2D diffusion of oxygen in Ln₁₀Mo₂O₂₁ (Ln = Nd, Ho) oxides

Ln molybdates are promising materials for hydrogen/oxygen separation membranes. This work aims at elucidating features of oxygen transport in Ln₁₀Mo₂O₂₁ (Ln = Nd, Ho) oxides using novel 2D diffusion models. Nd₁₀Mo₂O₂₁ and Ho₁₀Mo₂O₂₁ were synthesized by the mechanical activation followed by sintering in the 1600–1650 °C temperature range and characterized by XRD as a complex rhombohedral phase and fluorite one, respectively. Oxygen transport features were studied by the oxygen isotope heteroexchange with C¹⁸O₂ in a flow reactor using temperature-programmed and isothermal modes. According to numerical analysis, isotope exchange in Ln₁₀Mo₂O₂₁ cannot be described by a single diffusion coefficient, which is explained by nonuniformity of the oxygen diffusion pathways. The mathematical model including equations for a faster diffusion along grain boundaries and a slower diffusion within grain bulk (2D diffusion model) gives the best fit. The same accuracy was achieved using the model including 2D diffusion and exchange between grain bulk oxygen forms with different M-O bonds strength. The values of oxygen tracer diffusion coefficient are ~10⁻⁷–10⁻⁶ cm²/s and ~10⁻¹¹–10⁻⁸ cm²/s at 700 °C along grain boundaries and within grain bulk, respectively. Hence, new 2D models were developed to describe oxygen diffusion in polycrystalline oxides. A fast oxygen diffusion demonstrated for Ln₁₀Mo₂O₂₁ oxides makes them promising for design of hydrogen/oxygen separation membranes.