Lithium transition metal pnictides - structural chemistry, electrochemistry, and function

Lithium-transition metal (T)-pnictides (Pn = P, As, Sb, Bi) are an interesting class of materials with greatly differing crystal structures. The transition metal and pnictide atoms build up covalently bonded networks that leave cavities or channels for the lithium atoms. Depending on the bonding of lithium to the polyanionic network, one observes mobility of the lithium atoms. The crystal chemistry, chemical bonding, Li-7 solid-state NMR, and the electrochemical behavior of the pnictides are reviewed. The structural chemistry is compared with related tetrelides.