Mike Hayward

Synthesis of the Double Infinite-Layer Ni(I) Phase La3Ni2O5F via Sequential Topochemical Reactions Fluorination of the n = 2 Ruddlesden–Popper oxide, La3Ni2O7, with polyvinylidene fluoride yields La3Ni2O5F4, a phase in which fluoride ions have been inserted into interstitial sites in the Ruddlesden–Popper framework and also exchanged with the oxide ions residing on apical anion sites. Reaction with LiH at 190 °C reduces La3Ni2O5F4 by extracting interstitial fluoride ions. The resulting phase, La3Ni2O5F3, adopts a structure described in space group Pbcm in which the fluoride ions in the half-filled interstitial layer are arranged in chains parallel to the y-axis, and the NiO5F octahedra adopt an a–a–c+/–(a–a–)c+ tilting pattern. Further reduction with LiH at 250 °C converts La3Ni2O5F3 into La3Ni2O5F, a Ni1+ phase which adopts a T′-structure consisting of double infinite-sheets of apex linked NiO4 squares, stacked with LaOF fluorite-type layers. Magnetization and neutron diffraction data indicate La3Ni2O5F3 adopts an antiferromagnetically ordered state below TN = 225 K, while magnetization data from La3Ni2O5F exhibit a broad maximum centered at 75 K, suggestive of antiferromagnetic order.

Latest paper from the group, with @romainwernert.bsky.social @jacs.acspublications.org Synthesis of the Double Infinite-Layer Ni(I) Phase La3Ni2O5F via Sequential Topochemical Reactions | Journal of the American Chemical Society pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Structure and magnetism of LaxSr2−xCo0.5Ir0.5O4−yHy (0 < x < 1) iridium-containing oxyhydride phases Ruddlesden-Popper oxide phases in the LaxSr2−xCo0.5Ir0.5O4 (0 < x < 1) solid solution can be converted to the corresponding LaxSr2−xCo0.5Ir0.5O4−yHy oxyhydride phases, by topochemical reaction with…

Featured in our Mixed-Anion Compounds collection: 🔓 #OpenAccess work by @oxchemmike.bsky.social and colleagues reporting the synthesis of iridium-containing oxyhydride phases via a reductive topochemical anion exchange. Read more here👇

pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

📍 @ox.ac.uk 🧪

We are hiring two PhDs on our EU SMOM project for a Sept 2026 start.

The two projects will involve being trained, and becoming expert in, air sensitive, platinum group metal organometallics, single-crystal SMOM synthesis, reactivity, and deployment in sustainable catalysis.

tinyurl.com/3yvk5jnd

An automated framework for exploring and learning potential-energy surfaces - Nature Communications Machine learning is revolutionising materials modelling but requires high-quality training data. Here, the authors introduce autoplex, an open framework automating exploration and fitting of potential...

🧪🤖 Our first paper on autoplex is published! We describe an automated #compchem framework for building MLIP training datasets, and show a range of application examples. A pleasure to collaborate on this with @molecularxtal.bsky.social & team. Thank you everyone! doi.org/10.1038/s414...

Cation Exchange as a Route to Introduce Magnetism to Hybrid-Improper Polar Phases The pseudo Ruddlesden–Popper phase Li2CaTa2O7 is converted to ZnCaTa2O7, FeCaTa2O7, or CoCaTa2O7 by reaction with the corresponding transition-metal dichloride. Diffraction data reveal that ZnCaTa2O7 adopts a polar crystal structure (P2cm) with the Zn2+cations ordered into stripes within the interlayer coordination sites, and the TaO6 units adopt an a–b–c+/–(a–b–)c+ tilting pattern. In contrast, FeCaTa2O7 and CoCaTa2O7 adopt polar structures (P21nm) with the transition-metal cations ordered in a checkerboard pattern within the interlayer coordination sites, and the TaO6 units adopt an a–b–c+/ b–a–c+ tilting pattern. The different polar structures adopted are rationalized on the basis of the size of the interlayer transition-metal cation. On cooling, FeCaTa2O7 (TN = 40 K) and CoCaTa2O7 (TN = 25 K) adopt antiferromagnetically ordered states with spins aligned parallel to the crystallographic stacking axis and arranged in a G-type manner. Close inspection of the NPD data collected from FeCaTa2O7 at low temperature reveals a diffuse component to the magnetic scattering, which, in combination with magnetization data, suggest a glassy component to the low-temperature magnetic state. Neither FeCaTa2O7 nor CoCaTa2O7 shows significant lattice parameter anomalies around their respective Néel temperatures, in contrast to the previously reported manganese analogue MnCaTa2O7.

Latest paper from the group, @oxfordchemistry.bsky.social @isisneutronmuon.bsky.social @diamondlightsource.bsky.social
Cation Exchange as a Route to Introduce Magnetism to Hybrid-Improper Polar Phases | Inorganic Chemistry pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

The Role of Fe(IV)-O Anion Redox Centers in the Electrochemical Behavior of Al- and Ga-Doped T-LiFeO2 The high natural abundance and low toxicity of iron oxides provide a strong motivation to develop iron-based lithium-ion battery cathode materials. T-LiFeO2 adopts a cation-ordered wurtzite structure consisting of apex-linked LiO4 and FeO4 tetrahedra. Chemical or electrochemical lithium extraction rapidly converts T-LiFeO2 to the spinel LiFe5O8 and leads to poor energy storage performance. We have investigated the role of Al and Ga substitution on the stability of T-LiFeO2. Partial substitution of Fe by Al leads to the formation of cation-disordered solid solutions. In contrast, neutron diffraction data reveal that the Ga-substituted phase LiFe0.5Ga0.5O2 adopts an Fe/Ga cation-ordered structure. Chemical delithiation of LiFe1–xMxO2 phases reveals that 25% Al or 50% Ga substitution stabilizes the T-LiFe1–xMxO2 phases with respect to spinel conversion. The delithiated phases show no evidence of cation migration or oxygen loss. However, Fe-XANES, O-XAS, and O-RIXS data indicate that lithium extraction does not proceed via simple oxidation of Fe3+ to Fe4+ but rather via an anion redox process involving the formation of localized “FeIV–O” centers. Electrochemical data indicate that the formation of FeIV–O centers is irreversible, and so these oxidized species accumulate with continued electrochemical cycling, leading to a rapid decline in energy storage capacity. The electrochemical behavior of LiFe0.5Al0.5O2 and LiFe0.5Ga0.5O2 is discussed in terms of their crystal chemistry to account for the differing electrochemical performance of the Al- and Ga-substituted materials.

Latest paper from the group with @diamondlightsource.bsky.social @piperbatt.bsky.social
The Role of Fe(IV)-O Anion Redox Centers in the Electrochemical Behavior of Al- and Ga-Doped T-LiFeO2 | Chemistry of Materials pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...