Interstitial oxide ion conduction in (Sm2 − xZrx)Zr2O7 + δ

The crystal structure and transport properties of (Sm2 − xZrx)Zr2O7 + x/2 (x = 0; 0.2; 0.32; 0.39; 0.48; 0.67; 0.78; 0.96; 1.14; 1.27) solid solutions have been investigated by X-ray techniques and impedance spectroscopy, respectively. The excess oxygen content of the composition with x = 0.2 has been determined by thermal analysis and mass spectrometry in a reducing atmosphere. The SmZrO system includes a two-phase (fluorite + pyrochlore) region for the (Sm2 − xZrx)Zr2O7 + x/2 (0.48 ≤ x < 0.96) solid solutions. The interstitial oxide ion conductivity of the (Sm2 − xZrx)Zr2O7 + x/2 (0.2 ≤ x < 0.48), 3 × 10− 3 S/cm at 750 °C, is comparable to the vacancy-mediated conductivity of undoped Sm2Zr2O7. The bulk conductivity of the interstitial oxide ion conductors (Sm2 − xZrx)Zr2O7 + x/2 (0.2 ≤ x < 0.48) was shown to vary little in a wide range of Sm2O3 concentrations in contrast to the vacancy mediated oxide ion conductors Sm2(Zr2 − xSmx)O7 − δ (0 ≤ x < 0.29).