Percolation effect impact on resistive switching of structures based on nanocomposite (Co$_{40}$Fe$_{40}$B$_{20}$)$_{x}$(LiNbO$_3$)$_{100-x}$

Comparative studies of resistive switching (RS) effect of metal/nanocomposite/metal (M/NC/M), metal/nanocomposite/LiNbO$_3$/metal (M/NC/LNO/M) structures based on NC (Co$_{40}$Fe$_{40}$B$_{20}$)$_{x}$(LiNbO$_3$)$_{100-x}$ ($x$ = 6–20 at.%) with CoFe nanogranules 2–4 nm in size, as well as structures without a NC layer (M/LNO/M), have been carried out. It was found that the percolation conductivity in NC and presence of a thin LNO layer play a key role in the RS effect. When the metal content approaches the percolation threshold of M/NC/M structures ($x_p\approx$ 10 at.%), low-resistance percolation nanochannels of granules are formed in structures with an embedded LNO layer, which ensure their stable RS, which, however, are noticeably suppressed as $x$ decreases relative to $x_p$ by $\Delta x\approx$ 1–2 at.%.