Strain modulation of transport criticality in RuO2-based thick-film resistors

Abstract

We show that in RuO2-glass composites the nonuniversal resistivity exponent can be modulated by an applied mechanical strain, signaled by a logarithmic divergence of the piezoresistive response at the percolation threshold. We interpret this phenomenon as being due to a tunneling-distance dependence of the transport exponent, supporting therefore a theory of transport nonuniversality proposed some years ago. © 2004 American Institute of Physics.