p–d hybridization in superionic conductors

The band calculations of AgX (X=halogen), CuX (X=halogen) and β-Ag3SX (X=I, Br) are studied to reveal the high ionic conductivity of Ag+ and Cu+ in these superionic conductors using the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) theory. It is found that the d states of Ag+ are much more weakly coupled with the p states of halogen ions, while those of Cu+ are much more strongly coupled with the p bands. The strength of p–d hybridization is discussed to connect with the activation energy for the ionic conduction. It is shown that the high ionic conductivity of AgX (X=halogen) and β-Ag3SX (X=I, Br) primarily stems from the combination of the deformability of d shell and the weakness of p–d hybridization.