Anomalous conductivity in PZT thin film deposited on copper substrate electrode.

Electrical properties of ferroelectric films are influenced by factors that include methods of synthesis and characteristics of the substrate electrode. Conductivity measurements were performed on PZT (lead zirconate titanate) thin films deposited by sol-gel synthesis on a copper electrode to investigate electric properties and isolate the principal charge carriers. A semiconducting PZT/Cu interface appears during thermal treatment, significantly influencing electric conduction. A power law, describing the transport mechanism across the PZT film, was found empirically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]