Local structure around Sc in BaZr(1-x)Sc(x)O(3-delta) protonic conductor has been investigated by (45)Sc MAS-NMR. The MAS-NMR spectra were consisted of several peaks, which can be assigned to Sc in different coordination environment. Compositional dependence of the spectrum was observed. The coordination environment of Sc is determined from the peak deconvolution, and the oxygen vacancy concentration and the protonic defect concentration around Sc were obtained. The present investigation suggests that oxygen vacancies preferentially located around Sc and the concentration of oxygen vacancies in the vicinity of Sc increases with increasing the Sc content. Protonic defects were found to be preferentially located around Sc at lower Sc content. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,