Oxygen-separating device utilizing ionic oxygen motion

An apparatus, comprising:

• an oxide layer having ion transport channels therein, the channels facilitating the migration of oxygen ions from a first side of the layer to a second side of the layer;
• a first chamber into which a gas mixture is admitted, the first chamber being located on the first side of the oxide layer;
• a second chamber into which oxygen is admitted from the oxide layer, the second chamber being located on the second side of the oxide layer, the second chamber having a polarizable medium therein that is in contact with the oxide layer;
• and
• a gate electrode that is in contact with, and applies a voltage to, the polarizable medium, such that an electric field is applied to the second side of the oxide layer, thereby driving oxygen ions across the oxide layer, so that oxygen ions travel from the first side of the oxide layer to the second side of the oxide layer, wherein:
• molecular oxygen is decomposed into oxygen ions at the first side of the oxide layer;
• and
• oxygen ions recombine into molecular oxygen at the second side of the oxide layer.