K (303 K), a neutral-to-ionic transition was found below 170 K (200 K) for Phz–H2ca (Phz–D2ca). 1H–14N nuclear quadrupole double resonance measurements were also made in order to study the temperature dependent electronic state of Phz–(H/D)2ca. 14N NQR parameters suggested that donor orbital populations of the two nitrogen atoms in a phenazine molecule become nonequivalent (1.78 and 1.97) in the ferroelectric phase, while they are both equal to 1.89 in the paraelectric phase. In the ionic phase of Phz–D2ca, which was obtained by cooling below 188 K, they became 1.50 and 1.95, suggesting a proton transfer from D2ca to Phz.

An Extended Phenacene-type Molecule, [8]Phenacene: Synthesis and Transistor Application

A new phenacene-type molecule, [8]phenacene, which is an extended zigzag chain of coplanar fused benzene rings, has been synthesised for use in an organic field-effect transistor (FET). The molecule consists of a phenacene core of eight benzene rings, which has a lengthy π-conjugated system. The structure was verified by elemental analysis, solid-state NMR, X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, absorption spectrum and photoelectron yield spectroscopy (PYS). This type of molecule is quite interesting, not only as pure chemistry but also for its potential electronics applications. Here we report the physical properties of [8]phenacene and its FET application. An [8]phenacene thin-film FET fabricated with an SiO2 gate dielectric showed clear p-channel characteristics. The highest μ achieved in an [8]phenacene thin-film FET with an SiO2 gate dielectric is 1.74 cm2 V−1 s−1, demonstrating excellent FET characteristics; the average μ was evaluated as 1.2(3) cm2 V−1 s−1. The μ value in the [8]phenacene electric-double-layer FET reached 16.4 cm2 V−1 s−1, which is the highest reported in EDL FETs based on phenacene-type molecules; the average μ was evaluated as 8(5) cm2 V−1 s−1. The μ values recorded in this study show that [8]phenacene is a promising molecule for transistor applications.

Hydrogen bonding in two solid phases of phenazine-chloranilic acid (1/1) determined at 170 and 93 K.

The crystal structures in two solid phases, i.e. phase II stable between 146 and 253 K and phase IV below 136 K, of the title compound [phenazine-chloranilic acid (1/1), C12H8N2.C6H2Cl2O4, in phase II, and phenazinium hydrogen chloranilate, C12H9N2+.C6HCl2O4-, in phase IV], have been determined. Both phases crystallize in P2(1), and each structure was refined as an inversion twin. In phase II, the phenazine and chloranilic acid molecules are arranged alternately through two kinds of O-H...N hydrogen bonds. In phase IV, salt formation occurs by donation of one H atom from the chloranilic acid molecule to the phenazine molecule; the resulting monocation and monoanion are linked by N-H...O and O-H...N hydrogen bonds.

Synthesis of ternary and quaternary graphite intercalation compounds containing alkali metal cations and diamines.

A series of ternary graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) of alkali metal cations (M = Li, Na, K) and diamines [EN (ethylenediamine), 12DAP (1,2-diaminopropane), and DMEDA (N,N-dimethylethylenediamine)] are reported. These include stage 1 and 2 M-EN-GIC (M = Li, d(i) = 0.68-0.84 nm; M = Na, d(i) = 0.68 nm), stage 2 Li-12DAP-GIC (d(i) = 0.83 nm), and stage 1 and 2 Li-DMEDA-GIC (d(i) = 0.91 nm), where d(i) is the gallery height. For M = Li, a perpendicular-to-parallel transition of EN is observed upon evacuation, whereas for M = Na, the EN remains in parallel orientation. Li-12DAP-GIC and Li-DMEDA-GIC contain chelated Li(+) and do not show the perpendicular-to-parallel transition. We also report the quaternary compounds of mixed cations (Li,Na)-12DAP-GIC and mixed amines Na-(EN,12DAP)-GIC, with d(i) values in both cases between those of the ternary end members. (Li,Na)-12DAP-GIC is a solid solution with lattice dimensions dependent on composition, whereas for Na-(EN,12DAP)-GIC, the lattice dimension does not vary with amine content.

