Programmable organic thin-film devices with extremely high current densities

Abstract

Thin (12nm) organic films consisting of self-assembled multilayers of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid were contacted by gold electrodes. The devices could be operated as a programmable memory by applying low-voltage pulses to increase the conductivity by 103 and then high-voltage pulses to reverse the increase; the conductivity of the stored state could be read nondestructively by applying a still-lower voltage pulse. Programmed states remained stable for longer than three months and devices were functional for more than 104 programming cycles. Current-voltage measurements of the devices revealed negative differential resistance with enormous current densities characteristic of metallic conduction (up to 107A∕cm2). These results are promising for application in dense, high-speed memory arrays, where resistance-capacitance delays can be minimized by large current densities.

Theoretical and experimental investigation into environment dependence and electric properties for volatile memory based on methyl-red dye thin film

“…With higher applied bias, the same behavior is achieved but at different current level. The information can be erased with opposite applied bias [8,9].…”

Field-Absorbed Water Induced Electrochemical Processes in Organic Thin Film Junctions

“…These junctions have a serious problem of short-circuiting upon metal filament formation. Despite this problem, metal filaments may also be used as the actual switching component in an otherwise more passive material with a low volatility of the ON- and OFF-states, − as well as exceptionally high ON-state conductance and ON/OFF conductance ratios. − In either case, a thorough understanding of the filament formation mechanism is crucial. One of the better studied organic systems exhibiting more reproducible metal filament formation is regiorandom poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) films sandwiched between a Cu electrode and an electrode of another metal .…”

Conductance Switching in an Organic Material: From Bulk to Monolayer

“…Certain organic molecules exhibit electrical bistability in their current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] In an electrical bistable device, at least two conducting states are observed at a particular voltage. A suitable voltage pulse induces a high conducting state.…”

“…To fulfill the technological demand of ultrahigh-density memory elements, focus has now shifted to organic molecules. Certain organic molecules exhibit electrical bistability in their current−voltage ( I − V ) characteristics. − In an electrical bistable device, at least two conducting states are observed at a particular voltage. A suitable voltage pulse induces a high conducting state.…”