Superionic conductors are solid compounds in which electric current is carried by charged atoms, i.e. by ions. The passage of current is thus associated with mass transfer. Such ionic conductors are called superionic conductors and sometimes composites solid electrolytes, by analogy to liquid electrolyte solutions, and have permitted development of a new scientific discipline called solid state electrochemistry. Composite materials are heterogeneous materials of solid phases. The effect of heterogeneous doping strongly depends on the chemical nature of components and the morphology of the system. This new class of solid electrolytes interfaces called ion conducting electrolytes made up of ionic salt and insulating chemically inert component, affects the properties of composite materials at low, moderate as well as high temperatures.

Saima Sultana, PhD from Aligarh Muslim University and Research Associate, CSIR New Delhi