Issue 7, 2013

Proton conductivity of columnar ceria thin-films grown by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

Columnar thin films of undoped ceria were grown by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition. The films, deposited on Pt-coated MgO(100) substrates, display a columnar microstructure with nanometer scale grain size and ∼30% overall porosity. Through-plane (thickness mode) electrical conductivity was measured by AC impedance spectroscopy. Proton conduction is observed below 350–400 °C, with a magnitude that depends on gas-phase water vapor pressure. The overall behavior suggests proton transport that occurs along exposed grain surfaces and parallel grain boundaries. No impedance due to grain boundaries normal to the direction of transport is observed. The proton conductivity in the temperature range of 200–400 °C is approximately four times greater than that of nanograined bulk ceria, consistent with enhanced transport along aligned grain surfaces in the CVD films.

Graphical abstract: Proton conductivity of columnar ceria thin-films grown by chemical vapor deposition

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 Aug 2012
Accepted
03 Dec 2012
First published
03 Dec 2012

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 2466-2472

Proton conductivity of columnar ceria thin-films grown by chemical vapor deposition

T. Oh, D. A. Boyd, D. G. Goodwin and S. M. Haile, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013, 15, 2466 DOI: 10.1039/C2CP43036C

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