On the switching behaviour of post-breakdown conduction in ultra-thin SiO₂films

Switching between well defined states of post-breakdown conduction in ultra-thin SiO 2 films is observed in both I - V and time-domain voltage (current) measurements under constant low bias current (voltage). Using I - V measurements, single switching with two conduction states and multiple switching with more than two states was observed. The I - V characteristic of each state can be well modelled by the power law, and a convincing linear dependence is observed for each state when the I - V characteristics are plotted on a log-log scale. The switching behaviour is explained in terms of the on/off state of percolation paths of neutral electron traps due to de-trapping/trapping of the traps at certain SiO 2 lattice sites (strategic positions) during the measurements.