Storing electronic information on semi-metal nanoparticles

Abstract

This paper presents the use of selenium nanoparticles for applications in information storage in two-terminal electronic memory devices. Selenium is a semi-metal with interesting electronic and optical properties that have seldom been studied in terms of electronic memory. In this study, selenium nanoparticles have been demonstrated as an embedded charge storage layer between the silicon oxide tunnel layer and the silicon nitride blocking layer. The electrical characterization demonstrates clear evidence that charge storage occurs, and that the presence of nanoparticles is indispensable. AFM images show that selenium nanoparticles are almost uniformly distributed on a silicon substrate having a thin silicon dioxide tunnelling layer, and the electrical retention measurement shows potential for long-term data storage.