Li2FeSiO4/C and Li1.97Mg0.03FeSiO4/C composites were successfully prepared by a solid-state method. Both samples were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), the charge-discharge test and electrochemical impedance spectra measurement, respectively. It was found that the Li1.97Mg0.03FeSiO4/C composite exhibited an excellent rate capability with a discharge capacity of 144mAh g-1 at 0.2C and 97mAh g-1 at 5C, and after 100 cycles at 1 C, 96% of its initial capacity was retained.

Calcium carbonate whiskers were successfully prepared in the MgC12-Ca(OH)2-CO2 system by a intermittent bubbling method and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results demonstrated that aragonite style calcium carbonate whiskers with well morphology, large aspect ratio and smooth surface can be obtained by controlling technical conditions such as reaction temperature, concentration of Ca(OH)2 and amount of additives and under the conditions of CO2 flow velocity of 3.4ml/min/gCa(OH)2, flow of CO2 to air ratio of 1:4, stirring speed of 240 r/min.

Spinel Li4-xKxTi5O12(x=0, 0.03) were successfully synthesized by a traditional solid-state method and systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the charge-discharge test, respectively. The results demonstrated that Li3.97K0.03Ti5O12exhibited much better rate performance in comparsion with Li4Ti5O12. At 0.2 C and 10 C, it delivered a discharge capacity of 173 mAh g-1and 124 mAh g-1respectively, and after 100 cycles at 10 C, 96.1% of its initial capacity was retained.

In this chapter, the following three rare-earth complexes with amino acids, Eu(Glu) (Im) 5 (ClO 4) 3 Á3HClO 4 Á 6H 2 O, Nd(Gly) 2 Cl 3 Á3H 2 O, and La(Glu)(Im) 6 (ClO 4) 3 Á4HClO 4 Á4H 2 O, are synthesized and characterized by element analysis, infrared (IR) spectrum, and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The thermodynamic property studies on these complexes are performed. For the first one, Eu(Glu)(Im) 5 (ClO 4) 3 Á3HClO 4 Á6H 2 O, the low temperature heat capacity, phase transition, and thermodynamic functions are determined by adiabatic calorimetry. For the second one, Nd(Gly) 2 Cl 3 Á3H 2 O, the molar dissolution enthalpy and standard molar enthalpy of formation are determined by isoperibol solution reaction calorimetry. For the third one, La(Glu)(Im) 6 (ClO 4) 3 Á4HClO 4 Á4H 2 O, the microcalorimetry is used to investigate the interaction between the complex and the Escherichia coli DH5α to elucidate the biological effects of the complex.