Rewritable nano-surface organic electrical bistable devices
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsYang Yang, Liping Ma
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Abstract
A bistable electrical device that is convertible between a low resistance state and a high resistance state. The device includes at least one layer of organic low conductivity material that is sandwiched between two electrodes. A buffer layer is located between the organic layer and at least one of the electrodes. The buffer layer includes particles in the form of flakes or dots of a low conducting material or insulating material that are present in a sufficient amount to only partially cover the electrode surface. The presence of the buffer layer controls metal migration into the organic layer when voltage pulses are applied between the electrodes to convert the device back and forth between the low and high resistance states.
Claims27
A bistable electrical device that is convertible between a low resistance state and a high resistance state, said device comprising:
- a first electrode that includes a first electrode surface;
- a layer of organic low conductivity material having a first surface and a second surface wherein said first surface of said organic layer is in electrical contact with said first electrode surface;
- a second electrode that includes a second electrode surface;
- and
- a buffer layer located between said second electrode surface and the second surface of said organic layer, said buffer layer comprising particles of a low conducting material or insulating material that are present in a sufficient amount to only partially cover said second electrode surface and wherein said buffer layer is sufficient to provide conversion of said bistable electrical device between said low resistance state and said high resistance state when an electrical voltage is applied between said first and second electrodes.
A method for making a bistable electrical device comprising the steps of:
- providing a first electrode that includes a first electrode surface;
- providing a layer of organic low conductivity material having a first surface and a second surface wherein said first surface of said organic layer is in electrical contact with said first electrode surface;
- providing a second electrode that includes a second electrode surface;
- and
- providing a buffer layer located between said second electrode surface and the second surface of said organic layer, said buffer layer comprising particles of a low conducting material or insulating material that are present in a sufficient amount to only partially cover said second electrode surface and wherein said buffer layer is sufficient to provide conversion of said bistable electrical device between said low resistance state and said high resistance state when an electrical voltage is applied between said first and second electrodes.
A memory device comprising:
- A) a bistable electrical device comprising:
- a first electrode that includes a first electrode surface;
- a layer of organic low conductivity material having a first surface and a second surface wherein said first surface of said organic layer is in electrical contact with said first electrode surface;
- a second electrode that includes a second electrode surface;
- and
- a buffer layer located between said second electrode surface and the second surface of said organic layer, said buffer layer comprising particles of a low conducting material or insulating material that are present in a sufficient amount to only partially cover said second electrode surface and wherein said buffer layer is sufficient to provide conversion of said bistable electrical device between said low resistance state and said high resistance state when an electrical voltage is applied between said first and second electrodes;
- B) a memory input element for applying a voltage to said bistable electrical device to convert said bistable electrical device between said low electrical resistance state and said high electrical resistance state;
- and
- C) a memory readout element which provides an indication of whether said bistable electrical device is in said low electrical resistance state or said high electrical resistance state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.