Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for solution processed non-volatile memory devices

Abstract

Resistive random-access memory (RRAM) is the most promising research direction of the next generation non-volatile memory (NVM) devices, and seeking novel materials as the active layer can facilitate RRAM device development. Two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanosheets with a mass of carrier trapping sites are employed as the active layer of RRAM devices. Solution processed memory devices show good stability and reliability, and the fabricated g-C₃N₄-based RRAM devices show a non-volatile behavior and a bipolar switching characteristic with an ON/OFF ratio of 10³, a low operation voltage and good retention capability. In addition, by means of controlling the compliance current precisely, multi-level data storage can be realized. The mechanism of the RRAM devices is thought to be carrier trapping assisted hopping, which is verified by atomic force microscopy in the electrical mode. This work demonstrates that g-C₃N₄ nanosheet based RRAM devices provide a novel direction for low energy and high density data storage devices.