Introduction

Many oxide materials such as NiOx [14], HfOx [5, 6], Cu2O [7], Gd2O3 [8], TaOx [9, 10], TiO2 [11], ZrO2 [12, 13], AlOx [1416], Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 [17], SrTiO3 [18], and so on have been reported for nanoscale nonvolatile resistive switching random access memory (ReRAM) applications. Basically, a single layer of resistive switching material has been investigated by many groups. Due to stochastic nature of the conducting filament in a single binary-oxide resistive switching material [19], it results poor switching cycles. To improve the ReRAM device performance, many nano-dots (NDs) such as ruthenium (Ru) [19], gold (Au) [20], copper (Cu) [21], nickel [22], and so on have been reported. External electric field will control conducting filament formation/rupture through the NDs in the same pathway [22], which can improve the switching parameters. However, it is still an issue to improve the resistive switching parameter using NDs in the insulating materials. Even though many types of NDs have been reported to improve the resistive switching memory characteristics, the core-shell iridium-oxide (IrOx) NDs embedded in high-κ Al2O3 film for IrOx/Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3/WOx/W ReRAM device have not been reported yet. The electrically conducting iridium (Ir) or iridum-oxide (IrOx) metal is an attractive one due to its high work function (> 5 eV) and noble metal. Furthermore, formation polarity is also one of the important keys to improve the resistive switching performance because it can also control the conducting pathways through the NDs. It is known that the Gibbs free energies of the Al2O3, IrO2, WO3, and WO2 films are -1,582.3 [23], -183.75, -506.63, and -526.0 kJ/mole, respectively, at 300 K [24]. It is suggested that the high-κ Al2O3 film will be easily oxidized than those of the WO3, WO2, and IrO2 films. Under external bias, the oxygen ions (O2-) will be generated from the Al2O3 layer, while oxygen vacancies (Vo) will be supplied from the WOx layer. It is known that the Al2O3 film has negative-type defects. The defects density in the Al2O3 film will be increased by including core-shell IrOx-NDs. It is expected that the core-shell IrOx-NDs embedded in the Al2O3 films will not only increase the defect density but also will guide the conducting filament through a single nano-dot, which can be controlled also by external formation polarity. Due to noble metal of Ir, it will not be oxidized under external bias; however, the surface of the IrOx-ND will control the oxygen-vacancy filament. Even the IrOx metal, it will also not be oxidized under external bias. Due to IrAlO mixture on the IrOx-ND surface, this will control the filament formation/rupture. In order to understand the defective IrOx-NDs embedded in the Al2O3 films, the memory capacitors in an IrOx/Al2O3/IrOx-ND/Al2O3/SiO2/n-Si structure have also been reported. Improved resistive switching parameters such as set/reset voltages, low resistance state (LRS)/high resistance state (HRS), switching cycles, read endurance of > 105 times, and extrapolated 10 years data retention at 85°C of the IrOx-ND ReRAM device under positive formation polarity (PF) have been reported. Formation polarity dependent resistive switching phenomena have been also explained by oxygen ions migration under external bias. The ReRAM device with layer-by-layer has been observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses.

Experimental

Resistive switching memory characteristics using IrOx-NDs in an IrOx/Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3/WOx/W metal-insulator-metal structure were investigated. First, tungsten (W) bottom electrode (BE) with a thickness of approximately 100 nm was deposited by sputtering on SiO2 (200 nm)/Si substrate. To design the ReRAM device, the SiO2 layer with a thickness of approximately 150 nm was deposited. Different via sizes from 0.6 × 0.6-8 × 8 μm2 were patterned using standard lithography. Then, photoresist was coated and opened the active and top electrode (TE) regions. Then, high-κ Al2O3 film with a thickness of approximately 3 nm was deposited by radio frequency (rf) sputtering system using Al2O3 target. Then, the IrOx nano-layer with a nominal thickness of approximately 1.5 nm was also deposited by rf sputtering system. The Ir target was used during deposition of the IrOx layer. The ratio of argon (Ar) to oxygen (O2) gasses was 1:1 (i.e., 25 sccm:25 sccm) during deposition. Then, high-κ Al2O3 film with a thickness of approximately 3 nm was deposited using the same conditions above. Finally, the IrOx metal as a TE with a thickness of approximately 350 nm was deposited. The resistivity of the IrOx metal layer was approximately 600 μΩ cm, which is similar to reported result (approximately 500 μΩ cm) of IrO2 [25]. This suggests that the IrOx is a metallic film. During deposition of the Al2O3 and IrOx nanolayers, the bottom W electrode was partially oxidized, which results in a WOx film on the W surface. To fabricate the ReRAM device, a lift-off process was used. Schematic view of our ReRAM device is shown in Figure 1. Microstructure of all layers in the ReRAM device was investigated by HRTEM. Material compositions were studied by XPS with Al Kα monochrom X-ray and energy of 1,486.6 eV. X-ray with a small-diameter of 500 μm was focused on IrOx/Al2O3/WOx/W structure. The surface spectra were taken by etching the layers one-by-one. All spectra were calibrated by C1s spectrum at an energy of 284.6 eV. Resistive switching memory characteristics were measured by HP 4156C semiconductor parameter analyzer {Agilent Technologies, 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA, 95051, USA} for a device size of 0.6 × 0.6 μm2.

