arXiv subjects

Kye L. Okabe

Publications and source records attributed to Kye L. Okabe.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Energy and Scaling Limits of Phase-Change Memory

Phase change memory (PCM) relies on a reversible transition between amorphous and crystalline states of a material, and stands as a promising candidate for next-generation, energy-efficient data storage and neuromorphic hardware. Here, we review key innovations that have driven PCM technology to achieve energy consumption down to only tens of femtojoules per bit, and could further advance it closer to its fundamental limits. Because PCM switching is induced thermally, we highlight improvements in energy-efficiency through two primary strategies: by minimizing the active phase change material region to sub-10 nm dimensions, and by enhancing heat confinement within PCM devices to reduce thermal dissipation into the surrounding environment. While the theoretical limits could reach single attojoules per cubic nanometer of memory material, realizing these limits in practice is significantly constrained by electrical and thermal parasitics, particularly at contacts and interfaces.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Engineering Thermal and Electrical Interface Properties of Phase Change Memory with Monolayer MoS2

Phase change memory (PCM) is an emerging data storage technology, however its programming is thermal in nature and typically not energy-efficient. Here we reduce the switching power of PCM through the combined approaches of filamentary contacts and thermal confinement. The filamentary contact is formed through an oxidized TiN layer on the bottom electrode, and thermal confinement is achieved using a monolayer semiconductor interface, three-atom thick MoS2. The former reduces the switching volume of the phase change material and yields a 70% reduction in reset current versus typical 150 nm diameter mushroom cells. The enhanced thermal confinement achieved with the ultra-thin (~6 Å) MoS2 yields an additional 30% reduction in switching current and power. We also use detailed simulations to show that further tailoring the electrical and thermal interfaces of such PCM cells toward their fundamental limits could lead up to a six-fold benefit in power efficiency.

physics.app-ph↗