Electric properties of solid solutions based on strontium tantalate with perovskite-type structure. Protonic conductivity

Conductivity of the Sr_{6 − 2x} Ta_{2 + 2x} O_{11 + 3x} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.33) solid solutions with the cryolite structure was studied in the atmosphere with a high content of water vapors under temperature and oxygen activity variation in the gas phase. Appearance of the protonic conductivity component was proved at the temperatures below 700°C. It was found that protonic conductivity increases at a decrease in parameter x in the composition series, which is due to an increase of both the concentration of protonic defects formed in the structure and of their mobility. In the case of compositions with x < 0.15 at the temperatures below 550°C, the protonic transport becomes predominant.     

Physicochemical properties of non-stoichiometric oxides

One of the most important challenges with solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) is to find cathode materials with high enough catalytic activity for the dissociation of the molecular oxygen. Oxide mixed conductors with the perovskite structure (ABO₃) and high Co content in the B site have been extensively studied to be used as cathode in SOFC. This is the second part of a review of high temperature properties of two mixed conductors systems. The first part was focused on the n = 2 Sr₃FeMO_6+δ (M = Fe, Co, Ni) Rudlesdden Popper phases, while in this paper we discuss the thermodynamic and transport properties of the perovskite solid solution Sr_1−x La _x Fe_0.2Co_0.8O_3−δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) in the temperature range 773 ≤ T ≤ 1173 K. In particular, the interest has been focused on the x = 0 sample, which exhibits large ionic conductivity values (σ_i ~1 S cm⁻¹), but suffers a structural transformation from cubic to orthorhombic symmetry because the ordering of the oxygen vacancies when the oxygen partial pressure decreases. Measurements of the oxygen chemical potential ( m_\textO2 \mu_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }} ) as function of oxygen content and temperature, coupled with high temperature X-ray diffraction data, permitted us to broaden the knowledge of the T–δ–p(O₂) phase diagram for the x = 0 sample. In addition, we have investigated the effects of the La incorporation on the stability range of the cubic phases of the Sr_1−x La _x Fe_0.2Co_0.8O_3−δ solid solution.     

Conductivity,oxygen interfacial exchange and diffusion in oxides based on lanthanum gallate

The method of isotopic exchange was used to study the oxygen exchange kinetics in the oxides of La_0.88Sr_0.12Ga_0.82Mg_0.18O_{3 − δ} and La_0.80Sr_0.20Ga_0.85−x Mg_0.15Co _x O_{3 − δ} (x = 0.05, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25). The rates of oxygen exchange and its diffusion coefficients were determined in the temperature range of 600–900°C at the oxygen pressure of 5 torr. The fractions of the three exchange types for the oxides studied were determined at the temperature of 817°C and oxygen pressure of 5 torr. The total conductivity of the oxides of La_0.80Sr_0.20Ga_0.85−x Mg_0.15Co _x O_{3 − δ} (x = 0.05, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) was measured in the temperature range of 550–850°C in air and at the temperature of 800°C in the range of oxygen pressures of 1–760 torr. It was shown that an increase in the electronic conductivity component due to an increase in the cobalt fraction in the gallium sublattice results in growing interfacial exchange rate, total conductivity of the studied systems, and a decrease in the effective conductivity activation energy.     

The effect of phase composition on the transport properties of composites La0.8Sr0.2Fe0.7Ni0.3O3 ? δ-Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95

Full conductivity, diffusion and oxygen exchange processes in composites (100 − x)La_0.8Sr_0.2Fe_0.7Ni_0.3O_{3 − δ}−xCe_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 (x is the volume fraction, 0 ≤ x ≤ 71.1%) at 700°C over the oxygen partial pressure range from 0.2 to 3 × 10⁻³ atm are studied by the electrical conductivity relaxation method. The composites’ conductivity was shown to decrease monotonically with the increasing of Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 fraction, while the oxygen chemical diffusion coefficient increased. The oxygen exchange constant is higher for the composites than for the individual phases of La_0.8Sr_0.2Fe_0.7Ni_0.3O_{3 − δ} and Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95. Possible reason of the dependence of the parameters D _chem and k _chem on the temperature, oxygen pressure, and the composite composition is the effect of the interface on the oxygen transfer processes. Most effective oxygen transfer occurs in the composites whose composition approaches La_0.8Sr_0.2Fe_0.7Ni_0.3O_{3 − δ}-Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 (x = 71%).     

