Nano-floating gate organic memory devices utilizing Ag–Cu nanoparticles embedded in PVA-PAA-glycerol polymer

• Nonvolatile organic memory devices were fabricated.
• Ag–Cu nanoparticles were used as charge storage elements.
• PMMA layer was used as a dielectric polymer.
• PVA-PAA-glycerol was used as semiconducting polymer with controlled conductivity.
• C(V) revealed hysteresis with a 10 V window which indicated charge storage in the nanoparticles.

We report on the fabrication of nonvolatile organic memory devices that utilize silver–copper (Ag–Cu) nanoparticles as charge storage elements. Herein, Ag–Cu nanoparticles of an average size of 12 nm were impeded between thin layers of polymers: poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and poly-vinyl-alcohol/poly acrylamide co-acrylic acid with glycerol ionic liquid (PVA-PAA-glycerol). PMMA acts as a dielectric layer, while our newly developed PVA-PAA-glycerol polymer acts as a semiconducting layer. The conductivity of PVA-PAA-glycerol could be controlled conductivity by adjusting the percentage of glycerol. Aluminum films of desired thickness were produced by thermal evaporation and used as electrical electrodes. Capacitance–voltage (C(V)) measurements of the fabricated devices revealed hysteresis with a 10 V window. This is an indication of charge storage within Ag–Cu nanoparticles.

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