Work

Dislocation‐Induced Local and Global Photoconductivity Enhancement and Mechanisms in Iron‐Doped SrTiO3

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Dislocations have a tremendous potential to alter band structure and transport properties. However, their impact on the optoelectronic properties of metal oxides is not thoroughly studied. This is mostly due to the early work on classical semiconductors, where dislocations are found to have detrimental effects. In this study, a simple method is developed to introduce a high density of dislocations over a large macroscopic volume of Fe‐doped SrTiO3 single crystals. As a result, the photoconductivity revealed by static and dynamic measurements increases by at least one order of magnitude. A detailed analysis based on photo‐Hall, spectral photoresponsivity, time‐resolved photocurrent, and conductive AFM, focusing on the quantum paraelectric state of SrTiO3, is presented to shed light on the possible mechanisms behind higher generated photocurrent. These findings indicate that the increased photoconductivity results from a higher charge carrier generation rate due to new energy states induced by dislocations, possibly accompanied by an enhancement of electron effective mass.

Source: Advanced Functional Materials

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202417952

Authors: Mehrzad Soleimany, Till Frömling, Jürgen Rödel, Marin Alexe

Institutions: Technische Universität Darmstadt, University of Warwick, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS

Language: English

Topic: Electronic and Structural Properties of Oxides

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,510

Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council