Surface Tension of Liquid Alkali, Alkaline, and Main Group Metals: Theoretical Treatment and Relationship Investigations

Abstract

An improved theoretical method for calculating the surface tension of liquid metals is proposed. A recently derived equation that allows an accurate estimate of surface tension to be made for the large number of elements, based on statistical thermodynamics, is used for a means of calculating reliable values for the surface tension of pure liquid alkali, alkaline earth, and main group metals at the melting point, In order to increase the validity of the model, the surface tension of liquid lithium was calculated in the temperature range 454 K to 1300 K (181°C to 1027°C), where the calculated surface tension values follow a straight line behavior given by c = 441 -0.15 (T-Tm) (mJ m À2 ). The calculated surface excess entropy of liquid Li (-dc/dT) was found to be 0.15 mJ m À2 K À1 , which agrees well with the reported experimental value (0.147 mJ/m 2 K). Moreover, the relations of the calculated surface tension of alkali metals to atomic radius, heat of fusion, and specific heat capacity are described. The results are in excellent agreement with the existing experimental data.

A self-regulated gradient interphase for dendrite-free solid-state Li batteries

“…, ESI †). According to the Young equation (g LiF -g LiF-Li = g Li cos y), g LiFg LiF-Li is about À0.21 J m À2 at B300 1C 32. Assuming that the radius of the LiF particle is about5 nm, n LiF n Li is more than e 1000 times larger than N LiF N Li , suggesting that LiF is enriched on the surface of the liquid Li-Al composite.…”