Ultrahigh density patterning of conducting media
AssigneeUniversity of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
InventorJeremy Levy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reconfigurable device and a method of creating, erasing, or reconfiguring the device are provided. At an interface between a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, an electrically conductive, quasi one- or zero-dimensional electron gas is present such that the interface presents an electrically conductive region that is non-volatile. The second insulating layer is of a thickness to allow metal-insulator transitions upon the application of a first external electric field. The electrically conductive region is subject to erasing upon application of a second external electric field.
Claims20
A reconfigurable device comprising:
- (A) a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer and, at an interface between said first and second insulating layers,
- (B) an electrically conductive, quasi one- or zero-dimensional electron gas, such that said interface presents an electrically conductive region that is non-volatile,
- wherein said second insulating layer is of a thickness to allow metal-insulator transitions upon the application of a first external electric field, and
- wherein said electrically conductive region is subject to erasing upon application of a second external electric field.
A method of making or using a reconfigurable device that comprises:
- (A) a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer and, at an interface between said first and second insulating layers,
- (B) an electrically conductive, quasi one- or zero-dimensional electron gas, such that said interface presents an electrically conductive region that is non-volatile,
- wherein said second insulating layer is of a thickness to allow metal-insulator transitions upon the application of a first external local electric field,
- wherein the method comprises providing a first external local electric field adjacent to said interface to create the electrically conductive, quasi one- or zero-dimensional electron gas, and
- wherein said electrically conductive region is subject to erasing upon application of a second external local electric field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.