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

Total conductivity of Sr_{6 − 2x} Ta_{2 + 2x} O_{11 + 3x} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.33) solid solutions with a cryolite structure is studied in the atmosphere with a low water vapor content under variation of the temperature (500 < T < 1000°C) and oxygen activity in the gas phase (10⁻¹⁸ < aO₂ < 0.21). Conductivity is divided into components. It is found that both the oxygen-ionic conductivity and the mobility of oxygen ions increase and the percentage of p-type electronic conductivity decreases at an increase in the concentration of oxygen vacancies. It is shown that compositions with a high strontium oxide content (0 ≤ x < 0.15) and accordingly high concentration of oxygen vacancies correspond to the maximum values of the oxygen-ionic conductivity and low activation energies. The Sr₆Ta₂O₁₁ and Sr_5.92Ta_2.08O_11.12 compositions in a wide range of aO₂ are characterized by negligibly low fractions of electronic conductivity component. For the compositions of x > 0.15, a transition occurs from the electrolytic region to mixed oxygen-hole conductivity character (at aO₂ = 0.21) at an increase in the oxygen activity.