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Role of small-radius and high-electronegativity -site dopants in enhancing proton transport and stability of perovskite electrolytes
Phys. Rev. B 114, 034118 – Published 29 July, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/cgtj-bc45
Abstract
The practical application of -based electrolytes is limited by their poor chemical stability in proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells. Commonly employed -site doping strategies typically improve proton transport with limited improvement in stability. Recent experiments show that -site Ca doping can simultaneously enhance both properties. Here, through first-principles calculations and mechanistic analysis of Ca-doped , we identify the synergistic roles of small-radius, high-electronegativity -site dopants in governing proton transport and chemical stability in perovskite electrolytes. We show that the higher electronegativity of an -site dopant weakens the -O ionic bonding, facilitating oxygen-vacancy formation and enhancing proton uptake by increasing the basicity. This weakened A-O interaction also suppresses the formation of impurity phases and reduces the adsorption strength of acidic gases such as and . The lattice contraction induced by the smaller ionic radius improves thermal stability and can enhance proton diffusion in systems where proton transfer is the rate-limiting step. Furthermore, we find that Ca surface segregation can mitigate grain-boundary resistance effects. Our results demonstrate the advantages of -site Ca doping in Ba-based electrolytes, clarify the mechanisms by which small-radius, high-electronegativity dopants influence proton transport and chemical stability, and provide guidance for the design of high-performance proton-conducting electrolytes.
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