Abstract
The influence of oxygen content in active zirconium oxide layers on the electrophysical properties of TaN/ZrO x /Ni memristors is investigated. The [O]/[Zr] atomic ratio (x) in the oxide layers was varied in the range from 1.56 to 2.0 by changing the partial oxygen pressure during their deposition by ion-beam sputtering deposition. The ZrO x film compositions were analyzed using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory simulations. The multiple resistive switching phenomenon in TaN/ZrO x /Ni memristors was found to occur in a certain range of x ≥ 1.78. With the x value decreasing in the oxide layers, the forming voltage of memristors decreased. Furthermore, at the lower edge of x values the switchable range, they no longer required forming. At the same time, as the x value decreased, the memory window (I ON/I OFF ratio) also decreased from 5 to 1 order of magnitude due to an increase in the memristor conductivity in the high resistance state. In order to identify the underlying conduction mechanism of TaN/ZrO x /Ni memristors, their current–voltage curves in low and high resistance states were analyzed in the temperature range from 250 to 400 K for the samples with x = 1.78 (forming-free) and 1.97 (which required forming). It was found that, for both samples, the conductivity in the low-resistance state is characterized by the trap-free space-charge-limited current (SCLC) model, whereas the conductivity in the high-resistance state is characterized by the trap-mediated SCLC model. The possible origins of structural defects involved in the memristor conductivity and resistive switching are discussed based on the obtained results.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.