High-temperature ion transport in La1-xSrxFeO3-δ

The conductivity of the entire solid solution La1-xSrxFeO3-delta, where x=0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9, in the oxygen partial pressure range 10(-19) to 0.5 atm and temperatures between 750 and 950degreesC is reported. The analysis of the isothermal pressure dependences of the conductivity reveal that the lanthanum-strontium ferrites can be characterized as mixed ion-electron conductors in the low-oxygen pressure/high-oxygen deficiency limit. The partial contribution to conductivity from oxygen ions increases with strontium content and attains a maximal value at x=0.5. Further increase in doping results in the development of oxygen vacancy ordering phenomena and deterioration of the conducting properties.