Decrease of the required dopant concentration for δ-Bi2O3 crystal stabilization through thermal quenching during single-step flame spray pyrolysis

δ-Bi2O3 is one of the best oxygen ion conductors known. However, due to its limited thermal stability and complicated synthesis techniques, the applications are limited. Here, the synthesis of stable nano-sized δ-Bi2O3 using versatile and rapid flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) combined with in-situ Ti and/or Mn doping for an enhanced thermal stability is reported for the first time. Exceptionally low Bi replacing cation concentrations (8 at.% Ti) were sufficient to obtain phase-pure δ-Bi2O3 which was attributed to the extraordinary high temperature gradient during FSP. The required cation amount for δ-phase stabilization was even further reduced by introducing mixtures of Mn and Ti (2.5 at.% Mn + 2.5 at.% Ti).Rietveld analysis revealed that the δ-Bi₂O₃ structure is best represented by the Fmm space group containing two closely neighbored 8c and 32f Wyckoff positions. Depending on the amount of Mn/Ti cations, about 25% of the possible oxygen positions remain vacant suggesting high bulk oxygen mobility. The enhanced oxygen mobility was confirmed by temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR) with bulk reduction for δ-Bi2O3 in contrast to exclusive surface reduction for β-Bi2O3.