Preparation of Semiconducting Barium Titanate by Excimer Laser Irradiation

A drastic drop of the electrical resistivity was observed on a ferroelectric insulator BaTiO3 surface, after KrFlaser irradiation in air at atmospheric pressure. The temperature dependence of the resistivity was employed to demonstrate semiconducting behavior. Such behavior was seen when the resistance was measured in nitrogen. When measured in air, the semiconducting layer was oxidized and the insulating behavior restored.