Abstract
Non-volatile memory devices are so named because they retain information when power is interrupted; thus they are important computer components. In this context, there has been considerable recent interest, in developing non- volatile memories that use ferroelectric thin films - 'ferroelectric random access memories', or FRAMs - in which information is stored in the polarization state of the ferroelectric material. To realize a practical FRAM, the thin films should satisfy the following criteria: compatibility with existing dynamic random access memory technologies, large remnant polarization (P(r)) and reliable polarization-cycling characteristics. Early work focused on lead zirconate titanate (PZT) but, when films of this material were grown on metal electrodes, they generally suffered from a reduction of P(r) ('fatigue') with polarity switching. Strontium bismuth tantalate (SBT) and related oxides have been proposed to overcome the fatigue problem, but such materials have other shortcomings, such as a high deposition temperature. Here we show that lanthanum-substituted bismuth titanate thin films provide a promising alternative for FRAM applications. The films are fatigue-free on metal electrodes, they can be deposited at temperatures of ~650 °C and their values of P(r) are larger than those of the SBT films.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 682-684 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Nature |
Volume | 401 |
Issue number | 6754 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 14 Oct 1999 |