Point Defects and Protonic Conduction in A3B'B”2O9 Compounds

Abstract

AbstractWe have investigated the defect structure and protonic transport properties of nonstoichiometric complex perovskite-type compounds of the type A3B'1+xNb2-xO9-δ. where A and B' are both divalent ions. Protons are incorporated by treatment in H2O vapor and their presence is manifested by the appearance of an OH band in the IR spectra, as well as by the large increase in electrical conductivity to produce excellent protonic conductors, with lower activation energies. A non-classical isotope effect, in which the Arrhenius plots for D+ and H+ cross over, can be explained by a modification of the classical ART hopping theory.