The rediscovery of fast ion conduction in solids in the 1960's stimulated interest both in the scientific community in which the fundamentals of diffusion, order-disorder phenomena and crystal structure evaluation required re-examination, and in the technical community in which novel approaches to energy conversion and chemical sensing became possible with the introduction of the new field of "Solid State Ionics. " Because of both the novelty and the vitality of this field, it has grown rapidly in many directions. This growth has included the discovery of many new crystalline fast ion conductors, and the extension to the fields of organic and amorphous compounds. The growth has involved the extension of classical diffusion theory in an attempt to account for carrier interactions and the development of sophisticated computer models. Diffraction techniques have been refined to detect carrier distributions and anharmonic vibrations. Similar advances in the application of other techniques such as NMR, Raman, IR, and Impedance Spectroscopies to this field have also occurred. The applications of fast ion conducting solid electrolytes have also developed in many directions. High energy density Na/S batteries are now reaching the last stages of development, Li batteries are being implanted in humans for heart pacemakers, and solid state fuel cells are again being considered for future power plants. The proliferation of inexpensive microcomputers has stimulated the need for improved chemical sensors--a major application now being the zirconia auto exhaust sensor being sold by the millions each year.

Inhalt

Fundamentals.- Computer Modeling of Superionics.- Materials Systems.- Crystalline Anionic Fast Ion Conduction.- Amorphous Fast Ion Conductors.- Multiphase and Polycrystalline Fast Ion Conductors.- Characterization Techniques.- Spectroscopic Investigations of Glasses.- X-ray and Neutron Scattering Studies of Superionics.- Electrochemical Measurement Techniques.- Chemical and Electronic Stability.- Phase Stability of Crystalline Fast Ion Conductors.- Degradation of Ceramics in Alkali-Metal Environments.- Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conduction in Fast Ion Conductors and Certain Semiconductors.- Applications.- Novel Solid State Galvanic Cell Gas Sensors.- Remarks on Application of Fast Ion Conductors.- Some Future Trends in Solid State Ionics.- Contributed Papers.- Fast Ion Conduction in the Gd2 (ZrxTi1-x)2 O7 Pyrochlore System.- Plasma Sprayed Zirconia Electrolytes.- Free Lithium Ion Conduction in Lithium Borate Glasses Doped with Li2SO4.- Effects of Halide Substitutions in Potassium Haloborates.- Evidence of Boron-Oxygen Network Modifications in Alkali Borate Glasses.- Characterization of Alkali-Oxide Electrolyte Glass in Thin Films.- Glass Solid Electrolyte Thin Films.- Electronic Structure, Bonding, and Lithium Migration Effects Involving the Surface of the Mixed Conductor ß-LiAl.- Defects with Variable Charges: Influence on Chemical Diffusion and on the Evaluation of Electrochemical Experiments.- Attendees and Lecturers.