Polyvinyl-alcohol based devices with highly conductive, optically active boron-doped ZnO nanoparticles for efficient resistive-switching at ultralow operating voltage

We report the efficacy of chemically synthesized Boron doped ZnO (BZO) nanoparticles (NPs), sandwiched between two insulating poly(vinyl-alcohol) (PVA) polymer layers, towards developing an organic bistable device (OBD). The band gap of Boron doped ZnO nanoparticle was found to increase with the increase of boron concentrations till 3% of doping, whereas the crystallite size of the same decreased with increase of boron concentrations. Current-voltage measurements of all the Al/PVA/BZO/PVA/ITO multilayer devices, with various Boron content, showed a distinct electrical bistability and the device with Boron doping content as low as 3%, exhibited improved switching behaviour, which was attributed to the carrier trapping. Device with 3% BZO, in the active layer, was found to have ON/OFF resistance ratios greater than 102 and long retention time of the order of 1 x 10(4) s. Underlying principle of the characteristics of OBDs was discussed in the light of charge transport and storage within the NPs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.