Improving ionic conductivity of von-Alpen-type NASICON ceramic electrolytes via magnesium doping

NASICON (sodium (Na) superionic conductor) compounds have attracted considerable attention as promising solid electrolyte materials for advanced Na-based batteries. In this study, we investigated the improvement in ionic conductivities of von-Alpen-type NASICON (vA-NASICON) ceramic electrolytes by introducing a magnesium ion (Mg^(2+)) as a heterogeneous element. The optimal Mg-doped vA-NASICON exhibited a high ionic conductivity of 3.64×10^(−3) S·cm^(−1), which was almost 80% higher than that of un-doped vA-NASICON. The changes in physicochemical properties of the vA-NASICONs through the Mg introduction were systematically analyzed, and their effects on the ionic conductivities of the vA-NASICON were studied in detail. When the optimal ratio of Mg^(2+) was used in a synthetic process, the relative density (96.6%) and grain boundary ionic conductivity (σgb) were maximized, which improved the total ionic conductivity (σt) of the vA-NASICON. However, when Mg^(2+) was introduced in excess, the ionic conductivity decreased because of the formation of an undesired sodium magnesium phosphate (NaxMgyPO_(4)) secondary phase. The results of this study are expected to be effectively applied in the development of advanced sodium-based solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivities.

Mg-doped,carbon-coated,and prelithiated SiO_(x) as anode materials with improved initial Coulombic efficiency for lithium-ion batteries

Silicon suboxide(SiO_(x),x≈1)is promising in serving as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries with high capacity,but it has a low initial Coulombic efficiency(ICE)due to the irreversible formation of lithium silicates during the first cycle.In this work,we modify SiO_(x) by solid-phase Mg doping reaction using low-cost Mg powder as a reducing agent.We show that Mg reduces SiO_(2) in SiO_(x) to Si and forms MgSiO_(3) or Mg_(2)SiO_(4).The MgSiO_(3) or Mg_(2)SiO_(4) are mainly distributed on the surface of SiO_(x),which suppresses the irreversible lithium-ion loss and enhances the ICE of SiO_(x).However,the formation of MgSiO_(3) or Mg_(2)SiO_(4) also sacrifices the capacity of SiO_(x).Therefore,by controlling the reaction process between Mg and SiO_(x),we can tune the phase composition,proportion,and morphology of the Mg-doped SiO_(x) and manipulate the performance.We obtain samples with a capacity of 1226 mAh g^(–1) and an ICE of 84.12%,which show significant improvement over carbon-coated SiO_(x) without Mg doping.By the synergistical modification of both Mg doping and prelithiation,the capacity of SiO_(x) is further increased to 1477 mAh g^(–1) with a minimal compromise in the ICE(83.77%).

Luminescence and Preparation of LED Phosphor Ca_8Mg(SiO_4)_4Cl_2∶Eu^(2+)

Calcium magnesium chlorosilicate doped by europium, Ca8Mg（SiO4）4Cl2： Eu^2＋, was prepared by the solid state reaction at high temperature. The compound obtained is pure Ca8Mg（SiO4）4Cl2 phase with cubic structure. Its average particle size is 5 μm, and it has good dispersity and morphological form. The excitation spectrum of Ca8Mg（SiO4）4Cl2： Eu^2＋ is a wide band, which covers from 270 to 480 nm. The emission spectrum is also a wide band peaked at 510 nm. The luminescent intensity reaches to the maximum when the concentration of Eu^2 ＋ is 2%. The wavelength of emission and excitation of the phosphor with various Eu^2 ＋ contents keeps constant. This spectrum range matches violet and blue LED chips very well, and its strong luminescence intensity is suitable for a green phosphor of tricolor phosphor of white light LED.