Enhanced oxide ion conductivity in stabilized delta-Bi2O3.

The substitution of Re into Bi2O3 allows stabilization of the delta-Bi2O3 structure by additional substitution of any lanthanide ion to give, for example, phases of composition Bi12.5La1.5ReO24.5. Some of these phases have been found to show exceptionally high oxide ion conductivity at low temperatures, ca 10-3 S cm-1 at 300 degrees C. The phases show a significant structural difference from other delta-Bi2O3 phases previously reported, with interstitial anion sites displaced further from the ideal fluorite position, (1/4,1/4,1/4).