Study of electrical conductivity and memory switching in the zinc–vanadium–phosphate glasses

Abstract Vanadium zinc phosphate glasses were prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique and effect of V 2 O 5 concentration on d.c. conductivity of prepared samples were investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the glassy character of the samples. The d.c. conductivity increased with increase in V 2 O 5 content. Results showed that activation energy has a single value in the investigated range of temperature, which can be explained in accordance with Mott small pollaron hopping model. I – V characteristics at high electric field showed that switching in these glasses was memory type. The threshold field of switching was found to decrease with increase in V 2 O 5 content. Non-linear behavior and switching phenomenon was explained by Pool–Frenkel effect and thermal model.