Effects of surface modification on the electrical conductivity of proton conducting oxides (Y-doped BaCeO3), irradiated by 10keV Ar+ ions to a fluence of 1.0 x 1018/cm2 at room temperature, were investigated by means of ultraviolet–visible (UV–VIS) optical absorption, X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy, elastic recoil detection analysis and alternating current impedance measurements. UV–VIS and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopic analyses showed that O vacancies and hydroxides formed on the irradiated specimen and that proton concentration increased on the surface by elastic recoil detection analysis. The electrical conductivity of the modified specimen became about one order of magnitude higher at 298 to 673K. These results indicate that the increase of electrical conductivity may be caused by the increase of proton and electronic carriers formed by the interaction of O vacancies and H2O or O2, respectively.

Effects of Ion Beam Surface Modification on Proton Conductivity of BaCe0.9Y0.1O3−δ. J.H.Kim, B.Tsuchiya, S.Nagata, T.Shikama: Solid State Ionics, 2008, 179[21-26], 1182-6