Anelastic effects in (AgI)x(Ag20-B2O3)1-x superionic glasses

We present here the first measurements of acoustic absorption in (AgI)x(Ag2O·B2O3)1−x superionic glasses at ultrasonic frequencies (5–45 MHz) and in the 80–434 K temperature range. The attenuation shows, at decreasing temperature, an unusually high peak which seems to be attributed to a thermally activated relaxation process. A possible microscopic explanation of this anomaly is proposed, in connection with the presence of mobile ions in those materials.