Phase composition, electroconductivity, oxygen ion transport number, and microhardness of Ln1 ? xSrxGa0.5 ? y/2Al0.5 ? y/2MgyO3 ? δ (Ln = La, Pr, Nd; x, y = 0.10, 0.15)

Phase composition, electroconductivity, oxygen ion transport number, and microhardness of samples of Ln_{1 − x} Sr_xGa_{0.5 − y/2}Al_{0.5 − y/2}Mg_yO_{3 − δ} (Ln = La, Pr, Nd; x, y = 0.10, 0.15) synthesized by a ceramic methods are studied. Methods of x-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy reveal the La-containing samples to be homogeneous and have a perovskite structure. Magnesium does not dissolve in Pr-and Nd-containing systems but forms an individual phase based on magnesium oxide. Apart from magnesium oxide, in these systems there form extrinsic phases, specifically, LnSrGa₃O₇ and an unknown phase. The electroconductivity of La_{1 − x} Sr_xGa_{1 − y} Mg_yO_{3 − δ} decreases after substituting Al for Ga. Ceramic La_{1 − x} Sr_xGa_{0.5 − y/2}Al_{0.5 − y/2}Mg_yO_3−δ is a purely ionic conductor in the temperature interval 500 to 1000°C; Nd_xSr_xGa_{0.5 − y/2}Al_{0.5 − y/2}Mg_yO_{3 − δ} has predominantly ionic conduction; and the predominant type of conduction in Pr_{1 − x} Sr_xGa_{0.5 − y/2}Al_{0.5 − y/2}Mg_yO_{3 − δ} is electronic below 700–800°C, with the contribution of ionic conduction increasing at higher temperatures. Substituting Al for Ga raises the hardness of ceramics under study. Among the compositions studied, La_0.85Sr_0.15Ga_0.45Al_0.45Mg_0.10O_{3 − δ} and La_0.85Sr_0.15Ga_0.425Al_0.425Mg_0.15O_{3 − δ} exhibit a combination of electroconductivity and hardness that is optimal for application as electrolyte at reduced temperatures (600–800°C). The Pr_{1 − x} Sr_xGa_{0.5 − y/2}Al_{0.5 − y/2}Mg_yO_{3 − δ} system possesses mixed ionic-electronic conduction and high hardness, which makes it appealing for application as oxygen-penetrable membranes. Original Russian Text ? Yu.V. Danilov, A.D. Neuimin, L.A. Dunyushkina, L.A. Kuz’mina, N.S. Zybko, Z.S. Martem’yanova, A.A. Pankratov, 2007, published in Elektrokhimiya, 2007, Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 57–65.     

Strontium Tantalates with a Perovskite Structure: Their Conductivity and High-Temperature Interaction with Water

The interaction of perovskite-like solid solutions Sr_{6 – 2x} Ta_{2 + 2x} O_{11 + 3x} (x= 0–0.28) with water is studied, along with dependences of the solutions' conductivity on their composition and the atmosphere's temperature and humidity. The Sr_{6 – 2x} Ta_{2 + 2x} O_{11 + 3x} phases with high concentrations of structural oxygen vacancies are high-temperature mixed oxygen–hydrogen ionic conductors whose conduction is sensitive to the presence of water vapor up to 900°C. According to a thermogravimetric study, the amount of water incorporated into the complex-oxide matrix is proportional to the concentration of structural oxygen vacancies. The process of water incorporation is considered in terms of crystalline and chemical properties of the structure. The oxygen-deficient perovskites containing coordination-unsaturated metalatoms can reconstruct their coordination polyhedron by adding water molecules, with subsequent partial dissociation of water to hydroxyl groups. The proposed mechanism explains different states of water in the oxide and a two-stage nature of its removal: water molecules coordinating the metal atom and those surrounding OH^–leave the core in the first and second stages, respectively.     

Relationship between the ionic and electronic partial conductivities of co-doped LSGM ceramics from oxygen partial pressure dependence of the total conductivity

La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.85-x Mg_0.15Co _x O_3±δ-materials (further cobalt-doped LSGM), where x varied from 0 to 0.20, were synthesized by means of the conventional powder route. The total conductivity of the La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.85-x Mg_0.15Co _x O_3±δ samples was measured as a function of temperature (400–900 °C) and oxygen partial pressure by means of the impedance technique. The values of the oxygen ionic and the hole conductivities were determined from non-linear regression of the oxygen partial pressure dependence of the total conductivity. It was shown that the substitution of gallium by cobalt in the LSGM results in increasing either the oxygen ionic or the hole conductivity, although the increase of the hole conductivity due to the doping by cobalt is more significant than the increase of the oxygen ionic conductivity. The hole conductivity of the selected compositions was studied by oxygen permeation- and Hebb–Wagner-polarization measurements.     