Figure 1
figure 1

The schematic view of the fabricated IrO x -ND based ReRAM devices.

Furthermore, charge-trapping behaviors of the IrOx-NDs in an IrOx/Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3/SiO2/n-Si metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structure were also investigated. After cleaning the n-type Si (100) wafers, a SiO2 tunneling oxide with a thickness of approximately 3.6 nm was grown. Then, high-κ Al2O3 tunneling oxide with a thickness of approximately 1.2 nm was deposited. So the thickness of stack tunneling oxide (SiO2 + Al2O3) was approximately 4.8 nm. The IrOx metal gate electrode with a gate area (Φ) of 3.14 × 10-4 cm2 was deposited by a shadow mask. Capacitance-voltage (C-V) hysteresis characteristics of the MIS structure were measured by HP 4284A LCR meter {Agilent Technologies, 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA, 95051, USA}.

Results and discussion

Figure 2a shows the size and density of the IrOx-NDs in MIS structure. The thickness of Al2O3 blocking oxide is 8 nm. As-deposited IrOx nanolayer shows self-assembly NDs because as-deposited layer is very thin (1.5 nm). Isolated IrOx-NDs are observed clearly (Figure 2b). The IrOx-NDs have high density of approximately 1 × 1013/cm2 (Figure 2c), which results a large memory size of > 60 Tbit/sq in. The nano-dots are core-shell structure (Figure 2d). Core region of the NDs is Ir-rich, and shell region is oxygen-rich or IrAlO mixture. It is indicated that Vo can be observed in the core region, and oxygen accumulations (O2-) can be observed in the shell region. The IrOx-NDs have a nanoscale average diameter of approximately 1.3 nm (Figure 2e). The hole or electron trapping can be measured from the C-V hysteresis characteristics of the MIS capacitors. Figure 3a shows high-frequency (1 MHz) clockwise C-V hysteresis characteristics of the MIS capacitors. A small equivalent oxide thickness of approximately 8 nm is obtained. A large memory window of approximately 1.2 V is observed under a sweeping gate voltage of ± 7 V for the IrOx-ND device, while a small memory of 0.3 V is observed for the pure Al2O3 chrage-trapping layers (Figure 3b). The neutral flat-band voltage (VFB) is found to be +0.15 V for the IrOx-ND devices (not shown here). The hole and electron trapping densities can be calculated using equation in reference [26]. High hole-trapping densities for the pure Al2O3 and IrOx-NDs capacitors are found to be approximately 5.6 × 1011/cm2 and approximately 3.1 × 1012/cm2, respectively (Figure 3b). Almost no electrons are trapped in the core-region IrOx-ND under positive voltage, but holes are trapped on the shell region under negative bias on the IrOx electrode. This suggests that the holes can be trapped on the nano-dot surface easily because the surface has negative-type defects. These trapping holes as well as oxygen vacancy on the surface of the NDs will lead the conducting filament as well as resistive switching memory parameters under formation polarity, which have been explained below.

Figure 2
figure 2

Different images of IrO x -NDs in an IrO x /Al 2 O 3 /IrO x -NDs/Al 2 O 3 /SiO 2 /n-Si MIS structure. (a) Cross-sectional HRTEM image on IrOx-NDs in an IrOx/Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3/SiO2/n-Si MIS structure. (b) Plane view TEM image. (c) Scanning tunneling electron microscope image and (d) a single core-shell IrOx-ND. (e) Histogram of the IrOx-NDs with an average size of 1.3 nm with a high density of IrOx-NDs of 1 × 1013/cm2.

