Nonvolatile organic memory based on isomerization of diarylethene molecules by electrical carrier injection

A novel organic memory principle is proposed. The photochromic diarylethene (DAE) memory layer was isomerized to the colored state from the uncolored state by electrical carrier injection, and a high ON–OFF ratio of 100 was achieved. The recording time can be dramatically shortened by increasing voltage. The current percolation path consisting of colored molecules was generated in the recording process, and thermal degradation of the recorded state occured. The origin of the degradation was revealed: diffusion of the colored molecules to the uncolored DAE matrix with low glass transition temperature (Tg). The adoption of high-Tg DAE would enable memory with a high ON–OFF ratio and excellent stability.

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► A novel memory principle utilizing isomerization by carrier injection is proposed.
► A high ON–OFF ratio of 100 was achieved.
► The recording time was dramatically shortened by increasing voltage.
► Thermal degradation was originated in diffusion of the colored molecules.