Hydrogen-induced degradation in strontium titanate single crystals

Hydrogen-induced degradation in strontium titanate single crystals was studied through an electrochemical hydrogen charging process, in which the silver electrodes of the crystals were made a cathode in 0.01 M NaOH solution to evolve hydrogen by electrolysis of water. After the process, the resistance of the crystals was decreased by more than one order of magnitude, the dielectric loss was obviously increased, and the capacitance became more dependent on frequency. It is proposed that atomic hydrogen generated by electrolysis of water diffuses into the crystals and exists as a charged interstitial impurity donating electrons to the conduction band of the crystals. Attention should be paid to this hydrogen-induced degradation when the reliability of perovskite-type ferroelectric devices and components is studied.