“…The inherent Vos in the Ti-O6 octrahedra that are created by preferentially removing the oxygen atoms due to the heavy Ar + ion bombardment during the sputtering process [27], generate conduction band electrons in the Ti 3d states. However, doping with Cr (via co-sputtering from a metallic Cr target) localizes the conduction band electrons by trapping them at Cr sites, which reduces the Cr from Cr 4+ to Cr 3+ species [66,67]. Consequently, no conduction electrons are introduced in the Ti 3d states and therefore the pristine Cr:a-STOx oxide exhibits an insulating nature.…”