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   Mei, Y.; Li, Y.; Nguyen, H.; Berman, P. R.; Kuzmich, A. (March 2022, Physical Review Letters)
2. Quantum spin state selectivity and magnetic tuning of ultracold chemical reactions of triplet alkali-metal dimers with alkali-metal atoms

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3. Photoelectron spectra of alkali metal–ammonia microjets: From blue electrolyte to bronze metal

   https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaz7607  

   Buttersack, Tillmann; Mason, Philip E.; McMullen, Ryan S.; Schewe, H. Christian; Martinek, Tomas; Brezina, Krystof; Crhan, Martin; Gomez, Axel; Hein, Dennis; Wartner, Garlef; et al (June 2020, Science)

   Experimental studies of the electronic structure of excess electrons in liquids—archetypal quantum solutes—have been largely restricted to very dilute electron concentrations. We overcame this limitation by applying soft x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to characterize excess electrons originating from steadily increasing amounts of alkali metals dissolved in refrigerated liquid ammonia microjets. As concentration rises, a narrow peak at ~2 electron volts, corresponding to vertical photodetachment of localized solvated electrons and dielectrons, transforms continuously into a band with a sharp Fermi edge accompanied by a plasmon peak, characteristic of delocalized metallic electrons. Through our experimental approach combined with ab initio calculations of localized electrons and dielectrons, we obtain a clear picture of the energetics and density of states of the ammoniated electrons over the gradual transition from dilute blue electrolytes to concentrated bronze metallic solutions. 

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4. Chemomechanical behaviors of layered cathode materials in alkali metal ion batteries

   https://doi.org/10.1039/C8TA06875E  

   Xu, Zhengrui; Rahman, Muhammad Mominur; Mu, Linqin; Liu, Yijin; Lin, Feng (November 2018, Journal of Materials Chemistry A)

   Layered cathode materials (LCMs), because of their high energy density and relatively stable performance, represent an important class of cathode materials for alkali metal ion ( e.g. , Li + and Na + ) batteries. Chemomechanical behaviors of LCMs, which affect battery performance dramatically, have drawn extensive attention in recent years. Most chemomechanical processes have some common chemical and structural origins that are at the center of materials chemistry, for example, defects and local bonding environments in the solid state. In this review, we first discuss the chemomechanical breakdown of LCMs by introducing their categories and negative effects on the battery performance. We then systematically analyze factors that govern the initiation and propagation of chemomechanical breakdown and summarize their formation mechanisms. Strategies that can enhance the chemomechanical properties of LCMs or reduce the destructive effects of chemomechanical breakdown are then discussed. Finally, light is shed on the new state-of-the-art techniques that have been applied to study chemomechanical breakdown. This review virtually includes most aspects of the chemomechanical behaviors of LCMs and provides some insights into the important chemical motifs that determine the chemomechanical properties. Therefore, we believe that advanced design protocols of LCMs can be developed to effectively address the chemomechanical breakdown issue of LCMs. 

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5. Solvation of Isoelectronic Halide and Alkali Metal Ions by Argon Atoms

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   Rock, Carly A.; Arradondo, Sarah N.; Tschumper, Gregory S. (December 2021, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A)