Proton dynamics in a spark-plasma sintered BaZr0.7Ce0.2Y0.1O3−δ proton conductor investigated by quasi-elastic neutron scattering†
J. Wallis,A. Kruth,F. Demmel
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics Pub Date : 04/25/2023 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/D3CP00159H
Abstract

The thermally activated proton dynamics in the perovskite lattice of spark-plasma sintered BaZr0.7Ce0.2Y0.1O3−δ was investigated by quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the temperature range from 200–600 °C. The quasi-elastic signal could be resolved into two components corresponding to a translational and rotational motion. From a description of the diffusive movements with the Chudley–Elliot jump diffusion model a jump distance of 3.12 Å and residence time of 13.6 ps were found for the translational protonic diffusion at 600 °C. The diffusion coefficients for QENS and EIS follow an Arrhenius law with activation energies of 0.16 eV, 0.58 eV and 0.88 eV for the microscopic proton self-diffusion, the bulk and grain boundaries, respectively. The rotational motion was analyzed using a two-site jump and a spherical rotation model which resulted in O–H distances of 0.89 Å and 0.71 Å, respectively. The data provided by the two-site jump model evidences the Grotthuss-type mechanism behind the translational proton dynamics.

Graphical abstract: Proton dynamics in a spark-plasma sintered BaZr0.7Ce0.2Y0.1O3−δ proton conductor investigated by quasi-elastic neutron scattering