24 Conducting solids

Abstract

In the area of Li ion cells/Li conductors highlights include the synthesis of TiO₂–B nanowires by Armstrong et al., and the observation of high Li ion conductivity in the garnet-related materials Li₅La₃(Nb/Ta)₂O₁₂ by Thangadurai et al.

In the area of oxide ion conductors, a key highlight was the structural study by Leon-Reina et al. of apatite-type La_9.33+x(Si/Ge)₆O_26+3x/2 confirming the presence of interstitial oxygens in the site previously predicted by modelling studies.

In the area of superconductivity, a highlight has been the observation by Ekimov et al. of superconductivity at ≈ 4 K in boron doped diamond synthesised at high temperature and pressure.