Studies on the ionic conduction in metal oxides and composite electrolytes with a supplementary study of the dielectric properties of some novel oxides of the Aurivillius family

Abstract

The present investigation suggests that the charge-carrier concentration in the composites exhibiting conductivity enhancements is as high as in a fast-ion conductor. The study also proves that both morphology and particle size of dispersoid/host comprising the composite electrolyte are central to its ionic conductivity. The NASICON-type Na???Zr?P???Si?O?? and Li???Ti???Al?P?O?? solid solutions prepared by rapid combustion route exhibit alkali ion conductivities comparable to the values reported in literature for the samples prepared by conventional ceramic routes. The combustion route besides being instantaneous is also energy economic. In the light of this study, we surmise that: (a) members of the Bi?O?-(1-x)WO?-xCuO (0 < x < 0.7) solid solution are noncentrosymmetric, and (b) the dielectric constant for Bi?O?-(1-x)WO?-xCuO (0 < x < 0.7) solid solution increases while the Tc decreases with increase in x.