Ultralow Thermal Conductivity in Highly Anion-Defective Aluminates

Ultralow thermal conductivity ($1.1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{m}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\mathrm{K}$, $1000\text{ }\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}$) in anion-deficient ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}R{\mathrm{AlO}}_{5}$ ($R=\mathrm{Dy}$, Er, Yb) compounds was reported. The low thermal conductivity was then analyzed by kinetic theory. The highly defective structure of ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}R{\mathrm{AlO}}_{5}$ results in weak atomic bond strength and low sound speeds, and phonon scattering by large concentration of oxygen vacancies reduces the phonon mean free path to the order of interatomic distance. ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}\mathrm{Dy}{\mathrm{AlO}}_{5}$ exhibits the shortest phonon mean free path and lowest thermal conductivity among the three compositions investigated, which can be attributed to additional phonon scattering by ${\mathrm{DyO}}_{6}$ octahedron tilting as a result of a low tolerance factor. The ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}R{\mathrm{AlO}}_{5}$ ($R=\mathrm{Dy}$, Er, Yb) compounds have shown great potential in high-temperature thermal insulation applications, particularly as a thermal barrier coating material.