Structural, thermal and electrical properties of AgI–Ag₂S–AgPO₃ superionic glasses

Abstract

We have investigated the ternary glass AgI–Ag₂S–AgPO₃, where the ratio of AgI:Ag₂S is 1:1. As the amount of the dopant salts increases, the glass transition temperature decreases, and the conductivity increases to about $\text{5.7×10}{}^{\mathrm{-3}}\text{(Ω}\text{cm}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{-1}}$ at room temperature for an 88% mol fraction of AgI+Ag₂S. The structure factor, S(Q), shows a prepeak at low Q values (0.6–0.9 Å⁻¹), as observed in AgI–AgPO₃ glasses, but not in pure AgPO₃ or in Ag₂S–AgPO₃. The concentration dependence of the prepeak indicates medium range atomic correlations growing in concentration and size.