Muon diffusion and trapping in proton conducting oxides

• Published in: Solid state ionics Vol. 107; no. 3; pp. 269 - 280
• Main Authors: Hempelmann, R., Soetratmo, M., Hartmann, O., Wäppling, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.04.1998; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Diffusion in solids; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrogen diffusion in ceramics; Magnetic resonances and relaxations in condensed matter, mössbauer effect; Muon spin relaxation; Muon spin rotation and relaxation; Physics; Self-diffusion and ionic conduction in nonmetals; Solid state proton conductor; Transport properties of condensed matter (nonelectronic); Muon spin relaxation; 76.75.+i; Solid state proton conductor; Hydrogen diffusion in ceramics; 81.20Lb; 61.16.Hn; 66.30.Hs; Inorganic compounds; Ternary compounds; Transition element compounds; Ionic conductivity; Theoretical study; Doped materials; Experimental study; Scandium additions; Strontium oxides; Trapping; Zirconium oxides; Proton conductivity; Diffusion; solid state proton conductor; hydrogen diffusion in ceramics; POSITIVE MUONS; ELASTIC NEUTRON-SCATTERING; muon spin relaxation
• ISSN: 0167-2738; 1872-7689
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-2738(97)00543-2

Trapping as a main feature of proton diffusion in proton conducting oxides was investigated by means of muon spin relaxation measurements, with the positive muon as tracer. In Sc-doped SrZrO 3, a system with representative physico-chemical properties and favourable nuclear magnetic moments, the muons are trapped at single Sc ions at a distance of 2.49 Å with a binding energy of 0.2 eV, in accordance with previous proton results. The muons form muoxide ions which are directed along the bisector of two oxygen–oxygen connection lines. The μSR spectra could quantitatively be described in terms of a two-state model for the muon diffusion comprising random sequences of trapping events and free diffusion periods.