Entirely solution-processed write-once-read-many-times memory devices and their operation mechanism

We investigate the mechanism of operation of low-power write-once-read-many-times (WORM) memory devices based on injection of electrons from ZnO into PEDOT:PSS (polydioxythiophene doped with polystyrenesulfonic acid). Using Raman spectroscopy and in situ absorbance measurements, we directly observe the change of doping level of PEDOT during the device switching. Our results clearly show that the change of device conductance is due to the dedoping of p-doped PEDOT by injected electrons. Based on this understanding, we further demonstrate an entirely solution-processed low-power WORM device by inkjet printing metal electrodes onto arbitrary substrates.

[1]  Stephen R. Forrest,et al.  Mechanisms for current-induced conductivity changes in a conducting polymer , 2006 .

[2]  S. Möller,et al.  Electrochromic conductive polymer fuses for hybrid organic/inorganic semiconductor memories , 2003 .

[3]  Henning Sirringhaus,et al.  High yield, single droplet electrode arrays for nanoscale printed electronics. , 2010, ACS nano.

[4]  Raj René Janssen,et al.  Electronic memory effects in diodes from a zinc oxide nanoparticle-polystyrene hybrid material , 2006 .

[5]  Stephan Kirchmeyer,et al.  Electrochromic Window Based on Conducting Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)–Poly(styrene sulfonate) , 2002 .

[6]  N. Greenham,et al.  Low-power write-once-read-many-times memory devices , 2010 .

[7]  W. R. Salaneck,et al.  Photoelectron spectroscopy of thin films of PEDOT-PSS conjugated polymer blend: A mini-review and some new results , 2001 .

[8]  Y. Yeo,et al.  Injection‐induced De‐doping in a Conducting Polymer during Device Operation: Asymmetry in the Hole Injection and Extraction Rates , 2007 .

[9]  S. Forrest,et al.  A low switching voltage organic-on-inorganic heterojunction memory element utilizing a conductive polymer fuse on a doped silicon substrate , 2004 .

[10]  G. Froyer,et al.  Optical study and vibrational analysis of the poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDT) , 1999 .

[11]  F. Gao,et al.  Memristive devices based on solution‐processed ZnO nanocrystals , 2010 .

[12]  R. Friend,et al.  Nature of Non-emissive Black Spots in Polymer Light-Emitting Diodes by In-Situ Micro-Raman Spectroscopy , 2002 .

[13]  Paul A. van Hal,et al.  Ultralow Power Microfuses for Write‐Once Read‐Many Organic Memory Elements , 2008 .

[14]  Serge Lefrant,et al.  In situ spectroelectrochemical Raman studies of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDT) , 1999 .

[15]  S. Möller,et al.  A polymer/semiconductor write-once read-many-times memory , 2003, Nature.

[16]  Qibing Pei,et al.  Electrochromic and highly stable poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) switches between opaque blue-black and transparent sky blue , 1994 .