Diffusion of oxide ions in LaFeO3 single crystal

The tracer diffusion coefficient, $\text{D1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}$, of oxide ions in LaFeO₃ single crystal was determined over the temperature range of 900–1100°C by the gas-solid isotopic exchange technique using ¹⁸O as a tracer. For the determination of $\text{D1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}$, the depth profile of ¹⁸O was measured by means of a secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS). The surface exchange reaction was found to be slow and the surface exchange rate constant, k, was determined together with $\text{D1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}$. It was found that $\text{D1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}$ at 950°C is proportional to P^?0.58_O2, where P_O2 is an oxygen pressure. The vacancy mechanism was determined for the diffusion of oxide ions from the P_O2 dependence. The vacancy diffusion coefficient, D_V, for LaFeO₃ was nearly the same as that for LaCoO₃ at the same temperature. The activation energy for migration of oxide ion vacancies was 74 kJ · mole^?1 for both oxides.