Influence of cation substitution on electrical conductivity of microcrystalline ceramics based on (Cu1-xAgx)7GeSe5I solid solutions

Abstract

Ceramic samples based on the microcrystalline powders (Cu1–хAgx)7GeSe5I (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) were prepared by pressing them at the pressure close to 400 MPa and subsequent annealing at 873 K for 36 hours. Using the microstructural analysis, the average size of microcrystallites of these samples was determined. Investigation of electrical conductivity of ceramics based on (Cu1 хAgx)7GeSe5I solid solutions was carried out using the method of impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 3×105 Hz and within the temperature range 293...383 K. Analysis of the Nyquist plots allowed determining the contributions of ionic and electronic components to the total electrical conductivity. The temperature dependence of ionic and electronic conductivity in Arrhenius coordinates is linear, which indicates their thermoactivation character. The compositional behaviour of ionic and electronic conductivity, as well as their activation energies have been studied. Their nonlinear character can be explained by the complex process of recrystallization and Cu+ ↔ Ag+ cation substitution within the cationic sublattice.