Toward Rational Design of Fast Ion Conductors: Molecular Dynamics Modeling of Interfaces of Nanoscale Planar Heterostructures

Increased ionic conductivity at nanoscale planar interfaces of the CaF2|BaF2 system was successfully modeled using molecular dynamics simulations. A criterion was established to construct simulation cells containing any arbitrarily lattice-mismatched interfaces while permitting periodic boundary condition. The relative (to the bulk) ionic conductivity increase at the 111 (CaF2)|111 (BaF2) interface was qualitatively reproduced. Higher conductivity, by a factor of 7.6, was predicted for the 001 (CaF2)|001 (BaF2) interface. A crystalline nanocomposite of the CaF2|BaF2 system, in which the [001] morphology is encouraged and crystallite dimensions are approximately 4 nm, was proposed to give ionic conductivity approaching that predicted for the 001 (CaF2)|001 (BaF2) interface.