Evidence of the pressure-induced conductivity switching of yttrium-doped SrTiO3

J Phys Condens Matter. 2016 Nov 30;28(47):475501. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/28/47/475501. Epub 2016 Sep 16.

Abstract

The electrical transport properties of undoped and yttrium-doped strontium titanate (Sr(Ti1 - x Y x )O3 - δ , x = 0, 0.02) under high pressure were investigated with in situ impedance spectroscopy measurements. A pressure-induced conductivity switching for undoped and 2 mole% Y-doped strontium titanate is observed at around ~10.0 and 7.0 GPa respectively, which are caused by a cubic to tetragonal I4/mcm phase transition. The decrease of the phase transition point of 2 mole% Y-doped strontium titanate can be attributed to larger Y(3+) atoms occupying the B-site and the creation of more oxygen vacancies, which lead to octahedra tilting and symmetry breaking. The results of the voltage-bias dependence of grain-boundary impedance of undoped and 2 mole% Y-doped strontium titanate at different pressures revealed that Schottky-type potential barriers formed at grain boundaries are the key factor for the accumulation of oxygen vacancy at the interface under pressure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't