Synthesis and Study on Ionic Conductive (Bi(1−x),V(x))O(1.5−δ) Materials with a Dual-Phase Microstructure

Homogeneous Bi(2)O(3)-V(2)O(5) powder mixtures with different amounts of V(2)O(5) content (≤15 mol%) were prepared by colloidal dispersion and sintering to high density. The sintered and annealed samples were studied by thermal analysis, quantitative X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The electrical and ionic conductivities of the conductors were also measured by a four-probe direct current (DC) method. The results of the samples prepared at 600–800 °C and annealed for as long as 100 h show that the sintered samples consisting of a pure γ phase or δ + γ binary phase perform differently in conductivity. The highly conductive δ phase in the composition of Bi(0.92)V(0.08)O(1.5−δ) enhances the electric conductivity 10-times better than that of the pure γ-sample (Bi(0.94)V(0.06)O(1.5−δ)) between 400 and 600 °C. The compatible regions of the γ phase with the α- or δ phase are also reported and discussed, so a part of the previously published Bi(2)O(3)-V(2)O(5) phase diagram below 800 °C is revised.