Mapping electrochemically driven gas exchange of mixed conducting SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3 − δ and Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 thin films by 18O tracer incorporation under reducing atmosphere

Thermally and electrochemically driven 18O tracer exchange experiments in H2/H218O atmosphere were performed on SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3 − δ and Ce0.8Gd0.2O2 − δ thin films on single crystalline YSZ substrates. Noble metal current collectors were deposited on both films and electrochemically polarized during the exchange experiment. The resulting tracer distribution was analyzed by spatially resolved secondary ion mass spectrometry. Increased tracer fraction near the current collectors was found under cathodic polarization and decreased tracer fraction under anodic polarization. High cathodic bias leads to enhanced n-type electronic conductivity, which increases the extent of the electrochemically active zone.