Correlative multimodal probing of ionically-mediated electromechanical phenomena in simple oxides

The local interplay between the ionic and electronic transport in NiO is explored using correlative imaging by first-order reversal curve measurements in current-voltage and electrochemical strain microscopy. Electronic current and electromechanical response are observed in reversible and electroforming regime. These studies provide insight into local mechanisms of electroresistive phenomena in NiO and establish universal method to study interplay between the ionic and electronic transport and electrochemical transformations in mixed electronic-ionic conductors.