Migration and Interaction of Multi-protons in Zinc-doped Barium Zirconate

Abstract

Migration and interaction of multi-protons in a zinc-doped barium zirconate (Zn-doped BaZrO3) super cell were investigated using a density functional theory. O ions in the super cell form interconnected octahedrons with Zr or Zn ions positioned in their centers and Ba ions positioned among the eight octahedrons. When one proton was added to the super cell, the energy barrier of 0.80 eV for proton transfer from the first to second nearest O ion sites from the Zn ion reached its highest value. When two protons were added to the super cell, the two protons preferred the first nearest O ions from the Zn ion. The two protons were accommodated by pushing the neighboring Zn ion further away from the center of the octahedron. Energy barriers for proton transfer from the Zn-octahedron to the neighboring Zr-octahedron were spread in the range of 0.36 similar to 1.02 eV.