Dielectric Breakdown by Electric-field Induced Phase Separation. Issue 11 (23rd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fraggedakis, Dimitrios; Mirzadeh, Mohammad; Zhou, Tingtao; Bazant, Martin Z.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 167:Issue 11(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07-23
• Subjects: intercalation -- phase separation -- memristors -- energy storage -- information storage -- dielectrics -- metal insulator transition; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/aba552
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : The control of the dielectric and conductive properties of device-level systems is important for increasing the efficiency of energy- and information-related technologies. In some cases, such as neuromorphic computing, it is desirable to increase the conductivity of an initially insulating medium by several orders of magnitude, resulting in effective dielectric breakdown. Here, we show that by tuning the value of the applied electric field in systems with variable permittivity and electric conductivity, e.g. ion intercalation materials, we can vary the device-level electrical conductivity by orders of magnitude. We attribute this behavior to the formation of filament-like conductive domains that percolate throughout the system, which form only when the electric conductivity depends on the concentration. We conclude by discussing the applicability of our results in neuromorphic computing devices and Li-ion batteries.