Non-Linear I-V Characteristics and Threshold Switching in As-Te-In Glasses
Abstract
Non-linear I-V behaviour and electrical switching exhibited by chalcogenide glassy semiconductors, find applications in variety of areas including information storage and power control. In this work, semiconducting chalcogenide As(40)Te(60-x)In(x) glasses (7.5 <- x <- 16.5) have been prepared by melt quenching technique. The current-voltage and electrical switching behaviour of these glasses have been studied using a custom-built PC based system. The results obtained clearly indicate that all the glasses studied exhibit current controlled negative resistance behaviour, which leads to the low resistance state. The switching to the low resistance state is found to be reversible (threshold behaviour) and the samples revert back to the high resistance state on reducing the current. Threshold switching over such a wide range of compositions has been observed only in very few systems so far. The most interesting outcome of the present studies is the variation of the switching voltage with composition. It is observed that there is an increase in the switching voltage (threshold voltage) V(sub t) with the increase in indium concentration in the composition range 7.5 <- x <- 12.3. Further, the composition dependence of switching field is found to exhibit a distinct change in slope at x=12.3 (mechanical threshold) and V(sub t) continues to increase with x until x=13.5. Mound x=13.5, the trend is reversed and V(sub t) starts decreasing with x. A minimum in V(sub t) is seen around the composition x=14.3, which corresponds to the chemical threshold of the As-Te-in system. Beyond x=14.3, switching voltage is found to increase with composition again. The present results are consistent with earlier observations, which indicate the composition dependence of switching voltages of chalcogenide glasses are influenced by chemical ordering and rigidity percolation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADP011907
Entities
People
- B. H. Sharmila
- E. S. Gopal
- J. T. Devaraju
- K. V. Acharya
- S. Asokan
Organizations
- Bengaluru University