Layered Perovskites BaM2In2O7 (M = La, Nd): From the Structure to the Ionic (O2-, H+) Conductivity

Nataliia Tarasova; Anzhelika Galisheva; Irina Animitsa; Ksenia Belova; Anastasia Egorova; Ekaterina Abakumova; Dmitry Medvedev

doi:10.3390/ma15103488

Layered Perovskites BaM₂In₂O₇ (M = La, Nd): From the Structure to the Ionic (O^2-, H⁺) Conductivity

Materials (Basel). 2022 May 12;15(10):3488. doi: 10.3390/ma15103488.

Authors

Nataliia Tarasova¹, Anzhelika Galisheva¹, Irina Animitsa¹, Ksenia Belova¹, Anastasia Egorova¹, Ekaterina Abakumova¹, Dmitry Medvedev¹

Affiliation

¹ Institute of High Temperature Electrochemistry of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 620066 Ekatherinburg, Russia.

Abstract

The design of new oxide compounds that can be used as oxygen- or proton-conducting electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells is actively in progress. Despite the intensive research activities regarding electrolytes with perovskite/fluorite structures, the search for other structural alternatives is of paramount importance. In this study we focus on a novel material with significantly improved properties for the electrochemical purposes. The two-layered BaNd₂In₂O₇ perovskite with a Ruddlesden-Popper structure was investigated as a protonic conductor for the first time. In detail, its local structure, water uptake, and the ionic (O^2-, H⁺) conductivity were comprehensively studied. The nature of rare-earth elements (M = La, Nd) in the structure of BaM₂In₂O₇ on the structural and transport properties was revealed. The presented analysis showed that the composition of BaNd₂In₂O₇ is nearly pure proton conductor below 350 °C. This work opens up a new way in the design of protonic conductors with double-layered perovskite structure.

Keywords: BaLa2In2O7; BaNd2In2O7; Ruddlesden–Popper structure; layered perovskite; oxygen-ion conductivity; protonic conductivity; water uptake.

Grants and funding

This research was performed according to the budgetary plan of the Institute of High Temperature Electrochemistry and funded by the Budget of Russian Federation.