Novel organic memory devices using Au–Pt–Ag nanoparticles as charge storage elements

•Nonvolatile organic memory devices were fabricated.•Au–Pt–Ag 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 a hysteresis indicating charge storage in the nanoparticles.

The fabrication and characterization of novel organic memory devices based on Au–Pt–Ag nanoparticles, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and poly-vinyl-alcohol/poly acrylamide co-acrylic acid with glycerol ionic liquid (PVA–PAA–glycerol) are reported in this work. The devices are fabricated based on metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) structure. PMMA is utilized as an organic insulator, while PVA–PAA–glycerol film functions as a semiconducting polymer where its conductivity is controlled by controlling glycerol concentration. Thermally evaporated aluminum electrodes are used as bottom and top electrodes for the fabricated devices. The fabrication process is simple and has high device production yield. Capacitance–voltage (C(V)) measurements of the fabricated devices demonstrate hysteresis widows indicating charge storage within the nanoparticles. The fabricated devices have potential to be used for applications since they retain charge for reasonable time.