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Title: Conduction paths in Cu/amorphous-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Pt atomic switch: First-principles studies

Abstract

We have examined the structure of Cu filaments in Cu/amorphous-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5} (a-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5})/Pt atomic switch from first principles. We have found that the Cu single atomic chains are unstable during the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and thus cannot work as conduction paths. On the other hand, Cu nanowires with various diameters are stable and can form conductive paths. In this case, the Cu-Cu bonding mainly contributes to the conductive, delocalized defect state. These make a sharp contrast with the case of single Cu chains in crystalline Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}, which can be conductive paths through the alternant Cu-Ta bonding structure. A series of MD simulations suggest that even Cu nanowires with a diameter of 0.24 nm can work as conduction paths. The calculations of the transport properties of Cu/a-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Pt heterostructures with Cu nanowires between two electrodes further confirm the conductive nature of the Cu nanowires in the a-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}.

Authors:
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Materials Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656 (Japan)
  2. School of Electrical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061 (China)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22275785
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 115; Journal Issue: 3; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; 77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; AMORPHOUS STATE; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; COPPER; CRYSTALS; ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY; FILAMENTS; INTERFACES; MOLECULAR DYNAMICS METHOD; PLATINUM; QUANTUM WIRES; SWITCHES; TANTALUM OXIDES

Citation Formats

Xiao, Bo, Tada, Tomofumi, Watanabe, Satoshi, and Gu, Tingkun. Conduction paths in Cu/amorphous-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Pt atomic switch: First-principles studies. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4861724.
Xiao, Bo, Tada, Tomofumi, Watanabe, Satoshi, & Gu, Tingkun. Conduction paths in Cu/amorphous-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Pt atomic switch: First-principles studies. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4861724
Xiao, Bo, Tada, Tomofumi, Watanabe, Satoshi, and Gu, Tingkun. 2014. "Conduction paths in Cu/amorphous-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Pt atomic switch: First-principles studies". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4861724.
@article{osti_22275785,
title = {Conduction paths in Cu/amorphous-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Pt atomic switch: First-principles studies},
author = {Xiao, Bo and Tada, Tomofumi and Watanabe, Satoshi and Gu, Tingkun},
abstractNote = {We have examined the structure of Cu filaments in Cu/amorphous-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5} (a-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5})/Pt atomic switch from first principles. We have found that the Cu single atomic chains are unstable during the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and thus cannot work as conduction paths. On the other hand, Cu nanowires with various diameters are stable and can form conductive paths. In this case, the Cu-Cu bonding mainly contributes to the conductive, delocalized defect state. These make a sharp contrast with the case of single Cu chains in crystalline Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}, which can be conductive paths through the alternant Cu-Ta bonding structure. A series of MD simulations suggest that even Cu nanowires with a diameter of 0.24 nm can work as conduction paths. The calculations of the transport properties of Cu/a-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Pt heterostructures with Cu nanowires between two electrodes further confirm the conductive nature of the Cu nanowires in the a-Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4861724},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22275785}, journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
issn = {0021-8979},
number = 3,
volume = 115,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 2014},
month = {Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 2014}
}