Synthesis and Characterization of Tb–Er Co–Doped Bi2O3 Solid Electrolyte Systems

Abstract

In this study, solid state reactions were used to create Er–Tb co–doped Bi2O3 solid electrolyte systems. Four Point Tip Technique (FPPT), Thermo–gravimetric and Differential Thermal Analysis (TG & DTA), and X–Ray Diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the generated samples' structural and thermal properties, and electrical conductivity. The samples 05Er05TbSB, 05Er10TbSB, and 15Er05TbSB stabilized with cubic δ–phase at room temperature, according to XRD data. Due to the smaller dopants ions compared to the host Bi3+ cation, the lattice constants estimated for these samples were lower than those of the pure cubic phase. The samples were thought to be thermally stable in the studied temperature range since the thermal curves did not show endothermic or exothermic peak development indicating a potential phase change. According to the Arrhenius equation, the temperature–dependent conductivity graphs displayed a linear change. The conductivity measurements clearly indicated that an increase in doping rate results in a sudden drop in electrical conductivity. The calculated activation energies increased with the doping ratio and varied from 0.64 eV to 1.12 eV. At 700 °C, it was determined to be 0.128 S.cm–1 for the sample 05Er05TbSB, which had the greatest conductivity and lowest activation energy among all samples. The conductivity was discovered to decrease and activation energy to increase when the doping ratio was gradually raised.