Study of electrical conductivity and memory switching in the zinc–vanadium–phosphate glasses

Vanadium zinc phosphate glasses were prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique and effect of V2O5 concentration on d.c. conductivity of prepared samples were investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the glassy character of the samples. The d.c. conductivity increased with increase in V2O5 content. Results showed that activation energy has a single value in the investigated range of temperature, which can be explained in accordance with Mott small pollaron hopping model. I–V characteristics at high electric field showed that switching in these glasses was memory type. The threshold field of switching was found to decrease with increase in V2O5 content. Non-linear behavior and switching phenomenon was explained by Pool–Frenkel effect and thermal model.