Co-cation Conduction in Solid Solutions (K1 – xRbx)4P2O7–M2P2O7(M = Ca, Sr, Cd, Ba): Dependence on the Nature and Concentration of Cations M2+

Abstract

Solid solutions of the structure γ-K₄P₂O₇, which have the composition (K_{1 – x} Rb _x )_3.8M_0.1P₂O₇(M = Ca, Sr, Cd, Ba) and (K_{1 – x} Rb _x )_{4 – 2y} Ca _y P₂O₇(y= 0.025–0.20), are synthesized. The solutions' electroconductivity is studied in the temperature range 400–600°C. The concentration dependences of the conductivity and the activation energy for conduction have extremums at x≈ 0.6, which points to the polyalkaline effect. The effect increases with decreasing radius of cation M²⁺and with increasing concentration of calcium cations, which is explained by an increased energy nonequivalence of positions in the cation sublattice accessible to alkali ions.