Li14Ln5[Si11N19O5]O2F2 with Ln = Ce, Nd--representatives of a family of potential lithium ion conductors

The isotypic layered oxonitridosilicates Li(14)Ln(5)Si(11)N(19)O(5)]O(2)F(2) (Ln = Ce, Nd) have been synthesized using Li as fluxing agent and crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pmmn (Z = 2, Li(14)Ce(5)Si(11)N(19)O(5)]O(2)F(2): a = 17.178(3), b = 7.6500(15), c = 10.116(2) ?, R1 = 0.0409, wR2 = 0.0896; Li(14)Nd(5)Si(11)N(19)O(5)]O(2)F(2): a = 17.126(2), b = 7.6155(15), c = 10.123(2) ?, R1 = 0.0419, wR2 = 0.0929). The silicate layers consist of dreier and sechser rings interconnected via common corners, yielding an unprecedented silicate substructure. A topostructural analysis indicates possible 1D ion migration pathways between five crystallographic independent Li positions. The specific Li-ionic conductivity and its temperature dependence were determined by impedance spectroscopy as well as DC polarization/depolarization measurements. The ionic conductivity is on the order of 5 × 10(-5) S/cm at 300 °C, while the activation energy is 0.69 eV. Further adjustments of the defect chemistry (e.g., through doping) can make these compounds interesting candidates for novel oxonitridosilicate based ion conductors.