Hydrogen bonding in 1,2‐diazine–chloranilic acid (2/1) and 1,4‐diazine–chloranilic acid (2/1) determined at 110 K

The crystal structures of the isomeric title compounds [systematic names: pyridazine-2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-p-benzoquinone (2/1), (I), and pyrazine-2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-p-benzoquinone (2/1), (II)], 2C(4)H(4)N(2) x C(6)H(2)Cl(2)O(4), have been redetermined at 110 K. The H atom in the intermolecular O...H...N hydrogen bond in each compound was revealed to be disordered; the relative occupancies at the O and N sites are 0.33 (3) and 0.67 (3), respectively, for (I), and 0.56 (4) and 0.44 (4) for (II). The formal charges of the chloranilic acid in (I) and (II) estimated from the occupancy factors are ca -1.3 and -0.8, respectively. The geometries of the centrosymmetric chloranilic acid molecule in (I) and (II) are compared with the neutral, monoanionic and dianionic forms of chloranilic acid optimized by density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) level. The result implies that the chloranilic acid molecule in (I) is close to the monoanionic state, while that in (II) is between neutral and monoanionic, consistent with the result derived from the H-atom occupancies.

Combination of solid state NMR and DFT calculation to elucidate the state of sodium in hard carbon electrodes

We examined the state of sodium electrochemically inserted in HC prepared at 700–2000 °C using solid state Na magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR and multiple quantum (MQ) MAS NMR. The 23Na MAS NMR spectra of Na-inserted HC samples showed signals only in the range between +30 and −60 ppm. Each observed spectrum was ascribed to combinations of Na+ ions from the electrolyte, reversible ionic Na components, irreversible Na components assigned to solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) or non-extractable sodium ions in HC, and decomposed Na compounds such as Na2CO3. No quasi-metallic sodium component was observed to be dissimilar to the case of Li inserted in HC. MQMAS NMR implies that heat treatment of HC higher than 1600 °C decreases defect sites in the carbon structure. To elucidate the difference in cluster formation between Na and Li in HC, the condensation mechanism and stability of Na and Li atoms on a carbon layer were also studied using DFT calculation. Na3 triangle clusters standing perpendicular to the carbon surface were obtained as a stable structure of Na, whereas Li2 linear and Li4 square clusters, all with Li atoms being attached directly to the surface, were estimated by optimization. Models of Na and Li storage in HC, based on the calculated cluster structures were proposed, which elucidate why the adequate heat treatment temperature of HC for high-capacity sodium storage is higher than the temperature for lithium storage.

Temperature dependence of one-dimensional hydrogen bonding in morpholinium hydrogen chloranilate studied by 35Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance and multi-temperature X-ray diffraction

The temperature dependence of (35)Cl NQR frequencies and the spin-lattice relaxation times T(1) has been measured in the wide temperature range of 4.2-420 K for morpholinium hydrogen chloranilate in which a one-dimensional O-HO hydrogen-bonded molecular chain of hydrogen chloranilate ions is formed. An anomalous temperature dependence of the NQR frequencies was analyzed to deduce a drastic temperature variation of the electronic state of the hydrogen-bonded molecular chain. The hydrogen atom distribution in the OHO hydrogen bond is discussed from the results of NQR as well as multi-temperature X-ray diffraction. Above ca. 330 K, the T(1) showed a steep decrease with an activation energy of ca. 70 kJ mol(-1) and with an isotope ratio (37)Cl T(1)/(35)Cl T(1) = 0.97 ± 0.2. The orientational change of the z axis of electric field gradient tensor in conjunction with the hydrogen transfer between adjacent hydrogen chloranilate ions is suggested as a possible relaxation mechanism.