Computational Simulations of Li Ion Conduction in (Li,La)TiO₃

The locations and local environments of the Li ions in La0.56Li0.33TiO3 have been investigated by classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and first-principles (FP) calculations. The pair correlation functions of Li-O and Li-Ti indicate that the Li ions are located somewhat broadly mainly in the vicinity of the midpoint between the center of the A-site and the center of the bottleneck formed by four O2-. This is consistent well with that suggested from previous neutron diffraction and 6Li-NMR studies. The FP calculations suggest a different location of the Li ion in the vicinity of the midpoint between the centers of two adjcent bottlenecks; however it coincides with one of the locations shown by the trajectories simulated with the MD calculations.