High lithium ionic conductivity in the lithium halide hydrates Li3-n(OHn)Cl (0.83 < or = n < or = 2) and Li3-n(OHn)Br (1 < or = n < or = 2) at ambient temperatures

Chemphyschem. 2003 Apr 14;4(4):343-8. doi: 10.1002/cphc.200390060.

Abstract

Lithium ionic conductivity and phase transitions in a series of lithium halides hydrates and hydroxides with general formula Li3-n(OHn)X (0.83 < or = n < or = 2; X = Cl,Br) were studied using impedance measurements and 1H and 7Li NMR spectroscopy. All compounds studied in this work crystallize in the antiperovskite structure or are closely related to this structure type. With the exception of LiCl. H2O, all compounds with integer lithium content exhibit good lithium ionic conductivity in their high temperature cubic phases above T = 33 degrees C. Lithium doping of samples LiX.H2O and Li2(OH)X leads to a suppression of the phase transition into the noncubic phases and the good ionic conductivity is extended down to lower temperatures (T < 0 degree C). Thus, lithium doping of the lithium halide hydrates provides a promising tool for tailoring the ionic conductivity at ambient temperatures to its optimum value.