Preparation, characterization and ionic conductivity studies of ZrO2 dispersed mixed halide matrix (KCl)0.9–(NaCl)0.1 Original Research Article

Composite electrolytes in the system [(KCl)0.9:(NaCl)0.1]1−y:(ZrO2)y were prepared and their ionic conductivities were studied. In our previous study on the mixed halide system (KCl)1−x:(NaCl)x, maximum conductivity (∼50 times that of the base KCl matrix) was found when x=0.1. The matrix (KCl)0.9:(NaCl)0.1 was dispersed with different concentration of ZrO2 (powder) for the preparation of composites and their conductivities were determined. The maximum conductivity was developed for the composite having composition y=0.5. The matrices were prepared by melt-quench technique and the dispersion of ZrO2 was carried out in liquid medium. The conductivity measurements of the composites were carried out by impedance spectroscopy technique. The composite [(KCl)0.9:(NaCl)0.1]0.5:(ZrO2)0.5 was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The conductivity of the composite [(KCl)0.9:(NaCl)0.1]0.5:(ZrO2)0.5 as a function of temperature was also studied. The conductivity increase in the composite could be attributed to enhancement of defect concentration in the space charge region created at the interface between the host halide and the dispersoid.