Reproducible resistance switching of a relatively thin FeO(x) layer produced by oxidizing the surface of a FePt electrode in a metal-oxide-metal structure

Abstract

In this study, reproducible resistance switching effects were demonstrated on a relatively thin FeO(x) layer in the TiN/SiO(2)/FeO(x)/FePt structure produced by oxidizing the surface of a FePt electrode during a plasma-enhanced tetraethyl orthosilicate oxide deposition process. Characteristics of the non-stoichiometric FeO(x) transition layer were examined by Auger electron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. In addition, characteristics of the forming process as well as the current transport characteristics after forming process in the TiN/SiO(2)/FeO(x)/FePt structure were discussed. Moreover, the role of the silicon oxide layer was also experimentally demonstrated to act as an additional supplier of oxygen ions for the switching requirement by biasing high voltage bias conditions. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.