Nonvolatile organic bistable devices fabricated utilizing Cu 2 O nanocrystals embedded in a polyimide layer

The bistable effects of cuprous oxide ( Cu 2 O ) nanoparticles embedded in a polyimide (PI) matrix were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy images and selected area electron diffraction patterns showed that Cu 2 O nanocrystals were formed inside the PI layer. Current-voltage ( I - V ) measurements on Al/PI/nanocrystalline Cu 2 O ∕ PI ∕ Al structures at 300 K showed a nonvolatile electrical bistability behavior. A bistable behavior for the fabricated organic bistable device (OBD) structures is described on the basis of the I - V results. These results indicate that OBDs fabricated utilizing self-assembled inorganic Cu 2 O nanocrystals embedded in an organic PI layer hold promise for potential applications in nonvolatile flash memory devices.