X-ray diffraction study of oxygen-conducting compounds Ln_2Mo_2O_9 (Ln = La, Pr)

摘要

The La_2Mo_2O_9 (LM) and Pr_2Mo_2O_9 (PM) single crystals are studied using precision X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission microscopy at room temperature. The crystal structures are determined in the space group P2_13. La and Pr atoms, as well as Mo1 and O1 atoms, are located in the vicinity of the threefold axes rather than on the axes as in the hightemperature cubic phase. In both structures studied, the O2 and O3 positions are partially occupied. The coexistence of different configurations of the Mo coordination environment facilitates the oxygen-ion migration in the structure. Based on the X-ray data, the activation energies of O atoms are calculated and the migration paths of oxygen ions in the structures are analysed. The conductivity of PM crystals is close to that of LM crystals. The O2 and O3 atoms are the main contributors to the ion conductivity of LM and PM.