Crystallization in Li2SO4-Li2O-P2O5 glassy ionic system: An assessment through electrical transport

The electrical transport during the crystallization of ternary Li2SO4-Li2O-P2O5 glassy ionic system reveals interesting results. Electrical conductivity isotherms recorded at the crystallization temperature are found to be of immense importance, especially, in the understanding of phase transformation. The electrical conductivity falls rapidly during crystallization of LiPO3 compound and saturates at its completion. Such studies on conductivity isotherms further confirm the suppression of crystallization with addition of Li2SO4 in the glass matrix. A systematic variation of the Cole-Cole plots and conductivity spectra during crystallization further suggests a slow and predetermined process of glass-ceramic formation. The mechanism of electrical transport during crystallization is also explained using a crystallite bypass model. It is further revealed that the samples remain purely ionic during and after crystallization.