Oxygen nonstoichiometry and the thermodynamic and structural properties of double perovskites PrBaCo2 ? xCuxO5 + δ

The special features of the structure, electrophysical properties, and oxygen nonstoichiometry of new double perovskites PrBaCo_{2 − x} Cu _x O_{5 + δ} were studied. Within the homogeneity region with respect to copper 0 < x ≤ 1, solid solution samples had an orthorhombic structure (space group Pmmm) with the parameters a _p × 2a _p × 2a _p , where a _p ≈ 3.8 ?. The oxygen nonstoichiometry of PrBaCo_{2 − x} Cu _x O_{5 + δ} changes as the copper content increases approximately as δ ≈ 0.85 − x/2. The content of oxygen was measured by coulometric titration over wide temperature and oxygen pressure ranges. The partial thermodynamic functions of labile oxygen were calculated and the limits of the thermodynamic stability of the solid solution were established. Original Russian Text ? A.Yu. Suntsov, I.A. Leonidov, A.A. Markov, M.V. Patrakeev, Ya.N. Blinovskov, V.L. Kozhevnikov, 2009, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 83, No. 5, pp. 954–960.     

Regions of stability of variable-composition perovskite phases La1?xSrxMn1?yMyO3 (M = Ti, Ni)

The formation of the orthorhombic solid solution series LaMn_1−y Ti _y O₃ with 0.0 ≤ y ≤ 0.15 and LaMn_1−y Ni _y O₃ with 0.0 ≤ y ≤ 0.4 was observed. The stability boundaries of the La_1−x Sr _x Mn_1−y M _y O₃ (M = Ti, Ni) perovskite phases were determined. Fragments of isobaric-isothermal sections of the phase diagrams of the La₂O₃-SrO-Mn₃O₄-TiO₂ and La₂O₃-SrO-Mn₃O₄-NiO systems in air at 1100°C were suggested. Original Russian Text ? E.A. Filonova, A.N. Demina, A.N. Petrov, 2007, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2007, Vol. 81, No. 10, pp. 1787–1790.     

Structural and electric properties of the Ce0.8(Sm1 ? xCax)0.2O2 ? δ system (x = 0.0–1.0)

CeO₂-based solid solutions with a fluorite structure are promising materials as electrolytes of medium-temperature electrochemical devices. This work presents the results of systematic studies of structural and electric properties and oxygen nonstoichiometry of the Ce_0.8(Sm_{1 − x} Ca _x )_0.2O_{2 − δ} system in a wide range of concentrations of 0 < x < 1 performed in order to establish the causes affecting the system conductivity and its behavior in a reducing medium. It is found that a single-phase solid solution of the fluorite type is formed in the whole concentration range. Parameters of its lattice cells decrease linearly at an increase in the concentration of Ca²⁺. Conductivity in air grows when calcium is added due to a decrease in the grain boundary resistance. The maximum conductivity in air was obtained for the composition of Ce_0.8(Sm_0.8Ca_0.2)_0.2O_{2 − δ} and is 13.71 × 10⁻³ S/cm at 873 K. Studies of the dependence of conductivity of the partial pressure of oxygen showed that electron conductivity is observed at a higher oxygen partial pressure at an increase in the temperature and calcium concentration. The critical partial pressure of oxygen ( p_O2 ^* )\left( {p_{O_2 }^* } \right) for the compositions of Ce_0.8(Sm_{1 − x} Ca _x )_0.2O_{2 − δ} with x = 0; 0.2, and 0.5 is 1.83 × 10⁻¹⁶, 1.73 × 10⁻¹³, and 3.63 × 10⁻¹³ atm at 1173 K, respectively, and 2.76 × 10⁻²¹, 5.05 × 10⁻¹⁸, and 1.31 × 10⁻¹⁸ atm at 1023 K.     

Cation distribution and interatomic interactions in oxides with heterovalent isomorphism: XII. Gd2Sr1? x Ca x Al2O7 solid solutions

The area of existence of Gd₂Sr_1−x Ca _x Al₂O₇ solid solutions at x ≤ 0.5 was determined by the X-ray phase analysis. It was found by full-profile X-ray structural analysis that, in contrast to La₂Sr_1−x Ca _x Al₂O₇ solid solutions, the Ca²⁺ cations occupy not only AO₉ nine-vertex fragments, but also AO₁₂ oxygen cubooctahedra. Full ordering of Sr²⁺ cations in the perovskite layer is observed at the calcium content x 0.5. Original Russian Text ? I.A. Zvereva, A.G. Cherepova, Yu.E. Smirnov, 2007, published in Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, 2007, Vol. 77, No. 4, pp. 557–563. For communication XI, see [1].     

