Controllable Nonclassical Conductance Switching in Nanoscale Phase‐Separated (PbI2)1−x(BiI3)x Layered Crystals. Issue 51 (15th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alexander, Grant C. B.; Krantz, Patrick W.; Jung, Hee Joon; Davis, Samuel Kenneth; Xu, Yaobin; Dravid, Vinayak P.; Chandrasekhar, Venkat; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials. Volume 33:Issue 51(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-10-15
• Subjects: conductance switching -- nanoscale crystals -- nonlinear charge transport -- phase separation; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202103098
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0935-9648

Abstract

Abstract: Layered 2D (PbI2 )1− x (BiI3 ) x materials exhibit a nonlinear dependence in structural and charge transport properties unanticipated from the combination of PbI2 and BiI3 . Within (PbI2 )1− x (BiI3 ) x crystals, phase integration yields deceptive structural features, while phase boundary separation leads to new conductance switching behavior observed as large peaks in current during current–voltage ( I – V ) measurements (±100 V). Temperature‐ and time‐dependent electrical measurements demonstrate that the behavior is attributed to ionic transport perpendicular to the layers. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals that the structure of (PbI2 )1− x (BiI3 ) x is a "brick wall" consisting of two phases, Pb‐rich and Bi‐rich. These brick‐like features are 10s nm a side and it is posited that iodide ion transport at the interfaces of these regions is responsible for the conductance switching action. Abstract : The combination of 2D semiconductors PbI2 and BiI3 unveils nonlinear electronic behavior. The behavior manifests in a "switch‐like" fashion yielding "on" and "off" type states. This behavior is found to arise from phase‐boundary formation induced by minute lattice‐parameter differences. An ionic transport mechanism to describe the origin of this novel behavior is proposed.