Solid State Ionics, Vol.92, No.3-4, 183-192, 1996
Investigations on the Mixed Conductivity of Copper Tantalate
Polycrystals of CuTa2O6 were prepared by solid-state reaction in air at 1200 degrees C with variations of stoichiometry (x) in the copper oxide ratio. They were examined by X-ray diffraction. A defect of copper oxide during the synthesis leads to an excess of Ta2O5 phase in the sample and an excess of copper oxide gives a single phase compound. The total conductivity was determined by impedance measurements and the electronic conductivity was estimated by the Hebb-Wagner method, At room temperature, the total conductivity of samples in equilibrium with copper is about 10(-7)-10(-6) S cm(-1). No significant changes were observed for x = 0.8 and 1.0, but the total and the partial conductivities are higher for x = 1.2. In all cases, the measured electronic conductivity seems to be mainly of n-type and the electronic transport number is close to 0.5-0.6, independent of the temperature and stoichiometry. The nature of the mixed conduction is discussed in relation to Cu+ ions in the structure.
Keywords:CONDUCTORS;TRANSPORT