Order–disorder phase transitions and high-temperature oxide ion conductivity of Er2+xTi2−xO7−δ (x = 0, 0.096)

The Er2+xTi2−xO7−δ (x = 0.096; 35.5 mol% Er2O3) solid solution and the stoichiometric pyrochlore-structured compound Er2Ti2O7 (x = 0; 33.3 mol% Er2O3) are characterized by X-ray diffraction (phase analysis and Rietveld method), thermal analysis and optical spectroscopy. Both oxides were synthesized by thermal sintering of co-precipitated powders. The synthesis study was performed in the temperature range 650–1690 °C. The amorphous phase exists below 700 °C. The crystallization of the ordered pyrochlore phase (P) in the range 800–1000 °C is accompanied by oxygen release. The ordered pyrochlore phase (P) exists in the range 1000−1200 °C. Heat-treatment at T ≥ 1600 °C leads to the formation of an oxide ion-conducting phase with a distorted pyrochlore structure (P2) and an ionic conductivity of about 10−3 S/cm at 740 °C. Complex impedance spectra are used to separately assess the bulk and grain-boundary conductivity of the samples. At 700 °C and oxygen pressures above 10−10 Pa, the Er2+xTi2−xO7−δ (x = 0, 0.096) samples are purely ionic conductors.