ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6504-3920
Date of Award
Fall 2024
Language
English
Embargo Period
10-8-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College/School/Department
Department of Chemistry
Program
Chemistry
First Advisor
Evgeny V. Dikarev
Committee Members
Marina A. Petrukhina, Paul J. Toscano, Michael Yeung, Evgeny V. Dikarev
Keywords
Heterometallic Complex, Precursors, Cathode Materials, Li-Ion Battery, Isomerization, Crystallography
Subject Categories
Inorganic Chemistry | Materials Chemistry
Abstract
The synthetic methods for rechargeable battery cathodes are rapidly evolving along with the continuous advancement of the materials themselves. Utilizing precursors for the synthesis of Li- and Na-ion cathode materials are known to ensure a phase-pure product with isotropic element distribution, thereby further enhancing the electrochemical properties of the cathode material. As more cathode materials with complex compositions continue to emerge, the strategies for designing the corresponding precursors are also getting diversified. One of the most promising directions is the employment of single-source precursors (SSPs), defined as molecules that contain all necessary elements in the proper ratio and decomposable under mild conditions to yield phase-pure target compounds upon the low-temperature decomposition. This method both optimizes the synthetic pathways to existing materials and provides an access to new materials that are not accessible by conventional techniques.
In this dissertation, the advancement of multiple SSPs through appropriate methods with delicate design steps is described. In general, this work contributes to developing new preparation techniques for prospective Li- and Na-ion metal oxides for rechargeable batteries, as well as to applying the SSP approach to synthesize and characterize unknown materials. At the same time, this thesis provides a detailed analysis of the structure and properties of different SSPs and highlights some unusual cases of isomerism. The isomerization phenomenon not only alter the precursor design approach but also affects the thermal decomposition properties related to the synthesis of target materials.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Yuxuan, "Molecular-Level Design of Heterometallic Precursors for Rechargeable Battery Cathode Materials" (2024). Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present). 53.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/etd/53