Abstract
We study resistive switching memory phenomena in conducting polymer PEDOT PSS. In the same film, there are two types of memory behavior coexisting; namely, the switchable diode effect and write once read many memory. This is the first report on switchable diode phenomenon based on conducting organic materials. The effect was explained as charge trapping of PEDOT PSS film and movement of proton. The same PEDOT PSS device also exhibits write once read many memory (WORM) phenomenon which arises due to redox reaction that reduces PEDOT PSS and renders it non-conducting. The revelation of these two types of memory phenomena in PEDOT PSS highlights the remarkable versatility of this conducting conjugated polymer.
Highlights
Organic materials have been investigated intensely for memory applications due to their low cost, flexibility and versatility
The write once read many memory mechanism in PEDOT PSS has been attributed to redox reactions that reduce PEDOT+ to PEDOTo in the bulk film[11]
Subsequent investigation of the dark area by Raman spectroscopy showed the disappearance of Raman peak at 1267 cm−1 and shoulder peak at 1400 cm−1 (Fig. S2b) after biasing − 5 V; this fact further indicates that the biased area has been reduced[23,24]
Summary
Organic materials have been investigated intensely for memory applications due to their low cost, flexibility and versatility. Various works have demonstrated interesting resistive memory phenomena in polymer and composites such as Dynamic Random access memory (DRAM)[2], Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)[3], Write Once Read Many Memory (WORM)[4] and Rewritable memory (FLASH)[5] The mechanisms behind these memory phenomena are often complex and depend strongly on the top electrode materials or deposition condition; the mechanisms are normally suggested by first principle calculations[6]. There are various mechanisms suggested for resistive switching phenomena in organic materials namely, donor-acceptor charge transfer complex[3], charge trapping due to redox reaction[7] and modulation of dopant in conjugated polymer[8] or electrode metal migration[9,10]. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to P.S.L. (email: pslee@ntu. edu.sg) www.nature.com/scientificreports/
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