Na-ion dynamics in the solid solution Na_xCa_1-xCr₂O₄ studied by muon spin rotation and neutron diffraction

In this work we present a systematic set of measurements carried out by muon spin rotation/relaxation (mu+SR) and neutron powder diffraction (NPD) on the solid solution NaxCa1-xCr2O4. This study investigates Na-ion dynamics in the quasi-1D (Q1D) diffusion channels created by the honeycomb-like arrangement of CrO6 octahedra, in the presence of defects introduced by Ca substitution. With increasing Ca content, the size of the diffusion channels is enlarged; however, this effect does not enhance the Na ion mobility. Instead the overall diffusivity is hampered by the local defects and the Na hopping probability is lowered. The diffusion mechanism in NaxCa1-xCr2O4 is proposed to be interstitial and the activation energy as well as diffusion coefficient are determined for all the members of the solid solution.