Increased Conductivity of Li2xMg1-Xo/Nanostructured Carbon Composites

Lithium conducting ceramics are important for applications in thin film batteries.  In this work, novel Li_2xMg_1-xO materials were synthesized by the sol-gel method. Optimization of the synthesis method showed that annealing at 950 ^oC gave pure, single phase materials of cubic crystal structure. Conductivity studies, using a.c. impedance showed that incorporating nanostructured carbon enhances the conductivities of the composite materials. The nanostructured carbon acted like a bridge connecting the voids between the crystals and improved the electronic and Li⁺ ionic diffusion through the materials.