Electrode noise in beta aluminas

Conductivity fluctuations in the fast ionic conductors sodium and silver Beta alumina ceramic have been observed for the first time in research supported under Contract No. N00014-82-K-0603. The phenomena is not masked by contact noise effects and, indeed, contact current noise itself yields useful experimental data. Noise spectra suggesting relaxation and diffusion processes are found both in the bulk and at the electrodes. This proposal describes a continuation of the research effort which enables a more quantitative interpretation of experimental results in terms of transport properties of the model ions. The approach includes study of single crystal samples, as well as extension of these new experimental techniques to other fast ionic conductors such as silver iodide and conducting polymers. One phase of the proposed effort concentrates on the study of molten sodium electrodes to sodium Beta alumina ceramics under destructive breakdown conditions.