Spatial distribution of oxygen vacancies in Cr-doped SrTiO{sub 3} during an electric-field-driven insulator-to-metal transition

Journal Article · Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3069140· OSTI ID:21175860

Andreasson, B P; Janousch, M; Staub, U ^[1]; Meijer, G I ^[2]

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1. Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI (Switzerland)
2. IBM Research, Zurich Research Laboratory, 8803 Rueschlikon (Switzerland)

Spatially resolved x-ray fluorescence maps are presented that show the introduction and the evolution of oxygen vacancies in chromium-doped strontium titanate during an electric-field-driven insulator-to-metal transition. The vacancies are introduced at the anode and diffuse through the crystal toward the cathode. The spatial distribution of vacancies is explained by a model describing the electrical breakdown as a percolation process. Strong differences in the vacancy distribution were found when the transition took place in air and in a hydrogen-enriched atmosphere. In air, the vacancies disappeared from the surface, whereas in the reducing hydrogen atmosphere, they remained at the surface.

• OSTI ID: 21175860
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 94, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3069140; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
AIR
ANODES
ATMOSPHERES
CATHODES
CHROMIUM
CRYSTALS
DOPED MATERIALS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRICAL FAULTS
FLUORESCENCE
HYDROGEN
OXYGEN
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STRONTIUM TITANATES
VACANCIES
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS