Electrical, structural and thermal characterization of Cu2O substituted AgI–(Cu2O)x (Ag2O)1 − x–V2O5 glassy superionic system

Abstract

Effect of Cu2O substitution in 50AgI–33.33[(Cu2O)x (Ag2O)1 − x]–16.67V2O5 glass matrix is discussed. Glassy nature of the samples is confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. The electrical conductivity of these samples is found to be increasing with Cu2O content and approaches a maximum value of ~ 2 × 10− 2 Ω− 1 cm− 1 for x = 0.3 at room temperature. Ionic mobility, measured using transient ionic current technique, increases with Cu2O content significantly. These samples are found to be predominantly Ag+ ion conducting in nature. High Cu2O content samples (x ≥ 0.3) though exhibit nanocomposite nature as revealed by scanning electron microscopy, the conductivity enhancement is found to be due to compositional changes that eventually lead to ionic mobility rise.