Ionic conductivity of lanthanoid silicates, Ln10(SiO4)6O3(Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Y, Ho, Er and Yb)

Ionic conductivities have been investigated for lanthanoid silicates of the Ln10(SiO4)6O3 solid solution series and related compounds. The activation energy and conductivity at 500 °C were estimated to be 69 kJ mol–1 and 1.8 × 10–4 S cm–1 for La10(SiO4)6O3 and 71 kJ mol–1 and 1.5 × 10–4 S cm–1 for Nd10(SiO4)6O3. The a and c lattice constants of the hexagonal phase decreased with decreasing radius of the Ln3+ ion for Ln10(SiO4)6O3(Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Gd and Dy). The activation energy increased and the conductivity decreased when Ln3+ ions with smaller ionic radii were used. The sole carrier in these materials is the O2– ion.