Mixedconducting

Mixedconducting refers to materials that exhibit both ionic and electronic conductivity. In a mixed conductor, charge can be transported through the movement of ions and the movement of electrons or holes. This dual conductivity distinguishes them from purely ionic conductors, which only transport ions, and purely electronic conductors, which only transport electrons or holes.

The presence of both ionic and electronic charge carriers allows mixed conductors to participate in redox reactions at their surfaces or interfaces. This property makes them crucial in various electrochemical applications. For example, they are used as electrodes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOECs), where they facilitate the transfer of ions and electrons during electrochemical reactions. Mixed conductors can also be found in gas sensors, batteries, and catalytic converters. The specific balance between ionic and electronic conductivity can be tuned by material composition and structure, allowing for optimization for particular applications. Understanding and controlling these mixed conduction properties are key to developing advanced electrochemical devices.