A Non-Volatile Memory Based on NbO<sub>x</sub>/NbSe<sub>2</sub> Van der Waals Heterostructures

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) materials have been receiving a huge interest due to atomically thin thickness, excellent optoelectronic properties, and free dangling bonds. Especially the metallic TMDs, such as MoTe<sub>2</sub> (1...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ji Eun Kim, Van Tu Vu, Thi Thanh Huong Vu, Thanh Luan Phan, Young Rae Kim, Won Tae Kang, Kunnyun Kim, Young Hee Lee, Woo Jong Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/21/7598
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Summary:Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) materials have been receiving a huge interest due to atomically thin thickness, excellent optoelectronic properties, and free dangling bonds. Especially the metallic TMDs, such as MoTe<sub>2</sub> (1T’ phase), NbS<sub>2,</sub> or NbSe<sub>2,</sub> have shown fascinating physical properties through various applications, such as superconductor and charge density wave. However, carrier transport of metallic TMDs would be degraded due to the poor stability in ambient conditions. To date, achieving both high device performance and long-term stability is still a huge challenge. Thus, an alternative way to develop both unavoidable native oxide and metallic TMDs is under consideration for new era research. In this respect, 2D metallic TMD materials have attracted high attention due to their great potential in neuromorphic-based devices with metal-insulator-metal structures, making it possible to produce scalable, flexible, and transparent memory devices. Herein, we experimentally demonstrated a synthesized metallic NbSe<sub>2</sub> by a chemical vapor deposition method with a highly uniform, good shape distribution and layer controller ranging from 2–10 layers. Together, for the first time, we proposed the NbO<sub>x</sub>/NbSe<sub>2</sub> heterostructure memristor device based on the native NbO<sub>x</sub> oxide on the interface of multi-layer NbSe<sub>2</sub> flakes. The ultra-thin native NbO<sub>x</sub> oxide of 3 nm was formed after a period of oxidation time under air condition, which acts as a memristive surface in the Au-NbO<sub>x</sub>-Au lateral memristor device, in which oxygen vacancies form a conductive filament. Our NbO<sub>x</sub>/NbSe<sub>2</sub> hetero-tructured memristor exhibits a stable memory window, a low-resistance-state/high-resistance-state ratio of 20, and stable endurance properties over 20 cycles at a low working voltage of 1 V. Furthermore, by the retention property test, non-volatile characteristics were confirmed after over 3000 s in our best data. Through a systematic study of the NbO<sub>x</sub>/NbSe<sub>2</sub> heterostructured memristor device, this report will open new opportunities for next-generation memory devices application.
ISSN:2076-3417