The team said it took months of research to find what they described as the Goldilocks thickness for the metal / insulator / metal structures. The AlScN’s.
Forward-looking: Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have demonstrated a new type of memory that can operate in extremely hot environments. The non-volatile ferroelectric diode (ferrodiode) memory utilizes a 45nm thin layer of synthesized aluminum scandium nitride (AlScN), which can retain its electrical state after an electric field is taken away. The insulator was surrounded by an ideal ratio of nickel and platinum and grown on four-inch silicon wafers.
The team said it took months of research to find what they described as the Goldilocks thickness for the metal / insulator / metal structures. The AlScN’s crystal structure is not just heat resistant, but also generally quite durable.
