Rapid flipping between electrolyte and metallic states in ammonia solutions of alkali metals
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61388963%3A_____%2F25%3A00619790" target="_blank" >RIV/61388963:_____/25:00619790 - isvavai.cz</a>
Alternative codes found
RIV/61388955:_____/25:00635965 RIV/00216208:11320/25:10499756
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59071-z" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59071-z</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59071-z" target="_blank" >10.1038/s41467-025-59071-z</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Rapid flipping between electrolyte and metallic states in ammonia solutions of alkali metals
Original language description
Nonmetal-to-metal transitions are among the most fascinating phenomena in material science, associated with strong correlations, large fluctuations, and related features relevant to applications in electronics, spintronics, and optics. Dissolving alkali metals in liquid ammonia results in the formation of solvated electrons, which are localised in dilute solutions but exhibit metallic behaviour at higher concentrations, forming a disordered liquid metal. The electrolyte-to-metal transition in these systems appears to be gradual, but its microscopic origins remain poorly understood. Here, we provide a detailed time-resolved picture of the electrolyte-to-metal transition in solutions of lithium in liquid ammonia, employing ab initio molecular dynamics and many-body perturbation theory, which are validated against photoelectron spectroscopy experiments. We find a rapid flipping between metallic and electrolyte states that persist only on a sub-picosecond timescale within a broad range of concentrations. These flips, occurring within femtoseconds, are characterised by abrupt opening and closing of the band gap, which is connected with only minute changes in the solution structure and the associated electron density.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
—
OECD FORD branch
10403 - Physical chemistry
Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/GA24-10982S" target="_blank" >GA24-10982S: Electrolyte-to-metal transition in the liquid phase: interplay between conductivity and reactivity of alkali-metal ammonia and amine solutions</a><br>
Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Nature Communications
ISSN
2041-1723
e-ISSN
2041-1723
Volume of the periodical
16
Issue of the periodical within the volume
May
Country of publishing house
GB - UNITED KINGDOM
Number of pages
8
Pages from-to
4302
UT code for WoS article
001485497400027
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105004429006