Conductivity of nanostructured India oxide films containing Co3O4 or ZrO2

Abstract

The effect of additives of cobalt and zirconium oxides on the conductivity of nanostructured composites based on indium oxide is studied. It is shown that addition of up to 20 wt % ZrO₂ to In₂O₃ leads to a sharp decrease in the conductivity of the composite. For the Co₃O₄−In₂O₃ system, the conductivity decreases up to a Co₃O₄ content of 60 wt %, after which it increases. At a Co₃O₄ content in the Co₃O₄−In₂O₃ system of up to 60 wt %, n-type conduction takes place, changing to p-type at 80 to 100 wt % Co₃O₄. Zirconium oxide exhibits practically no n-type conduction, so electric current in the ZrO₂−In₂O₃ system flows through In₂O₃ nanocrystals, i.e., n-type conduction takes place. Possible causes of the observed effects are considered.