Diffusion of water in crystalline and glassy oxides: Diffusion–reaction model

Abstract

Diffusion of water in oxides is modeled as resulting from the solution and diffusion of molecular water in the oxide. This dissolved water can react and exchange with the oxide network to form immobile OH groups and different hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in the oxide. The model agrees with many experiments on water diffusion in oxides. The activation energy for diffusion of water in oxides correlates with the structural openness of the oxide, suggesting that molecular water is the diffusing species.