New conducting phase in the Li2O-ZnO-Nb2O5 system: Existence conditions

The conducting phase Li6ZnNb4O14 in the Li2O-ZnO-Nb2O5 system has been obtained by solid-phase synthesis from Li3NbO4, Li1 − x NbO3, and LiZnNbO4. The new phase exists in the temperature range of (904 ± 5)–(1145 ± 5)°C. Quenching the synthesis product from 960°C yields this phase in a metastable state at room temperature. The Li6ZnNb4O14 phase has been characterized by thermal analysis, chemical analysis, and X-ray powder diffraction. The ohmic resistance of ceramic Li6ZnNb4O14 has been determined by complex impedance measurements. The activation energy of conduction, derived from the temperature dependence of conductivity, is E a = 0.273 ± 0.001 eV. The conductivity of the phase at 300°C is 1.2 × 10−2 S cm−1.