Li(+) ion conductivity in rock salt-structured nickel-doped Li(3)NbO(4).

Two mechanisms of doping Li(3)NbO(4), which has an ordered, rock salt superstructure, have been established. In the "stoichiometric mechanism", the overall cation-to-anion ratio is maintained at 1:1 by means of the substitution 3Li(+) + Nb(5+) --> 4Ni(2+). In the "vacancy mechanism", Li(+) ion vacancies are created by means of the substitution 2Li(+) --> Ni(2+).