Measurements on the conductivity and diffusion of silver ions in Agx–NbSe2

Abstract

Four probe ion conductivity as well as electrochemical time lag techniques have been applied to study the movement of silver in Agx–NbSe2. The results suggest that a dilute gas phase of silver coexists with a condensed phase in samples intercalated to [Formula: see text] and that a barrier to condensation exists for the silver in the gas phase. The high ion conductivity σi = 3.5 × 10−2 ?−1 cm−1 and diffusion constant D = 3.5 × 10−5 cm−2 s−1 for the gas phase suggests superionic behaviour of silver in NbSe2. Diffusion measurements give activation energies for silver of about 150 meV.