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 performed under current flow, and the distribution of the incorporated isotope was analyzed by a secondary ion mass spectrometer. The results were compared with calculations using a simple model. The lateral resolution of the present method was estimated to be around 1 μm. The quenching process and the imaging resolution should be improved to investigate further details.