ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF JUNCTION BETWEEN PROTONIC CONDUCTOR ANDOXIDE-ION CONDUCTOR

A dense and tightly contacted thin layer of SrZrO3-based solid solutio n could be formed on yttrium stabilized zirconia, YSZ, by high tempera ture chemical reaction. A water vapor concentration cell using this Sr ZrO3-YSZ junction showed a stable e.m.f. when the SrZrO3 side was expo sed to wet air, whereas it exhibited no e.m.f. when the SrZrO3 was exp osed to dry air, suggesting protonic conduction in SrZrO3. An oxygen c oncentration cell showed lower e.m.f. than that of the theoretical at 600 degrees C, A hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell showed asymmetric behavior regarding the used gases. Higher current could be drawn when the SrZrO 3 film was exposed to hydrogen, Higher current passed through the junc tion when a positive voltage was applied on the SrZrO3 side, This rect ifying behavior did not appear in dry argon.