Neutron scattering and thermal measurements on the superionic-conducting Ag₂S–AgPO₃ glass system

Abstract

Superionic-conducting glasses (Ag₂S)_x(AgPO₃)_1−x with x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9 have been prepared by rapid quenching methods, although for x=0.8 and 0.9 they also contain crystalline Ag₂S. We report DTA measurements of the thermodynamic glass transition temperature, T_g, and neutron diffraction data taken as a function of temperature through T_g. The neutron measurements show no prepeak at any composition or temperature, indicating that there is no clustering, in contrast with the AgI–AgPO₃ system where clustering is found with a length scale of order 10 Å [1]. Both systems form superionic-conducting glasses, showing that clustering is not essential for such conductivity.