2009/06/12 by Karlsson, Maths, Engberg, Dennis, Björketun, Mårten E. +9
#FOS: Physical sciences #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0906.2346
We demonstrate the applicability of studying the proton dynamics in proton-conducting perovskites using neutron spin-echo spectroscopy, a powerful method hitherto neglected for studies of the proton dynamics in ceramic proton conductors. By combining our neutron spin-echo results of hydrated BaZr0.90Y0.10O2.95 with results obtained from kinetic modeling based on first-principles calculations we show that already over a length-scale as short as 2 nm the long-range proton self-diffusion is observed, and the likely effect of dopant atoms acting as trapping centers has averaged out.