Oxygen diffusion and proton conduction in La1-xSrxYO3-delta

Proton conduction has been detected in the solid solution La1-xSrxYO3-delta (LSYO) below 550 degrees C. Impedance spectroscopy was used to measure the conductivity of La1-xSrxYO3-delta under a variety of conditions. Samples measured after wet-treatments exhibited higher conductivities than those measured in nitrogen. The diffusion of oxygen was also studied using the Isotope Exchange Diffusion Profiling technique with Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry. The low oxygen diffusivity supports the conclusion that proton conduction dominates at low temperatures.