Crystal and Electronic Structures of CePO4-Based Proton-Electron Mixed Conductors by Using Synchrotron X-rays

Abstract

We focused on monazite-type Ce(P,V)O4 as a proton-electron mixed conductor, and investigated electrical conduction properties, and crystal and electronic structures by synchrotron X-rays. From conductivity measurements, it was found that the electrical conductivity increased with increasing V content. As for the specimens, we performed X-ray absorption fine structure and synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements. The XANES spectra demonstrated that an electronic structure of Ce was varied by partially substituting V for P. The maximum entropy method using the diffraction data also indicated that an electron density between Ce and O was increased by the substitution. Such a change of the electronic structure might lead to the improvement of the electrical conduction property.