Mapping the phase diagram of a YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ nanowire through electromigration

TL;DR

This study demonstrates a method using electromigration to precisely control and tune the oxygen content in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ nanowires, enabling detailed exploration of their transport properties across different doping levels.

Contribution

The paper introduces electromigration as a novel technique for nanoscale doping control in YBCO nanowires, allowing reversible and homogeneous tuning of oxygen content within a single device.

Findings

Electromigration effectively adjusts oxygen doping levels in YBCO nanowires.

Homogeneous doping along the nanowire confirmed by electrical and Kelvin probe measurements.

The method enables studying transport properties across a wide doping range at the nanoscale.

Abstract

We use electromigration (EM) to tune the oxygen content of YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ (YBCO) nanowi\-res. During EM, the dopant oxygen atoms in the nanowire are moved under the combined effect of electrostatic force and Joule heating. The EM current can be tuned to either deplete or replenish nanowires with oxygen, allowing fine tuning of its hole doping level. Electrical transport measurements and Kelvin probe microscopy corroborate good homogeneity of the doping level along the electromigrated nanowires. Thus, EM provides an effective method to study transport properties of YBCO in a wide doping range at the nanoscale in one and the same device.