Density dependent local structures in InTe phase-change materials

Chalcogenide phase-change materials based random access memory (PCRAM) is one of the leading candidates for the development of non-volatile memory and neuro-inspired computing technologies. Recent work shows indium to be an important alloying element for PCRAM, while a thorough understanding of the...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Suyang Sun, Bo Zhang, Xudong Wang, Wei Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2021-12-01
Series:APL Materials
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0073400
_version_ 1798034775381901312
author Suyang Sun
Bo Zhang
Xudong Wang
Wei Zhang
author_facet Suyang Sun
Bo Zhang
Xudong Wang
Wei Zhang
author_sort Suyang Sun
collection DOAJ
description Chalcogenide phase-change materials based random access memory (PCRAM) is one of the leading candidates for the development of non-volatile memory and neuro-inspired computing technologies. Recent work shows indium to be an important alloying element for PCRAM, while a thorough understanding of the parent compound InTe, in particular, its amorphous phase, is still lacking. In this work, we carry out ab initio simulations and chemical bonding analyses on amorphous and various crystalline polymorphs of InTe. We reveal that the local geometries are highly density dependent in amorphous structures, forming In-centered tetrahedral motifs under ambient conditions but defective octahedral motifs under pressure, which stems from the bonding characters of its crystalline polymorphs. In addition, our ab initio molecular dynamics simulations predict rapid crystallization capability of InTe under pressure. Finally, we make a suggestion for better use of indium and propose an “active” device design to utilize both thermal and mechanical effects for phase-change applications.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T20:49:01Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4d9c77d0138640d9b795435c77bc7fbd
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2166-532X
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T20:49:01Z
publishDate 2021-12-01
publisher AIP Publishing LLC
record_format Article
series APL Materials
spelling doaj.art-4d9c77d0138640d9b795435c77bc7fbd2022-12-22T04:03:54ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Materials2166-532X2021-12-01912121105121105-810.1063/5.0073400Density dependent local structures in InTe phase-change materialsSuyang Sun0Bo Zhang1Xudong Wang2Wei Zhang3Center for Alloy Innovation and Design (CAID), State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaCenter for Alloy Innovation and Design (CAID), State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaCenter for Alloy Innovation and Design (CAID), State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaCenter for Alloy Innovation and Design (CAID), State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaChalcogenide phase-change materials based random access memory (PCRAM) is one of the leading candidates for the development of non-volatile memory and neuro-inspired computing technologies. Recent work shows indium to be an important alloying element for PCRAM, while a thorough understanding of the parent compound InTe, in particular, its amorphous phase, is still lacking. In this work, we carry out ab initio simulations and chemical bonding analyses on amorphous and various crystalline polymorphs of InTe. We reveal that the local geometries are highly density dependent in amorphous structures, forming In-centered tetrahedral motifs under ambient conditions but defective octahedral motifs under pressure, which stems from the bonding characters of its crystalline polymorphs. In addition, our ab initio molecular dynamics simulations predict rapid crystallization capability of InTe under pressure. Finally, we make a suggestion for better use of indium and propose an “active” device design to utilize both thermal and mechanical effects for phase-change applications.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0073400
spellingShingle Suyang Sun
Bo Zhang
Xudong Wang
Wei Zhang
Density dependent local structures in InTe phase-change materials
APL Materials
title Density dependent local structures in InTe phase-change materials
title_full Density dependent local structures in InTe phase-change materials
title_fullStr Density dependent local structures in InTe phase-change materials
title_full_unstemmed Density dependent local structures in InTe phase-change materials
title_short Density dependent local structures in InTe phase-change materials
title_sort density dependent local structures in inte phase change materials
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0073400
work_keys_str_mv AT suyangsun densitydependentlocalstructuresinintephasechangematerials
AT bozhang densitydependentlocalstructuresinintephasechangematerials
AT xudongwang densitydependentlocalstructuresinintephasechangematerials
AT weizhang densitydependentlocalstructuresinintephasechangematerials