Method to distinguish ferroelectric from nonferroelectric origin in case of resistive switching in ferroelectric capacitors

Abstract

We present investigations on the resistive switching effect in SrRu O3 Pb Zr0.2 Ti0.8 O3 Pt ferroelectric capacitors. Using a conductive atomic force microscope, the out-of-plane piezoelectric response and the capacitive and resistive current were simultaneously measured as a function of applied bias voltage. We observed two independent switching phenomena, one attributed to the ferroelectric switching process and the other to resistive switching.We show that I-V curves alone are not sufficient in ferroelectric materials to clarify the underlying switching mechanism and must be used with sufficient caution. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.