Light-induced conversion of an insulating refractory oxide into a persistent electronic conductor

摘要: Materials that are good electrical conductors not in general optically transparent, yet a combination of high conductivity and transparency is desirable for many emerging opto-electronic applications1,2,3,4,5,6. To this end, various transparent oxides composed transition or post-transition metals (such as indium tin oxide) rendered electrically conducting by ion doping1,2,3,4,5,6. But such an approach does work the abundant main-group metals. Here we demonstrate process which insulating oxide 12CaO·7Al2O3 (refs 7–13) can be converted into conductor. H- ions incorporated subnanometre-sized cages thermal treatment hydrogen atmosphere; subsequent irradiation material with ultraviolet light results conductive state persists after ceases. The photo-activated exhibits moderate (∼0.3 S cm-1) at room temperature, visible absorption losses only one per cent 200-nm-thick films. We suggest concept applied to other metal oxides, direct optical writing wires media formation high-density memory.