Electrophysical properties of LiYbF4 crystals

Nominally pure LiYbF₄ crystals have been grown by vertically directed crystallization in a fluorinating atmosphere. Their electric conductivity was studied by measuring the complex impedance in the temperature range of 479–825 K. The ionic conductivity is 1.4 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm at 573 K. The temperature dependence of the electric conductivity has two ranges, with activation energies of 0.73 ± 0.02 eV (409–580 K) and 0.42 ± 0.02 eV (580–825 K). Our results are discussed using the model of hopping conductivity for ionic crystals.