Resistive switching and optical properties of strontium ferrate titanate thin film prepared via chemical solution deposition

Abstract The polycrystalline strontium ferrate titanate (SrFe0.1Ti0.9O3, abbreviated to SFTO) thin films have been successfully prepared by chemical solution method. By analyzing the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, we discuss the conduction mechanism of SFTO. It is found that the number of oxygen vacancy defects is increased by Fe ions doping, making SFTO be with better resistive switching property. Fe ions doping can also enhance the absorption of strontium titanate to be exposed to visible light, which is associated with the change of energy band. The band gap width (2.84 eV) of SFTO films is figured out, which is less than that of pure strontium titanate. Due to more oxygen vacancy defects caused by Fe ions doping, the band gap width of strontium titanate was reduced slightly. The defect types of SFTO thin films can be determined by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. In addition, we analyzed the energy band and state density of SFTO by first-principle calculation based on density functional theory, and found that Fe ions doping can reduce the band gap width of strontium titanate with micro-regulation on the band structure. A chemical state of SFTO was analyzed by X-ray photo electron spectroscopy. At the same time, the structure and morphology of SFTO were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. This study deepened the understanding of the influence of Fe ions doping on the structure and properties of strontium ferrate titanate, which is expected to be a functional thin film material for memristor devices.