Laser induced transition in Cerium Oxide thin film

TL;DR

This paper investigates how laser irradiation induces a transition from a metastable state in cerium oxide thin films, affecting their transport properties and metal-insulator transition, with implications for memristive and neuromorphic applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates that laser irradiation can modulate the transition temperature and energy states in cerium oxide thin films, revealing new control mechanisms for their electronic properties.

Findings

Laser irradiation decreases the transition temperature in cerium oxide films.

Generation of energy states is linked to oxygen vacancies and polaron hopping.

Transport properties are tunable via external laser control.

Abstract

The complex interaction between the intrinsic and extrinsic state variables of strongly correlated insulator thin films is drawing interest as it shows memristive behavior that may be used in neuromorphic computing. In this study, we have observed that laser irradiation in cerium oxide thin film helps to make transition from metastable state. We study the transport properties of cerium oxide thin film which shows the metal-insulator transition. As for ceria the reduction of oxidation states depends upon oxygen vacancy defects which can be controlled by external ways due to which the transport property can vary. In this study, a decrease in the value of transition temperature under dark conditions was observed as laser-induced and we have explained this result by the generation of energy states observed from temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) study, oxygen vacancy defects, and polaron hopping within ceria.