OXYGEN VACANCY MOTION IN PEROVSKITE OXIDES

Using electron paramagnetic resonance, the motion of oxygen vacancies within the oxygen octahedron in perovskite BaTiO3 is observed via the alignment of oxygen vacancy-related defect dipoles induced by bias/hea t combinations, The vacancy motion is found to have an activation ener gy of 0.91 eV, in excellent agreement with that predicted, It is found that the onset of resistance degradation is also concurrent with oxyg en vacancy motion, This result spectroscopically demonstrates that oxy gen vacancy migration in the lattice is likely responsible for the obs erved degradation.