Enhancing Ionic Conductivity of ceramic Na3Zr2Si2PO12 via NaI Substitution

TL;DR

This study enhances the ionic conductivity of Na3Zr2Si2PO12 by substituting NaI, achieving a tenfold increase in conductivity at 200°C through solid state synthesis and structural modifications.

Contribution

It introduces NaI substitution as a method to significantly improve the ionic conductivity of Na3Zr2Si2PO12 ceramics.

Findings

Maximum ionic conductivity of ~3 x 10^-4 Ω^-1cm^-1 at 200°C with 4% NaI

Formation of a glassy phase due to Na-Si-P-O-I interaction

Conductivity increases by an order of magnitude compared to pristine sample

Abstract

The high ionic conducting sodium superionic conductor Na3Zr2Si2PO12 -NaI composites have been prepared successfully via solid state reaction route. As the NaI content increases, the ionic conductivity significantly changes. The composites with 4% NaI show a maximum ionic conductivity of ~ 3 x 10-4 {\Omega}-1cm-1 at 200oC which is one order of magnitude rise as compared to pristine sample. Further crystal structure and surface morphology also reveal the formation of a glassy phase due to the presence of Na-Si-P-O-I interaction.