The incorporation and migration of protons in Y-doped crystals was studied by carrying out room-temperature infra-red measurements and electrical conductivity measurements at temperatures ranging from 25 to 250C. The infra-red spectra of crystals which had been pre-treated at high temperatures in H2O-saturated gas contained 2 very broad OH bands, at 3383 and 3035/cm. The OH bands were fully replaced by OD bands, at 2503 and 2283/cm, by treatment in D2O-saturated gas. The conductivity of the H+-charged sample was 2 to 3 times that of the D+-charged sample, within the above temperature range. The activation energy of the H+-charged sample (0.60eV) was 0.05eV lower, and suggested the occurrence of non-classical proton hopping.

T.Scherban, J.M.Baikov, E.K.Shalkova: Solid State Ionics, 1993, 66[1-2], 159-64