THE STRUCTURE AND ELECTRICAL-PROPERTIES OF SRCE0.95YB0.05O3 THIN-FILMPROTONIC CONDUCTORS

The results of a study of the structure and electrical properties of S rCe0.95Yb0.05O3 thin film protonic conductors are presented. Dense SrC e0.95Yb0.05O3 thin films (similar to 1000 nm) with grain size in the 3 0-70 nm range were obtained on Si- and Al2O3-substrates using a polyme ric precursor spin coating technique. The electrical conductivity of t hese thin films has been studied as a function of temperature and corr elated with the microstructure. The thin films showed higher electrica l conductivity than dense sintered polycrystalline SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3 sp ecimens which had grain size in the micrometer range. This electrical conductivity enhancement has been attributed to the influence of inter facial grain boundary effects in the films. Data are shown for a semic onductor-type hydrogen sensor based on these thin films.