Figure 3
figure 3

Typical hysteresis characteristics of the IrO x -ND MIS capacitors and V FB shift with sweeping gate voltages. (a) Typical C-V hysteresis characteristics of the IrOx-ND MIS capacitors and (b) VFB shift with sweeping gate voltages for the IrOx-ND and pure Al2O3 charge-trapping devices.

Figure 4a shows typical HRTEM image of a ReRAM device with a size of 8 × 8 μm2. The stack switching layers with self-assembly IrOx-NDs are observed clearly in Figure 4b. The IrOx-NDs with a thickness of approximately 1.5 nm are sandwiched in between high-κ Al2O3 layers with a thickness of approximately 3 nm. A small size of approximately 1.3 nm in a diameter is observed. The IrOx-NDs shows crystalline, while the high-κ Al2O3 film shows amorphous. The WOx layer with a thickness of approximately 14 nm is also observed, which is expected from our deposition. The WOx film shows polycrystalline. All layers are also confirmed by XPS analysis below.

Figure 4
figure 4

The cross-sectional TEM and HRTEM images. (a) Cross-sectional TEM image of an IrOx/Al2O3 /IrOx-NDs/Al2O3/WOx/W ReRAM device with a device size of 8 × 8 μm2. (b) HRTEM image of the stack layers.

Figure 5a shows the XPS spectra of the Ir4f core levels with the Ir2O3 and IrO2 compositions. The peak fitting was performed using Shirley background subtraction and Gaussian-Lorentzian functions. Two peaks positions of the X-ray photo-electron spectra are strong indication of the presence of Ir2O3 4f7/2 and Ir2O3 4f5/2 spin orbital components with peak energies centered at approximately 62.04 and approximately 65.12 eV, respectively. The peak binding energies of the IrO2 4f7/2 and IrO2 4f5/2 doublets are centered at approximately 63.70 and approximately 66.42 eV, respectively. The IrO2 peak intensity is smaller than that of the Ir2O3, which is evidently prove the presence of IrOx NDs. This IrOx-ND is embedded in the high-κ Al2O3 films, which is also confirmed by Al2p and O1s signals (not shown here). Choi et al. [27] reported the peak energy positions for IrO24f 7/2 and IrO24f 5/2 which are located at 61.9 and 64.9 eV, respectively. The presence of metallic W and oxygen-rich WO3 can be confirmed by XPS analysis of W4f spectra (Figure 5b) in 14 nm-thick WOx layer. The peak binding energies of the W4f7/2 and W4f5/2 electrons are centered at 30.85 and 33.06 eV, respectively. The energy peak separation is 2.2 eV. The positions of binding energies for WO34f 7/2 and WO34f 5/2 electrons are located at 35.43 and 37.56 eV, respectively, and these values are similar to the reported results at 35.0 and 37.6 eV for the WO34f7/2 and WO34f5/2 electrons, respectively [28]. The W sub-oxide (WOx) located at 35.0 eV could be formed during the deposition process, and the oxygen-vacancy could be found in the WOx films. Due to both the IrOx-NDs in the high-κ Al2O3/WOx bilayer structure and high charge-trapping density, improved resistive switching memory performance has been explained below.

Figure 5
figure 5

XPS of Ir 4f electrons from the IrO x -NDs and W 4f core-level electrons in the WO x layer. (a) XPS of the Ir4f electrons from the IrOx-NDs and (b) W4f core-level electrons in the WOx layer.

