Phase change memory : device physics, scaling and neuromorphic application
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Phase Change Memory (PCM) is one of the most promising candidates for future non-volatile memory technologies to meet the challenges facing the scaling limits of Flash memory and also address the problem of the increasing performance gap between the main memory and the hard disk. A number of high-capacity PCM chips have been demonstrated recently, showing the potential of PCM to be used in solid-state storage applications. A continued effort is however needed to understand the scalability and switching physics of these materials so as to optimize them for low switching energy, higher speed, and better reliability. The focus of this thesis is two-fold (a) to develop device structures and experimental methodologies to study the physics and scalability of PCM and (b) explore the use of PCM beyond conventional non-volatile memory applications. We have developed an ultrafast characterization methodology to study the unconventional kinetics of phase change process that happens at higher temperatures. We have achieved this by integrating a nano-scale heating element with a vertical PCM device that can be used to precisely control the temperature at the phase change layer over a large temperature range and in very short time scales. We have studied the scalability of PCM devices down to a single-digit nm using solution processed PCM nanoparticles and using carbon nanotubes as the bottom electrode. In addition to the electrode scaling, we have also investigated the thickness scaling of phase change materials using a novel structure called as an Additional Top Electrode (ATE) PCM cell to probe directly in to the trap states that are involved in the electrical conduction process in the amorphous phase. Finally this thesis also explores the use of PCM devices as a nanoscale electronic synapse for neuromorophic applications by exploiting the gradual resistance change nature of PCM devices.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Form | electronic; electronic resource; remote |
| Extent | 1 online resource. |
| Publication date | 2014 |
| Issuance | monographic |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Associated with | Jeyasingh, Rakesh Gnana David | |
|---|---|---|
| Associated with | Stanford University, Department of Electrical Engineering | |
| Primary advisor | Wong, Hon-Sum Philip, 1959- | |
| Thesis advisor | Wong, Hon-Sum Philip, 1959- | |
| Thesis advisor | Asheghi, Mehdi | |
| Thesis advisor | Pop, Eric | |
| Advisor | Asheghi, Mehdi | |
| Advisor | Pop, Eric |
Subjects
| Genre | Theses |
|---|
Bibliographic information
| Statement of responsibility | Rakesh Gnana David Jeyasingh. |
|---|---|
| Note | Submitted to the Department of Electrical Engineering. |
| Thesis | Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2014. |
| Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/vh328kj9007 |
Access conditions
- Copyright
- © 2014 by Rakesh Gnanadavid Jeyasingh
- License
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).
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