27
November 2003
Fast and Loose: Mobile ions in inorganic zeolite-like crystals
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A new class of crystalline material combining zeolite-like open framework architecture with high framework polarizability and abundant mobile ions — structural features sought in materials for use in batteries, fuel cells, electrochemical sensors and photocatalyst. By mimicking natural zeolite compositions and using a kinetically controlled synthetic method, a series of sulphides and selenides has been synthesized that contain highly mobile alkali and alkaline earth metal ions (lithium, sodium and calcium) as charge-balancing cations outside a cage-like framework. The framework itself is highly polarizable — a prerequisite for fast cation migration — facilitating the good ionic conductivity observed at room temperature. The zeolite-like open channels provide spaces where substrates can undergo catalytic or other transformations.
Synthetic design of crystalline inorganic chalcogenides
exhibiting fast-ion conductivity
NANFENG ZHENG, XIANHUI BU & PINGYUN FENG
Nature 426, 428–432 (2003); doi:10.1038/nature02159
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