Mechanism and control of the metal-to-insulator transition in rocksalt tantalum nitride

L. Yu, C. Stampfl, D. Marshall, T. Eshrich, V. Narayanan, J. M. Rowell, Nathan Newman, A. J. Freeman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

We identify the previously unknown mechanism whereby rocksalt TaxN can be continuously tuned from conducting to insulating through changes in stoichiometry. Experimental measurements on thin films, combined with electronic structure calculations on a host of native defects, show that the tunability arises from changes in the free electron concentration as a result of localization at Ta vacancies (VTa). The observed enhanced resistivity, transition from electron to hole conduction at x∼0.6, and diminished mid-IR reflectance are consistent with the dominance of the VTa defect in nitrogen-rich material.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number245110
Pages (from-to)2451101-2451105
Number of pages5
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume65
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 15 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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