An automated measuring complex has been created based on x-ray diffractometer with a high temperature attachment and microprocessor regulator of partial oxygen pressure for simultaneous studies of oxygen exchange processes and structural evolution of oxide materials.

The high-temperature chamber contains a circulating electrochemical pump-sensor system that makes it possible to carry out in situ x-ray structure investigations in a wide temperature range (300-1500 K) and under the conditions of controllable partial oxygen pressure in the range of 1–10^–22 atm. The pump-sensor system is assembled on the basis of oxygen-conducting solid electrolytes 0.9 ZrO2-0.1 Y2O3 with an automatic test system that regulates the partial oxygen pressure by controlling electromotive force.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

The oxygen cell and the heating and cooling of the furnace are controlled by a microprocessor regulator operating in the manual or automatic mode, with the system parameters being monitored digitally and graphically on a computer display. That makes it possible to eliminate the necessity of using a bulky vacuum system for the experiment and to vary the partial pressure in the range of 1–10^–18 atm.