The use of Simmons' equation to quantify the insulating barrier parameters in Al/AlOx/Al tunnel junctions

被引:47
作者
Dorneles, LS [1 ]
Schaefer, DM [1 ]
Carara, M [1 ]
Schelp, LF [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Fed Santa Maria, Dept Fis, Faixa Camobi, BR-97105900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
关键词
D O I
10.1063/1.1569986
中图分类号
O59 [应用物理学];
学科分类号
摘要
We have analyzed the electron transport processes in Al/AlOx/Al junctions. The samples were produced by glow-discharge-assisted oxidation of the bottom electrode. The nonlinear I-V curves of 17 samples were measured at room temperature, being very well fitted using the Simmons' equation with the insulating barrier thickness, barrier height, and the junction area as free parameters. An exponential growth of the area normalized electrical resistance with thickness is obtained, using just values from I-V curve simulations. The effective tunneling area corresponding to the "hot spots" can be quantified and is five orders of magnitude smaller than the physical area in the studied samples. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.
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页码:2832 / 2834
页数:3
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