Thanks to their relative low functioning temperature the proton conducting perovskite ceramics are the most promising electrolytes for fuel cell and electrolyser applications¹. Prior to the better industrial application it is necessary to understand the nature, diffusion and conduction mechanism of the protonic species. Neutron scattering experiments are very well suited to study the proton content, structure and dynamics of the proton conductors due to the very large cross-section of the hydrogen element. Elastic/quasi-elastic neutron studies were performed as the function of high temperature and momentum transfer for protonated Ln-modified BaZrO₃ using the three axis spectrometers: 1T1 and 4F1 at the Leon Brillouin Laboratory (Saclay, France). Simultaneously, the neutron diffraction patterns were recorded permitting to follow the structural modifications. The results show the presence of the protonic species in the dense ceramic, their successive motion from 400 to 600°C and then the departure above 750°C under high vacuum conditions². The QNS results are compared with the conductivity and thermal expansion measurements.

1. PCT patent WO 2008/152317 A2 (18-12-2008), Method for optimising the conductivity provided by the displacement of H⁺ protons and/or OH^- ions in a conductive membrane.

2. A. Slodczyk, Ph. Colomban,  D. Lamago, MH. Limage, F. Romain, S. Willemin, B. Sala     Phase transitions in the H⁺ -conducting perovskite ceramics by the quasi-elastic neutron and high-pressure Raman scattering,  Ionics 14  (2008)  215

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1. High pressure phase transitions in proton-conductor SrZrO₃–based perovskites
2. Raman evaluation of the proton diffusion coefficient in the pressure protonated perovskite electrolytes
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