Model for the Resistive-Conductive Transition in Reversible Resistance-Switching Solids

Abstract

A model is given for the resistive-conductive transition in an amorphous or crystalline bistable resistance switch. The model is based on the observation that the current path in the switch is filamentary. The hypothesis is that the switching current heats the filament, and the resistive-conductive transition occurs only after the filament has achieved a critical temperature Tc. The predictions of the model are in excellent agreement with experimental observations of the resistive-conductive transition in single-crystalline Cu2O.