Abstract
In this study, La-Si metallic coatings were synthesized by Direct Current Magnetron Sputtering of lanthanum and silicon targets in pure argon atmosphere. After the deposition stage, the ceramic apatite-structure coatings were obtained by thermal oxidation in air. The structural and chemical features of these films have been assessed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The electrical properties were determined by complex impedance spectroscopy in planar configuration. The films with a La/Si atomic ratio close to the apatite composition La9.33(SiO4)6O2 deposited on different substrates were initially amorphous. After thermal oxidation at 1173 K in air, the coating crystallised under the expected apatite structure. SEM observation revealed that the film compactness and thickness increased after thermal oxidation. The electrical measurements carried out under air as a function of temperature (1200 to 800 K) show only one contribution for the apatite layer on the Nyquist diagram. The electrical properties were controlled by the Arrhenius law with an activation energy (Ea = 0.7 eV) slightly lower than that of the literature data. The ionic conductivity is around 10-2 S.cm-1 at 1175K.
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