Threshold switching in V2O5-ZnO-SrO-FeO glasses

Density and current–field characteristics related to switching phenomenon in zinc-doped strontium iron vanadate glasses having the formula (70 − x)%V2O5–x%ZnO–10%SrO–20%FeO, have been investigated over a wide composition range [0 ≤ x ≤ 15] at different thicknesses and temperatures. The samples are found to show threshold switching behavior. The switching fields are found to increase with the increase of zinc content while they decrease when the temperature is increased. The activation energy for switching was found to increase with the increase of ZnO content. Finally, the switching results are discussed in terms of the electrothermal model depending on the samples thicknesses and power calculus.

► Bulk V2O5–ZnO–SrO–FeO glasses have been found to exhibit a threshold switching.
► The density was found to increase linearly with increasing the %ZnO in the glasses.
► The threshold fields are found to increase with the sample thickness.
► The activation energy Wo for switching was found to increase from 0.088 eV to 0.24 eV with the increase of ZnO content.
► The electrothermal mechanism is the most applicable mechanism to describe these data.