Resistance Switching Characteristics of Zirconium Oxide Containing Gold Nanocrystals for Nonvolatile Memory Applications

　　Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 9, 723-726 (2009)

　　Authors：Weihua Guan, Shibing Long, Yuan Hu, Qi Liu, Qin Wang, and Ming Liu

　　Abstract:

　　Resistive switching characteristics of ZrO2 films containing gold nanocrystals (nc-Au) are investigated for nonvolatile memory applications. The sandwiched top electrode/ZrO2 (with nc-Au embedded)/n+ Si structure exhibits two stable resistance states (high-resistance state and low-resistance state). By applying proper voltage bias, resistive switching from one state to the other state can be achieved. This resistive switching behavior is reproducible and the ratio between the high and low resistances can be as high as two orders. The intentionally introduced nc-Au in ZrO2 films can improve the device yield greatly. ZrO2 films with gold nanocrystals embedded are promising to be used in the nonvolatile resistive switching memory devices. ?2007 American Institute of Physics.