Insulator-to-metal transition of SrTiO3:Nb single crystal surfaces induced by Ar+ bombardment

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of Ar+ bombardment of SrTiO3:Nb surface layers is investigated on the macro- and nanoscale using surface-sensitive methods. After bombardment, the stoichiometry and electronic structure are changed distinctly leading to an insulator-to-metal transition related to the change of the Ti “d” electron from d0 to d1 and d2. During bombardment, conducting islands are formed on the surface. The induced metallic state is not stable and can be reversed due to a redox process by external oxidation and even by self-reoxidation upon heating the sample to temperatures of 300 °C.