Structural study and proton conductivity in Yb-doped BaZrO3

Traditional solid state sintering has been used to prepare the perovskite BaZr0.9Yb0.1O3 − δ. Analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data shows that an increase of the unit cell parameter, a, was observed compared to undoped BaZrO3. Rietveld analysis of room temperature neutron powder diffraction data confirmed cubic symmetry (space group Pm-3m). Dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicates that the hydration process occurs below 200 °C. The strong O–H stretch band, 2500–3500 cm− 1, in the infrared absorbance spectrum clearly manifests the presence of protons in the hydrated material. Proton conductivity was investigated on hydrated and as-prepared samples under dry and wet atmospheres, respectively.