The interfacial instability of metallic Li and cation-vacant lithium lanthanum titanate resulted in the presence of Ti3+ donors and an increased number of Li+ ions on the Li0.33La0.56TiO3 side. It was clarified that the intercalated Li+ ion and the Ti-site electron were favorable to the formation of a coupled Li+/e– state in order to maintain the lowest electrostatic potential energy. Via the motion of these states, the interfacial instability was reflected in the electrical transition of Li0.33La0.56TiO3; in which the change in bulk electronic conduction, from an insulator to n-type semiconductor, was determined by Li-ion motion-dependent electron hopping.

Ionic to Mixed Ionic/Electronic Conduction Transition of Chemically Lithiated Li0.33La0.56TiO3 at Room Temperature - Lithium-Ion-Motion Dependent Electron Hopping. K.Y.Yang, K.Z.Fung: Applied Physics Letters, 2006, 89[2], 024105 (3pp)