Available Technology
Novel high-speed, high-density nanowire memory elements
Technology:
High-performance memory device
Markets Addressed
The microelectronics industry's continued success with scaling devices faces a number of physical limitations using current materials and device configurations. As demand surges for portable, high-density, low-cost memory, new technologies become increasingly attractive compared to the billion-dollar manufacturing requirements for conventional silicon. With revenues already in the tens of billions, memory for consumer electronics and PCs is a rapidly growing market demanding stable, robust, high-speed, and high-density technologies.
Innovations and Advantages
With its extensive expertise in nanowire technologies, the laboratory of Charles Lieber has developed a novel high-performance memory device. Nonvolatile crossbar switches are memory elements created by crossing semiconductor and metal nanowires. Results have already shown bistable switching between ON and OFF states with ON/OFF ratios comparable to conventional devices (>104) and a well-defined, stable threshold voltage. Bit sizes are smaller than 20 nm by 20 nm, allowing for extremely high memory densities. Additionally, writes times of less than 100 nanoseconds have been demonstrated. Fully addressable memory arrays have been created exhibiting no cross-talk between individual elements, minimal degradation after thousands of cycles, and long memory retention times. In addition to operation on conventional substrates, the technology has been demonstrated on flexible plastic substrates, possibly allowing for low-cost manufacturing methods to be utilized for the creation of high-density, high-speed, stable and robust memory.
Additional Information
Intellectual Property Status: Patent(s) pending
Publication:
"Si/a-Si Core/Shell Nanowires as Nonvolatile Crossbar Switches," Yajie Dong, Guihua Yu, Michael C. McAlpine, Wei Lu, and Charles M. Lieber. Nano Lett., 8 (2), 386 -391, 2008.
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Inventor(s):
Dong, Yajie
Lieber, Charles M.
Lu, Wei
McAlpine, Michael C.
Yu, Guihua
Categories:
For further information, please contact:
Mick Sawka, Director of Business Development
(617) 496-3830
Reference Harvard Case #3136