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Probing the impact of surface reactivity on charge transport in dimensional phase changed tungsten films

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Abstract

A clear understanding of the surface chemical reactivity of tungsten (W) films is indispensable for photocatalytic, sensing and memory applications, especially in the presence of WOx (0 ≤ x ≤ 3) for low thicknesses. Here, surface reactivity of the film through diffusion of oxygen and its ability to make bonds with W is identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Further inspection of XPS valence band spectra confirms the possible hybridization of W 5d and O 2p electrons in the presence of defect states near Fermi level. Exploration of surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals agglomeration of grains with increasing film thickness. Detailed microstructural and grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) studies suggest the formation of β W nanocrystallites in amorphous matrix, and establish a knowledge of thickness dependent phase transformation of W beside surface oxidation. The nonlinear surface current–voltage characteristics at low thickness further indicates dimensional phase change owing to the involvement of point defects. We also report a detailed study of interstitial and vacancy mediated diffusion probability of oxygen in W films, where the estimated diffusion constant is found to be relatively higher than that of other body-centered cubic transition metals.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support received from Shiv Nadar University and Department of Science and Technology, India under the project number of DST/EMR/2014/000971. Authors would also like to thank Dr. Ashish Kumar from IUAC, New Delhi for his kind help in electrical measurements. AC would like to acknowledge the help received from Mr. Joshua Asirvatham and Mr. Dip Das from Shiv Nadar University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, NH-91, Tehsil Dadri, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, 201314, India

    Ananya Chattaraj & Aloke Kanjilal

  2. Inter-University Accelerator Centre, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India

    Saif Khan

  3. Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Niezapominajek 8, 30-239, Krakow, Poland

    Lukasz Walczak

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  1. Ananya Chattaraj
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Correspondence to Aloke Kanjilal.

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Chattaraj, A., Khan, S., Walczak, L. et al. Probing the impact of surface reactivity on charge transport in dimensional phase changed tungsten films. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 30, 8278–8285 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-01145-y

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