Hysteresis of conductivity in the granular silver films

The electrical properties of the granular silver films located on a surface of sapphire substrates are experimentally investigated during deposition and thermal annealing. The strong influence of surface-based silver atom diffusion on film formation is revealed, both during and after deposition. The effect of resistance switching in the films of the various thicknesses close to the percolation threshold, depending on the applied voltage is found and investigated. These sharp changes of resistance of 5–7 orders can be reversible or irreversible, depending on film thickness.