Ion flow in a superionic conductor

Unlike electrons, ions in a solid are constrained to flow through a confining network of voids and narrow channels. A model is proposed for superionic conduction in which these constraints are included realistically from the outset. To this end, a three-dimensional potential is imposed upon a Boltzmann gas of the conducting ions. The appropriate potential is determined from diffraction and EXAFS measurements. The calculated temperature-dependent DC conductivity of AgI compares well with experiment.