Rapid quenching setup: Design, development and applications in solid state ionics

Quenching rate of the order of 105 K/s has been achieved using a home-built twin-roller rapid quenching setup which is two orders of magnitude higher as compared to the rate possible through conventional quenching methods. The glass forming limit for the two ternary glassy electrolytes Li 2O-B2O3-P2O5 and Li 2O-Nb2O5-P2O5 has been extended using the twin roller setup by incorporating mol% 66.7 and 50 of the glass modifier (Li2O) in the above glass systems. Further, the effect of mixed glass formers B2O3-P2O5 and Nb2O5-P2O5, investigated in the above extended glassy systems, reveal an initial increase in the glass transition temperature (Tg) and ionic conductivity (σdc), as one glass former replaces the other. The T g and σdc show maximum values for the compositions mol% 66.7Li2O-33.3[0.6B2O3-0.4P 2O5] and mol% 50Li2O-50[0.6Nb2O 5-0.4 P2O5], indicating the "mixed glass former effect". The composition mol% 66.7Li2O-33.3[0.6B 2O3-0.4P2O5], showing good thermal stability as well as conductivity, is a potential electrolyte material for device applications. © 2013 Indian Institute of Metals.