Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Studies on nonvolatile resistance memory switching in ZnO thin films

  • Published:
Bulletin of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Six decades of research on ZnO has recently sprouted a new branch in the domain of resistive random access memories. Highly resistive and c-axis oriented ZnO thin films were grown by us using d.c. discharge assisted pulsed laser deposition on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates at room temperature. The resistive switching characteristics of these films were studied in the top-bottom configuration using current-voltage measurements at room temperature. Reliable and repeated switching of the resistance of ZnO thin films was obtained between two well defined states of high and low resistance with a narrow dispersion and small switching voltages. Resistance ratios of the high resistance state to low resistance state were found to be in the range of 2–5 orders of magnitude up to 20 test cycles. The conduction mechanism was found to be dominated by the Ohmic behaviour in low resistance states, while Poole-Frenkel emission was found to dominate in high resistance state. The achieved characteristics of the resistive switching in ZnO thin films seem to be promising for nonvolatile memory applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akerman J 2000 Science 308 508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck A, Bednorz J G, Gerber Ch, Rossel C and Widmer D 2000 Appl. Phys. Lett. 77 139

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang W -Y, Lai Y -C, Wu T -B, Wang S -F, Chen F and Tsai M -J 2008 Appl. Phys. Lett. 92 022110

  • Choi B J et al 2005 J. Appl. Phys. 98 033715

    Google Scholar 

  • Frenkel J 1938 Phys. Rev. 54 647

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim K M and Hwang C S 2009 Appl. Phys. Lett. 94 122109

    Google Scholar 

  • Kund M, Beitel G, Pinnow C -U, Rohr T, Schumann J, Symanczyk R, Ufert K -D and Muller G 2005 International electron devices meeting (Washington: IEEE) p. 745

    Google Scholar 

  • Kukreja L M, Singh B N and Misra P 2008 Pulsed laser deposition of nanostructured semiconductors, in BOTTOM-UP NANOFABRICATION: Supramolecules, self-assemblies and organized films (eds) K Ariga and H S Nalwa (California: American Scientific) Ch. 9

    Google Scholar 

  • Lai S 2003 International Electron Devices Meeting, IEEE 10·1·1

  • Lee H -Y, Chen P -S, Wang C -C, Maikap S, Tzeng P -J, Lin C -H, Lee L -S and Tsai M -J 2007 Jap. J. Appl. Phys. 46 2157

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott J F and Paz de Araujo C A 1989 Science 246 1400

    Article  PubMed  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seo J W, Park J -W, Lim K S, Yang J -H and Kang S J 2008 Appl. Phys. Lett. 93 223505

  • Seo S et al 2004 Appl. Phys. Lett. 85 5655

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • White M H, Adams D A and Bu J 2000 Circuits and Devices Magazine, IEEE 16 22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu X, Jhou P, Li J, Chen L Y, Lv H B, Lin Y Y and Tang T A 2007 Appl. Phys. Lett. 90 183507

  • Yeargan J R and Taylor H L 1968 J. Appl. Phys. 39 5600

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh P 1988 Optical waves in layered media (New York: Wiley)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S, Long S, Guan W, Liu Q, Wang Q and Liu M 2009 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 42 055112

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laser Materials Processing Division, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore, 452 013, India

    L. M. Kukreja, A. K. Das & P. Misra

Authors
  1. L. M. Kukreja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. K. Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Misra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. M. Kukreja.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kukreja, L.M., Das, A.K. & Misra, P. Studies on nonvolatile resistance memory switching in ZnO thin films. Bull Mater Sci 32, 247–252 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-009-0037-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-009-0037-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation