Y. Nakamura et al., Nonlinear current-voltage characteristics with negative resistance observed at ZnO-ZnO single-contacts, J AM CERAM, 82(11), 1999, pp. 3069-3074
A couple of zinc oxide (ZnO) single crystals with single boundaries (ZnO-Zn
O single-contacts) are fabricated by the traditional vapor reaction method
and their electrical properties are characterized, The ZnO-ZnO single-conta
cts obtained show nonlinear current-voltage (I-V) characteristics without v
aristor-forming constituents. Some of the ZnO-ZnO single-contacts show pron
ounced nonlinear I-V characteristics with negative resistance. The I-V char
acteristics of the ZnO-ZnO single-contacts are apparently similar to those
of ZnO varistors; however, there are marked differences in the electric str
ucture of the boundaries between the ZnO-ZnO single-contacts and ZnO varist
ors, The capacitance-voltage (C-V) relations of the ZnO-ZnO single-contacts
are quite different from that of ZnO varistors and no evidence for the for
mation of double Schottky barriers at the boundary region are found. A very
slow response to current stress is a feature of ZnO-ZnO single-contacts an
d it is suggested that any thermal processes including Joule heat would mod
ify the carrier transport efficiency through the boundaries.