Proton conductivity and the thermal properties of Ba2CeZnO5

Abstract

A cubic perovskite Ba₂ZnCeO₅ phase is obtained via solid-phase synthesis. This phase has the capacity for the reversible dissociative absorption of water from the gas phase. The resulting energetically inequivalent ОН⁻ groups are removed completely from the structure at temperatures above 650°C. Electrical conductivity measurements reveal a considerable (order-of-magnitude) increase in conductivity in humid air with \({P_{{H_2}O}}\) = 3 × 10⁻² atm at T = 400–600°C. It is shown by EMF method that the sample exhibits proton conductivity that predominates at temperatures below 550°C.