Synthesis, characterization, and electrical conductivity of new Aurivillius-type oxide-ion conductor

A new oxide-ion conductor of Aurivillius family with a general formula Bi₂Al _x V_{1 − x} O_{5.5 − x − δ}; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20 (BIALVOX) was synthesized by the sol-gel citrate route. Powder X-ray diffraction and simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses confirmed that the calcination of BIALVOX xerogels is fully completed at around 500°C after three hours of thermal treatment. It has been found that the β-orthorhombic phase is stabilized with compositions x ≤ 0.07, whereas the stabilization of the γ′-phase takes place for x ≥ 0.10. AC impedance spectroscopic investigation suggested that the charge accumulation at grain boundaries is thermally activated process. However, the maximum electrical conductivity (7.73 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹) noticed for BIALVOX.13 at 300°C was attributed to the maximum vacancy concentration in the equatorial planes, responsible for the ion diffusion through the structure. This has been further evidenced by the temperature dependence of dielectric permittivity.     

Electrochemical reduction of NO and O2 on La2−x Sr x CuO4-based electrodes

A series of La_2 − x Sr _x CuO₄ (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.25 and 0.35) compounds was investigated for the use of direct electrochemical reduction of NO in an all-solid-state electrochemical cell. The materials were investigated using cyclic voltammetry in 1% NO in Ar and 10% O₂ in Ar. The most selective electrode material was La₂CuO₄, which had an activity of NO reduction that was 6.8 times higher than that of O₂ at 400 °C. With increasing temperature, activity increased while selectivity decreased. Additionally, conductivity measurements were carried out, and the materials show metallic conductivity behavior which follows an adiabatic small polaron hopping mechanism.     

Tysonite-type solid solutions in the BiF<Subscript>3</Subscript>-BiOF-BaF<Subscript>2</Subscript> system: Polymorphism and anionic conductivity

Tysonite solid solutions Bi_1−x Ba _x O _y F_3−x−2y in the BiF₃-BiOF-BaF₂ system were obtained by solid-phase synthesis in sealed copper tubes in an argon atmosphere at 873 K with subsequent quenching. The solid solutions were studied by X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, and impedance spectroscopy. On the basis of X-ray powder diffraction data, the homogeneity ranges of the tysonite solid solutions were determined and the scheme of their location in the BiF₃-BiOF-BaF₂ system at 873 K was suggested. Aliovalent substitutions in both the cation and anion sublattices Ba²⁺ → Bi³⁺ and O²⁻ → F⁻ made it possible to vary the concentration of anion vacancies. It was found that, at a high concentration of anion defects at 873 K, the hexagonal tysonite modification with space group P6₃/mmc is stable. With a decrease in the defect concentration, the trigonal tysonite modification with space group $ P\bar 3c1 $ P\bar 3c1 becomes stable. An ordered monoclinic tysonite-type modification BiO _y F_{3 − 2y} (0.13 < y < 0.23) was revealed. For the homogeneity ranges of all tysonite phases, dependences of the unit cell parameters and conductivity on the composition along the sections with a constant barium or oxygen content were reported. The most probable location of oxygen anions and anion vacancies in the tysonite structure is discussed.     

Effect of oxygen nonstoichiometry on kinetics of oxygen exchange and diffusion in lanthanum-strontium cobaltites

The method of isotopic exchange was used to study the kinetics of oxygen exchange and diffusion in complex oxides of La_{1 − x} Sr _x Co_{1 − y} Fe _y O_{3 − δ} (x = 0.0, y = 0.0; x = 0.6, y = 0.2, 0.4). The rates of oxygen interfacial exchange and its diffusion coefficient were determined for LaCoO_{3 − δ} at the pressure of 5 torr in the temperature range of 600–850°C and at the temperature of 700°C in the pressure range of 1–70 torr. The contributions of the three exchange types were calculated. The order of the dependence of the interfacial exchange rate on the oxygen pressure was 0.51 ± 0.01. In the case of La_0.4Sr_0.6Co_{1 − y} Fe _y O_{3 − δ} (y = 0.2, 0.4) in the temperature range of 600–900°C at the oxygen pressure of 10 torr, the oxygen exchange rates and diffusion coefficients were determined in the material bulk and in the subsurface region; contributions of the three types of exchange were calculated. The paper considers the mechanism of oxygen exchange and diffusion as compared to nonstoichiometry in the oxygen sublattice of the La_{1 − x} Sr _x Co_{1 − y} Fe _y O_{3 − δ} oxides.     

