Superionic conductors are solids whose ionic conductivities approach, and in some cases exceed, those of molten salts and electrolyte solutions. This implies an un usual state of matter in which some atoms have nearly liquidlike mobility while others retain their regular crystalline arrangement. This liquid-solid duality has much appeal to condensed matter physicists, and the coincident development of powerful new methods for studying disordered solids and interest in superionic conductors for technical applications has resulted in a new surge of activity in this venerable field. It is the purpose of this book to summarize the current re search in the physics of superionic conduction. with special emphasis on those aspects which set these materials apart from other solids. The volume is aimed to wards the materials community and will, we expect, stimulate further research on these potentially useful substances. The usual characterization of the superionic phase lists high ionic conductivity; low activation energy; and the open structure of the crystal, with its interconne ted network of vacant sites available to one ionic species. To these, as we demon strate in this volume, should be added important dynami~ and collective effect~: the absence of well-defined optical lattice modes, the presence of a pervasive, low-energy excitation, an infrared peak in the frequency-dependent conductivity, unusual NMR prefactors, phase transitions, and a strong tendency for the mobile ion to be found between allowed sites.

The following chapters present most of the lectures delivered at the NATO Advanced Studies Institute on "The Physics of Super ionic Conductors and Electrode Materials", held at Odense Univer sity's Mathematics Department between the 4th and 22nd of August, 1980. The aim of the organizing committee was to present in a rather detailed fashion the most recent advances in the computa tional mathematics and physics of condensed matter physics and to see how these advances could be applied to the study of ionically conducting solids. The first half of the meeting was mainly taken up with lectures. In the second week, working groups on the various aspects were set up, the students joining these groups being helped in the implementation of the lecture material. The leaders of these groups deserve special mention for the tremendous effort they put into this aspect of the meeting, particularly: Dr. Aneesur Rahman (Molecular Dynamics group) Dr. Fred Horne (Ion Transport group) Drs. Nick Quirke and David Adams (Monte Carlo methods) Dr. Heinz Schulz (Diffraction group) Dr. John Harding (Defect Calculations group) The Molecular Dynamics group achieved a certain amount of notoriety within the University by appearing to live in the terminal room.

A hundred and eighty five chemists, physicists, and engineers met in Schenectady, New York, for the three days May 10-12, 1976, to discuss the subject of Superionic Conductors. This International Conference was held at the Research and Development Center of the General Electric Company. The subject of the Conference was fast ion transport in solids. These materials have potential application in new types of batteries, fuel cells, and sensors. Some like beta alumina are under active development in nov'el new systems. Their study has also become a popular area of scientific investigation. One objective of the Conference was to provide a forum for interdisciplinary communication between chemists, physicists, and engineers. The Conference was an attempt to bring these groups together, in order to listen to each others problems and progress. We began organizing the Conference in the spring of 1975. It was suggested to General Electric managers Drs. Craig S. Tedmon, Jr. and Roland W. Schmitt. They provided immediate and enthusiastic support. They also provided the advice, staff, and backup which were necessary at all points in the planning and duration of the Conference. We were also pleased that they could participate in the Conference: Dr. Tedmon welcomed the participants and officially opened the Conference, and Dr. Schmitt gave the after banquet address. We thank them. Additional and invaluable help, and advice, were also provided by Drs. D. Chatterji, J. B. Bush, G. W. Ludwig, and J. B. Comly. We were joined on the program committee by Drs.

The book presents basic studies on ion transport properties of ionic conductive solid. It describes research on theory, modeling, simulation, crystalline structure, nuclear magnetic resonance, electric conduction, optical properties, and thermal measurement in this field. Superionic conductors are highly promising functional materials. As a stepping stone in the development of new superionic conductors that can be utilized as functinal materials efforts to reevaluate solid-interior diffusion and conduction phenomena of ions and molecules in a superionic conductor on the basis of basic physical properties, and to clarify mechanism governing these phenomena from a microscopic standpoint are important.How are diffusing ions associated with material structures within a superionic conductor? What types of interaction are diffusing ions undergoing with the host ions surrounding them? How important is the correlation among diffusing ions in their motion? The carefully presented detail of this book will be of value to research devoted to the understanding and control of functional materials such as superionic conductors.

The book presents basic studies on ion transport properties of ionic conductive solid. It describes research on theory, modeling, simulation, crystalline structure, nuclear magnetic resonance, electric conduction, optical properties, and thermal measurement in this field. Superionic conductors are highly promising functional materials. As a stepping stone in the development of new superionic conductors that can be utilized as functinal materials efforts to reevaluate solid-interior diffusion and conduction phenomena of ions and molecules in a superionic conductor on the basis of basic physical properties, and to clarify mechanism governing these phenomena from a microscopic standpoint are important. How are diffusing ions associated with material structures within a superionic conductor? What types of interaction are diffusing ions undergoing with the host ions surrounding them? How important is the correlation among diffusing ions in their motion? The carefully presented detail of this book will be of value to research devoted to the understanding and control of functional materials such as superionic conductors.