Figure 6a shows electrochemical formation process of our IrOx/Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3/WOx/W ReRAM device. The pristine devices show low leakage current. The currents increase with increasing voltage, and it is limited by current compliance (ICC) of 500 μA. The average leakage current under negative formation (NF) is 229.7 pA at a read voltage (Vread) of -2.0 V, while it is 673.3 pA under PF at a Vread of +2.0 V. Asymmetry values of the leakage currents under NF and PF polarities are quite reasonable due to the different work function (Φm) values of IrOx [(Φm)IrOx ≈ 5.2 eV [14], and of W [(Φm)W ≈ 4.3-4.91 eV [29]] electrodes. Considering the electron affinities (χ) of 3.33 eV [30] for WO3 and 1.25 eV for Al2O3 layers, the values of the effective barrier heights (Φb) are found to be [Φb = (Φm)W-(χ)WO3] 1.3 eV and [(Φb) = (Φm)IrOx-(χ)Al2O3] 3.95 eV, respectively. So the electron injection at the IrOx/Al2O3 interface will be lower than that of the W/WOx interface. In consequence, the currents under PF increase rapidly which results a lower and tight distribution of formation voltages as compared to NF (6-7 V vs. -7 to -9 V). This suggests that lower formation voltage can protect device degradation [22]. During the formation process, the high electric field breaks the Al2O3 film and forms the Al-O bonds with oxygen vacancy as well as oxygen vacancy filament. In consequence, oxygen ions (O2-) will be released from the conduction channels. These oxygen ions will move from the Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3 stacks toward WOx layer under NF because the TE has negative polarity, and the BE is grounded during measurement. Under PF, the oxygen ions will move toward the TE because the TE has positive polarity. In this case, the oxygen ions will be accumulated at the Al2O3/TE interface, i.e., oxygen-rich AlOx film. So the oxygen vacancy filament can be formed in the Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3 stack. The WOx layer will behave as a conductiong layer under PF. After the first reset operation, the ReRAM devices under both NF and PF show bipolar resistive switching characteristics. Figure 6b shows typical I-V characteristics with 50 DC cycles at room temperature (RT), as shown by arrows: 1→4 after NF. The LRS currents are fitted with ohmic, and the HRS currents are fitted with Schottky emission (not shown here). Large variations of the set and reset voltages at a Vread of -0.2 V are -1.7 to -3.6 V and +2.0 to +3.2 V, respectively (Figure 6d) and large variations in LRS and HRS are also observed (Figure 6e). Typical resistance ratio under NF is approximately 103. Under PF, excellent DC I-V switching cycles are observed (Figure 6c). A tight distribution of the set voltages from +2.0 to +2.9 V as well as reset voltages is observed (Figure 6d). Average HRS and LRS values are approximately 2 MΩ and 20 kΩ, respectively (Figure 6e). So an acceptable resistance ratio of approximately 102 is obtained under PF. Even at high temperature of 85°C, excellent consecutive 100 DC switching cycles is observed under PF (Figure 6f). To investigate the current conduction mechanism under PF, I-V curves of LRS and HRS are fitted linearly in log-log plot, which are in agreement with the trap-charge controlled space charge limited current model for both LRS and HRS (not shown here).

Figure 6
figure 6

Formation characteristics of the devices under NF and PF, and I-V characteristics for NF and PF devices. (a) Formation characteristics of the pristine resistive memory devices under NF and PF. (b) Typical I-V hysteresis characteristics for the NF devices at RT. (c) Typical I-V characteristics with stable switching for the PF devices at RT. Statistical distribution of the NF and PF devices for (d) set/reset voltages and (e) LRS/HRS. (f) Consecutive 100 DC cycles at 85°C for the PF devices.

