How is oxygen incorporated into oxides? A comprehensive kinetic study of a simple solid-state reaction with SrTiO3 as a model material.

The kinetics of stoichiometry change of an oxide--a prototype of a simple solid-state reaction and a process of substantial technological relevance--is studied and analyzed in great detail. Oxygen incorporation into strontium titanate was chosen as a model process. The complete reaction can be phenomenologically and mechanistically understood beginning with the surface reaction and ending with the transport in the perovskite. Key elements are a detailed knowledge of the defect chemistry of the perovskite as well as the application of a variety of experimental and theoretical tools, many of them evolving from this study. The importance of the reaction and transport steps for (electro)chemical applications is emphasized.