Self-Rectifying and Forming-Free Resistive-Switching Device for Embedded Memory Application

Abstract

The self-rectifying resistive-switching (RS) device is one of the most promising solutions to overcome the sneaking current issue in a 3D vertical crossbar array. In this letter, we report a CMOS-compatible, forming-free, self-rectifying resistive random access memory device with high uniformity and low operation voltage (<;3V) for embedded memory application. Thanks to the low read voltage, this device shows robust read disturbance (>10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">9</sup> ) characteristics. After introducing a 3-nm HfO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> thin film between Pd and WO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">x</sub> layer, Schottky contact of Pd/HfO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> was formed, which resulted in rectifying property. The HfO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> layer also served as an oxygen reservoir for RS in WO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">x</sub> layer. This novel memory device with excellent performance is a promising candidate for future high density embedded memory application.