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Manipulation of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 nano-structures in isolated and crystalline environment.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2011

A. M. Mio
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, 64 via S. Sofia, I-95123 Catania, Italy
G. D’Arrigo
Affiliation:
IMM-CNR, 50 Stradale Primosole, I-95121 Catania, Italy
E. Carria
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, 64 via S. Sofia, I-95123 Catania, Italy MATIS-IMM-CNR, 64 via S. Sofia, I-95123 Catania, Italy
C. Bongiorno
Affiliation:
IMM-CNR, 50 Stradale Primosole, I-95121 Catania, Italy
S. Rossini
Affiliation:
Micron Semiconductor Italia S.r.l.
C. Spinella
Affiliation:
IMM-CNR, 50 Stradale Primosole, I-95121 Catania, Italy
M. G. Grimaldi
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, 64 via S. Sofia, I-95123 Catania, Italy MATIS-IMM-CNR, 64 via S. Sofia, I-95123 Catania, Italy
E. Rimini
Affiliation:
IMM-CNR, 50 Stradale Primosole, I-95121 Catania, Italy
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Abstract

We have investigated the stability of nano-amorphous region of Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST), fabricated by Electron Beam Lithography (EBL), dry etching, and ion implantation. Nano-structures, less than 100 nm in diameter and 20 nm thick, were either embedded in a crystalline environment or just isolated. We have observed nano-structure crystallization by in situ Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) in the 75°C-150°C temperature range. Re-crystallization of amorphous dots embedded in a crystalline region (either in the cubic or hexagonal phase) occurs by the movement of the interface at relatively low temperature (about 90°C). Instead, in the isolated structures the transition occurs at about 145°C by nucleation and growth. These results might be of relevance for the data retention of sub-50nm devices. Indeed, the more stable amorphous phase in self-standing regions indicates the better retention properties of isolated cells with respect to the traditional mushroom cell configuration.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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