Polyanion conduction mechanism in solid scandium tungstate

Abstract

Scandium tungstate is investigated as a model material for solid electrolytes in which polyatomic anions, here WO4 2-, are mobile in the solid state. Simulations using structures with artificially induced WO4 2- vacancy, Frenkel defect and Schottky defects produced lower activation energy compared to the initially defect-free model. Simulations with Frenkel defect structures show low activation energy but the interstitial WO4 2- has initially a strong preference to return to the vacant tungstate site. The vacancy defect model reproduces the activation energy to the experimental conductivity studies more closely. Qualitative considerations support the idea that vacancies formed during the sample preparation are the most abundant mobile defect among the investigated cases. Nonstoichiometric samples with varying initial Sc2O 3:WO3 ratios SC2O3 - xWO 3, where x = 2.9, 3.0 and 3.1, are synthesized and characterized by XRD and impedance measurements, but a significant influence on the conductivity could not be confirmed experimentally. © 2009 Materials Research Society.