A novel technique for imaging electrochemical reaction sites on a solid oxide electrolyte

Oxygen isotope was used to investigate the active electrochemical reaction site on a solid oxide electrolyte. The isotope exchange reaction was perfor med under current flow, and the distribution of the incorporated isotope wa s analyzed by a secondary ion mass spectrometer. The results were compared with calculations using a simple model. The lateral resolution of the prese nt method was estimated to be around 1 mu m. The quenching process and the imaging resolution should be improved to investigate further details. (C) 2 000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.