Phase-change memory function of correlated electrons in organic conductors
Abstract
Phase-change memory (PCM), a promising candidate for next-generation nonvolatile memories, exploits quenched glassy and thermodynamically stable crystalline states as reversibly switchable state variables. We demonstrate PCM functions emerging from a charge-configuration degree of freedom in strongly correlated electron systems. Nonvolatile reversible switching between a high-resistivity charge-crystalline (or charge-ordered) state and a low-resistivity quenched state, charge glass, is achieved experimentally via heat pulses supplied by optical or electrical means in organic conductors θ -(BEDT-TTF)2X . Switching that is one order of magnitude faster is observed in another isostructural material that requires faster cooling to kinetically avoid charge crystallization, indicating that the material's critical cooling rate can be useful guidelines for pursuing a faster correlated-electron PCM function.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- January 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.91.041101
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1501.02873
- Bibcode:
- 2015PhRvB..91d1101O
- Keywords:
-
- 71.27.+a;
- 71.30.+h;
- 42.79.Ta;
- 84.32.Dd;
- Strongly correlated electron systems;
- heavy fermions;
- Metal-insulator transitions and other electronic transitions;
- Optical computers logic elements interconnects switches;
- neural networks;
- Connectors relays and switches;
- Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 4 figures. Selected for Editors' Suggestions