Variable temperature neutron diffraction study of crystal structure and transport pathways in oxide ion conductors Bi(12.5)Ln(1.5)ReO(24.5) (Ln = Lu, Er)

Samples of highly conducting Bi12.5Lu1.5ReO24.5 and Bi12.5Er1.5ReO24.5 have been studied by neutron powder diffraction at room temperature for both phases and at 25 C 500 C in the case of Bi12.5Er1.5ReO24.5. Both materials crystallize in the cubic delta-Bi2O3 related system, space group Fm-3m. Changes in the oxygen sublattice at 25 degrees C <= T <= 500 degrees C have been investigated by the Rietveld and maximum entropy methods. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.