New Solid Conductors of Na+ and K+ Ions

Abstract

A search through 40 structure types for solid conductors of Na+ and K+ions has produced three types capable of ion transport with conductivities in the vicinity of 10−5 (ohm‐cm)−1 at 25°C: (i) the pyrochlores and; (ii) the bcc‐Im3 phase of ; and (iii) the Na and K niobates near the composition . Of these five compounds, only the K niobate (whose structure has not been elucidated) can be fully sintered without transformation. A number of phase diagrams have been developed during the course of the work.