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Synthesis of L2SiO3 and L2S

A project log for 1200 mAh/g Lithium Sulfur Silica Battery

This is my Sistine Chapel, not because it's beautiful but because the time it has taken and it's paintable.

mechanicusMECHANICUS 03/29/2016 at 04:070 Comments

The synthesis of these two compounds is exactly as with potassium. NO PATENT INFRINGEMENT LOL TO THE BANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)^10

THE ANODE!!

LiOH and SiO2 in water heated to 90 degrees Celsius yields a water soluble compound.

So today I performed these reactions with an excess of SiO2 to decorate the surface of the diatoms with Li2SiO3 or Li2O•nSiO2

The balanced equation is as such n SiO2 + 2 LiOH → Li2O•nSiO2 + H2O from wikipedia. For potassium but is the exact same with lithium. (molar masses are different but more later when I get the right concentrations figured out.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_silicate

The Li2SiO3 is soluble in water hence the need for an excess of SiO2, this is boiled to dryness and the soluble Li2SiO3 will crystallize on the surface of the diatoms.

The best news is it avoids all the patents :)^10

Also I can use the exact same strategy to make K2SiO3 for which the wiki page is above.

THE CATHODE!!

I heated the dried Li2SO4 today in a crucible with the activated carbon to synthesize the Li2S. Both these materials need to be combined with carbons(graphene or carbon black)/metal powders to make them conductive. Also an excess mass molarity of sulfur needs to be combined with the Li2S. At this point however neither the anode or cathode can come into contact with water as they are reactive and soluble with such.

ELECTROLYTE!!

LiNO3 in THF and emulsifier??? I have no idea yet, more later.

This is the exact same post as on the Potassium Sulfur Silica battery page lol.

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