Phase equilibria,charge transport,and mass transport in Sr<Subscript>4</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript>-“M<Subscript>4</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript>” (M = Cd,Cu, Ni,and Zn) systems

Homogeneous fields of Sr_{4 − x} M _x Nb₂O₉ (M = Cd, Cu, Ni, or Zn) solid solutions were determined using powder X-ray diffraction. Phase fields were plotted proceeding from the tolerance factor t and electronegativity ratio $ \bar k_A /\bar k_B $ \bar k_A /\bar k_B with a satisfactory fit of experimental results. Thermogravimetry was used to establish the major kinetic laws of solid-phase synthesis (conversion, rate-controlling stage, and effective activation energy) in (4 − x)SrCO₃ + xMO + Nb₂O₅ powdery mixtures. Direct radiometry was used to determine ⁹⁰Sr, ⁶³Ni, and ⁶⁵Zn self-diffusion coefficients in solid solutions based on the Sr₄Nb₂O₉ phase. Electrical conductivity was measured as a function of temperature for all Sr₄Nb₂O₉-“M₄Nb₂O₉” samples. The conductivity of Sr_{4 − x} M _x Nb₂O₉ (M = Cd, Cu, Ni, or Zn) solid solutions has a mixed ion-electron character.     

Composition and formation kinetics of strontium polyvanadates in vanadium(IV,V) solutions

The phase and chemical compositions of the precipitates forming in the Sr(VO₃)₂-VOCl₂-H₂O system in the V⁴⁺/V⁵⁺ = 0.11–9 range at 80–90°C are reported. At pH 1–3 and V⁴⁺/V⁵⁺ = 0.25−9, the general formula of the precipitated compounds is Sr _x V _y ⁴⁺ V_12−y ⁵⁺O_31−δ·nH₂)(0.37 ≤ x ≤ 1.0, 1.7 ≤ y ≤ 3.0, 0.95 ≤ δ ≤ 2.1). Polyvanadates containing the largest amount of vanadium(IV) are obtained at an initial V⁴⁺/V⁵⁺ ratio of 9 and pH 1.9. Precipitation from solutions at pH 3 takes place only in the presence of the VO²⁺ ion, and the highest precipitation rate is observed at V⁴⁺/V⁵⁺ = 0.11. The process is controlled by a second-order reaction on the polyvanadate surface. Under hydrothermal conditions at 180°C, Sr_0.25V₂O₅·1.5H₂O nanorods are obtained from solutions with a V⁴⁺/V⁵⁺ molar ratio of 0.1 at pH 3. The nanorods, 30–100 nm in diameter and up to 2–3 μm in length, have a layered structure with an interlayer spacing of 10.53 ± 0.08 ?.     

Crystal structures of La1 ? xSr2 + x(GeO4)(V1 ? xMoxO4) (x= 0?0.4) solid solutions

The phase compositions of theLaVO₄-SrMoO₄(1) and Sr₂GeO₄-SrMoO₄ (2) binary systems, which bound the Sr₂GeO₄-LaVO₄-SrMoO₄ (3) ternary system, and the LaSr₂(VO₄)(GeO₄)-Sr₂GeO₄+SrMoO₄ section (4) of system 3 are studied at subsolidus temperatures. Systems 1 and 2 consist of a mixture of the initial compounds, and the La_{1 − x} Sr_{2 + x} (GeO₄)(V_{1 − x} Mo _x O₄) (where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) region of substitutional solid solutions with a palmierite structure is formed in system 3. The unit cell parameters of the solid solutions are determined. The distribution of the lanthanum and strontium cations over two positions of the cationic sublattice is described. Original Russian Text ? V.D. Zhuravlev, V.G. Zubkov, A.P. Tyutyunnik, Yu.A. Velikodnyi, N.D. Koryakin, 2009, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 135–137.     

Ionic, proton, and oxygen conductivities in the BaZr1 ? xYxO3 ? α system (x = 0.02?0.15) in humid air

Ionic, proton, and oxygen conductivities are measured as functions of air humidity (pH₂O = 0.04−3.57 kPa) in the BaZr_{1 − x} Y _x O_{3 − α} system (x = 0.02−0.15) over the temperature range 600–900°C. The important result is obtained that dissolved water vapor determines not only proton transport, but also the overwhelming part of oxygen transport in BaZr_{1 − x} Y _x O_{3 − α}.