Figure 7 shows typical AC endurance characteristics for both NF and PF devices up to 103 cycles. Both the devices are programmed at a voltage of ± 4 V, a low ICC of 500 μA, and a Vread of ± 0.1 V. Inferior AC cycles are observed for the NF devices, where as the PF devices show excellent switching stability. Improved resistive switching parameters of the IrOx/Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3/WOx/W structure under PF can be explianed as follows. For the NF devices, the oxygen ions will move from the Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3 stack toward the WOx layer under a negative voltage (-V < Vset) on the TE or the oxygen vacancies will move from the WOx layer toward the Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3 stack (Figure 8a). It seems that the oxygen ions will be hidden in to the WOx layer. It results the oxygen vacancy filament through the IrOx-NDs as well as LRS. Under reset operation (+V > Vreset), the oxygen ions will move from WOx layer toward Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3 stack and oxidize the conducting filament as well as HRS (Figure 8c). Due to the lower barrier height at the W/WO3 interface, the injected electrons will be higher. This result indicates a higher O2-ions migration and randomized rupture of the conducting filaments. According to our previous report, improved resistive switching characteristics of the IrOx-ND ReRAM devices are observed as compared to the pure Al2O3 ReRAM device under NF due to oxygen-vacancy filament confinement by the IrOx-NDs [31]. Even though IrOx-NDs are embedded in the Al2O3 switching material, but higher O2-ions migration will reset HRS dispersion resulting a variation of switching cycles. This suggests that the controllable reset operation is also a crucial issue to improve the repeatable switching cycles. So oxygen ions migration leads to the filament formation/rupture in the Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3 stack under NF, which results an inferior switching cycles. In previous literature, similar phenomena using oxygen vacancies generation and recombination to form/rupture a conducting filament to switch the LRS and HRS are also reported in some other ReRAM devices [32, 33]. For the PF devices, the oxygen ions will move from the Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3 stack toward the Al2O3/TE interface under a positive voltage (+V > Vset) on the TE or the oxygen vacancies will move from the Al2O3/TE interface (oxygen-rich AlOx) toward Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3 stack and sets LRS (Figure 8b). This suggests that an insulating layer as a series resistor with LRS will be created at the Al2O3/TE interface under set operation, which will limit electron injection at the W/WOx interface. This result indicates a thinner and stable conducting filament formation, as shown in Figure 8b. So the LRS of the PF devices is higher than that of the NF devices (Figure 6e) due to series insulator (oxygen-rich AlOx layer). Under reset operation (-V < Vreset), the filament can be ruptured by oxygen ions migration from the Al2O3/TE (i.e., oxygen-rich AlOx layer) and oxidize the partial filament, which results also a stable HRS because the electron injection (O2- ions migration from oxygen-rich AlOx layer) from the TE is very low, and this will be limited by the IrOx-ND/Al2O3/TE region, as shown in Figure 8d. The conduction filaments in the WOx/Al2O3/IrOx-NDs region will remain after reset operation. Due to this remaining filament, the next set operation will be also easier. Due to this stable reset, repeatable switching cycles are expected for the PF devices. So the HRS of the PF devices is lower as compared to the NF devices (Figure 6e), due to shorter length filament oxidized. Basically, the limitation of electron injections (O2- ions migration) can control the charge trapping (filament oxidation)/de-trapping (filament formation) through the IrOx-ND boundary. A similar study has been reported by other group [34]. For the PF devices, the filament can be formed or ruptured repeatedly than that of the NF devices. This reveals that the filament formation/rupture is more controllable (i.e., localized filament) when it is formed at the IrOx-NDs/oxygen-rich AlOx interface region because it has short length, and an oxygen-rich AlOx layer is in series which can protect the higher electron injection. So the improved resistive switching characteristics are expected for the PF devices. It is noted that a small size (1.3 nm) NDs are observed, and the filament diameter can be adjusted through a single ND in future. It indicates that the device size can be down scale to 1.3 nm in future for advanced high-density nonvolatile memory applications.

Figure 7
figure 7

Improved AC endurance characteristics are observed for the PF devices.

Figure 8
figure 8

The schematic illustration of the switching mechanisms of NF and PF devices. Schematic illustration of the switching mechanisms of (a) the NF devices and (b) the PF devices under set operation, (c) the NF devices and (d) the PF devices under reset operation.

Figure 9a shows stable resistance ratio with an excellent non-destructive read up to 105 times for the PF devices. No fluctuation can be detected in LRS (25 kΩ) and HRS (2.2 MΩ) values at a Vread of +0.2 V. Figure 9b shows the retention characteristics of the PF devices at 500 μA with a program/erase voltage of ± 4 V. The data retention ability is quite remarkable for both at RT and 85°C. Extrapolated 10 years of data retention with a resistance ratio of > 102 at RT and > 10 at 85°C are obtained. It is expected that a single IrOx-ND in the Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3/WOx stack can control the resistive switching characteristics in future.

Figure 9
figure 9

The non-destructive read endurance of 105 cycles and retention characteristics of the PF devices. (a) Non-destructive read endurance of 105 cycles of the PF devices. (b) Retention characteristics of the PF devices at RT and 85°C.

Conclusions

Formation polarity dependent ReRAM devices using IrOx/Al2O3/IrOx-NDs/Al2O3/WOx/W structure have been investigated. The devices are confirmed by HRTEM, EDX, and XPS analyses. The improved resistive switching parameters such as stable set and reset voltages, HRS/LRS with a acceptable ratio of > 10, long read endurance of 105 times, and extrapolated 10 years data retention at 85°C under PF are obtained owing to the filament controlled at the IrOx-NDs/oxygen-rich AlOx interface. Due to the high-charge trapping density, controllable O2- ions migration and nano filament formation through the core-shell IrOx-ND under PF, the improvement of the resistive switching memory characteristics is evident and the switching mechanism is explained successfully. A large memory size of > 60 Tbit/sq in. can be obtained. It is expected that the scalability potential of this resistive switching memory device could be the diameter (approximately 1.3 nm) of a single IrOx-ND in future.