Resistive Switching in Aqueous Nanopores by Shock Electrodeposition

Solid-state programmable metallization cells have attracted considerable attention as memristive elements for Redox-based Resistive Random Access Memory (ReRAM) for low-power and low-voltage applications. In principle, liquid-state metallization cells could offer the same advantages for aqueous systems, such as biomedical lab-on-a-chip devices, but robust resistive switching has not yet been achieved in liquid electrolytes, where electrodeposition is notoriously unstable to the formation of fractal dendrites. Here, the recently discovered physics of shock electrodeposition are harnessed to stabilize aqueous copper growth in polycarbonate nanopores, whose surfaces are modified with charged polymers. Stable bipolar resistive switching is demonstrated for 500 cycles with <10 s retention times, prior to any optimization of the geometry or materials.

Robust resistive switching by copper electrodeposition in an aqueous porous medium was achieved from deionization shock waves generating during the passage of over-limiting current by electromigration through the electric double layers of negatively charged nanopores.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (132 K)Download as PowerPoint slide