Studies on structural, optical, magnetic, and resistive switching properties of doped BiFe1-xCrxO3 thin films

We report the effect of multivalent Cr-ion doping on the structural, optical, magnetic, and resistive switching properties of BiFe1-xCrxO3 (BFCO) thin films (where, 0 <= x <= 0.15). BFCO thin films were deposited on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si (100) substrate using pulsed laser deposition technique. X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman analysis revealed the presence of a secondary phase in BFCO thin films, above 5% Cr doping concentrations. Enhanced magnetization was observed in BFCO films owing to ferromagnetic superexchange interaction between Fe and Cr-ions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements revealed the multivalent states of Cr and Fe-ions, where suppression of oxygen vacancies due to Cr-ion doping in BFCO films was discussed based on the defect chemistry viewpoint. Moreover, current conduction and resistive switching properties were studied and the dominant switching mechanism was explained in the light of oxygen vacancies assisted filamentary conduction model