Impact of Bi Deficiencies on Ferroelectric Resistive Switching Characteristics Observed at p‐Type Schottky‐Like Pt/Bi1–δFeO3 Interfaces

Abstract This work reports a resistive switching effect observed at rectifying Pt/Bi 1–δ FeO 3 interfaces and the impact of Bi deficiencies on its characteristics. Since Bi deficiencies provide hole carriers in BiFeO 3 , Bi‐deficient Bi 1–δ FeO 3 films act as a p‐type semiconductor. As the Bi deficiency increased, a leakage current at Pt/Bi 1–δ FeO 3 interfaces tended to increase, and finally, rectifying and hysteretic current–voltage ( I – V ) characteristics were observed. In I – V characteristics measured at a voltage‐sweep frequency of 1 kHz, positive and negative current peaks originating from ferroelectric displacement current were observed under forward and reverse bias prior to set and reset switching processes, respectively, suggesting that polarization reversal is involved in the resistive switching effect. The resistive switching measurements in a pulse‐voltage mode revealed that the switching speed and switching ratio can be improved by controlling the Bi deficiency. The resistive switching devices showed endurance of >10 5 cycles and data retention of >10 5 s at room temperature. Moreover, unlike conventional resistive switching devices made of metal oxides, no forming process is needed to obtain a stable resistive switching effect in the ferroelectric resistive switching devices. These results demonstrate promising prospects for application of the ferroelectric resistive switching effect at Pt/Bi 1–δ FeO 3 interfaces to nonvolatile memory.