Sol–gel synthesis and room-temperature properties of α-LiZr2(PO4)3

The structural and electrical properties of α-LiZr2(PO4)3 are studied at room temperature for the first time. A room-temperature stable α-LiZr2(PO4)3 phase (R[3 with combining macron]c, a = 8.85196(4) Å and c = 22.1510(1) Å) is prepared by a modified sol–gel approach. The material exhibits a room-temperature (25 °C) total conductivity of 1.63 × 10−6 Scm−1 at a density of 76% of the theoretical density. A room-temperature bulk conductivity as high as 1.58 × 10−4 Scm−1 can be estimated from the impedance measurements. Conductivity measurements suggest that a nominal α → α′ phase transition occurs below room-temperature (at about 16–18 °C). The activation energies for the conductivity of the α and α′ phases are 0.39 and 0.99 eV, respectively (in the temperature range −20 to 100 °C).