Evolution of different structural phases of TiO2 films with oxygen partial pressure and Fe doping and their electrical properties

We have studied the influence of oxygen partial pressure (OPP; 250 mTorr–1 × 10−5 Torr) and Fe doping (2 and 4 at.%) on structural and electrical properties of TiO2 thin films on LaAlO3 substrates. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggests that Fe is not in metal cluster form. It is found that the evolution of the three phases; anatase, rutile and brookite of TiO2 as well as the magneli phase (TinO2n−1) strongly depends on the OPP and Fe doping concentration. All the films grown at 250 mTorr show insulating behavior, whereas films grown at 1 × 10−2 and 1 × 10−4 Torr reveal high temperature metallic to low temperature semiconducting transition. Interestingly, films deposited at 1 × 10−5 Torr reveal charge ordering, which is contributed to the magneli phase of TiO2. The present study suggests that functionality of TiO2 thin film based devices can be tuned by properly selecting the OPP and dopant concentration.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Fe doped and undoped TiO2 films are grown with varying oxygen partial pressure (OPP). ► Different structural and electrical phases of TiO2 films evolve with OPP. ► Phases obtained at different OPP are not same for films with different Fe doping. ► XPS confirms Fe is not in metal cluster form. ► Charge ordering is observed in magneli phase of Fe doped and undoped TiO2 films.