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Strain Tuning and Strong Enhancement of Ionic Conductivity in SrZrO 3 –RE 2 O 3 (RE = Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, and Er) Nanocomposite Films
Author(s) -
Lee Shinbuhm,
Zhang Wenrui,
Khatkhatay Fauzia,
Jia Quanxi,
Wang Haiyan,
MacManusDriscoll Judith L.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201404420
Subject(s) - materials science , nanopillar , ionic conductivity , nanocomposite , conductivity , ionic bonding , oxide , composite number , lattice constant , ion , analytical chemistry (journal) , composite material , nanotechnology , nanostructure , chemistry , electrode , optics , diffraction , metallurgy , physics , quantum mechanics , chromatography , electrolyte
Fast ion transport channels at interfaces in thin films have attracted great attention due to a range of potential applications for energy materials and devices, for, solid oxide fuel cells, sensors, and memories. Here, it is shown that in vertical nanocomposite heteroepitaxial films of SrZrO 3 –RE 2 O 3 (RE = Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, and Er) the ionic conductivity of the composite can be tuned and strongly enhanced using embedded, stiff, and vertical nanopillars of RE 2 O 3 . With increasing lattice constant of RE 2 O 3 from Er 2 O 3 to Sm 2 O 3 , it is found that the tensile strain in the SrZrO 3 increases proportionately, and the ionic conductivity of the composite increases accordingly, by an order of magnitude. The results here conclusively show, for the first time, that strain in films can be effectively used to tune the ionic conductivity of the materials.