Transient and steady-state conduction in SOL-GEL PbZr 0.53 Ti 0.47 O 3 (PZT) films

I–V characteristics have been studied in PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3 thin films prepared by the sol-gel technique. The pronounced influence of measurement time, temperature, film thickness and electrode material on I–V response has been observed. The transition from initial quasilinear to strongly superlinear behavior with increasing field is attributed to change-over from a transient current regime to steady-state conduction governed by Schottky emission over the barrier between the film and metal electrode.