Two Coexisting Pathways to Volatility in Valence-Change Memory Devices

Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review

Contributors

  • Johannes Hellwig - , Jülich Research Centre (Author)
  • Clemens Wittberg - , Jülich Research Centre (Author)
  • Dimitrios Spithouris - , Jülich Research Centre (Author)
  • Regina Dittmann - , Jülich Research Centre (Author)
  • Transregio 404: Next Generation Electronics With Active Devices in Three Dimensions

Abstract

Volatile valence-change memory (VCM) devices are key building blocks for neuromorphic hardware, yet the physical origin of their volatility, whether ionic or electronic, remains debated. Here, we show that their post-SET current relaxation is predominantly governed by ionic processes, while distinct electronic transients arise from a previously overlooked mechanism intrinsic to highly doped oxide Schottky junctions. To disentangle these contributions, we introduce a deep-level-transient-spectroscopy-inspired (DLTS) technique, Tunnel-DLTS, employing sub-ionic, low-voltage pulses ((Formula presented.) 0.3 V) over 15–450 K. We observe purely electronic responses exclusively under negative bias and within specific temperature windows consistent with activation energies of oxygen-vacancy-related electron traps. Dynamic Schottky-barrier simulations incorporating tunneling and Shockley–Read–Hall dynamics reveal that these electronic transients emerge from the slow formation and relaxation of a quasi-Fermi level, which we identify as a universal feature of nanoelectronic devices relying on highly doped oxide Schottky junctions. Together, these results establish two coexisting pathways to volatility: ionic decay and electronic transients, which paves the way for neuromorphic circuits that exploit tunable dual-volatility within a single memristive device.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere77515
JournalAdvanced functional materials
Volume36
Issue number77
Early online dateAug 2026
Publication statusPublished - 24 Sept 2026
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

Keywords

  • electron, electron trapping, ionic bonding, memristor, nanoelectronics, neuromorphic engineering, oxide, quantum tunnelling, schottky diode