arXiv subjects

Suzanne Lancaster

Publications and source records attributed to Suzanne Lancaster.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Rate Programmable Ionic-Redox Switching with Tunable Volatility in CuCrP2S6

Metal thiophosphates are emerging as a multifunctional material platform for neuromorphic electronics due to their accessible polar phases and ion dynamics on biologically relevant timescales. While resistive switching in these materials is frequently attributed to ferroelectric or antiferroelectric polarization, the intrinsic role of ion dynamics remains underexplored. Here, we isolate and demonstrate purely ion-driven resistive switching in paraelectric CuCrP2S6. Robust and reproducible resistive switching is observed in the absence of measurable ferroelectricity. The conductance can be tuned through both voltage amplitude and sweep rate, revealing a rate dependence characteristic of ion dynamics. The resulting resistance states exhibit controllable volatility, where switching rate determines the decay time constant of the readout current, attributed to ionic relaxation. Using either inert or reactive electrodes, we observe electrical evidence of solid-state redox activity associated with the interfacial reduction of native Cu+ ions, enabling controlled formation of filamentary conduction pathways. Analysis of this process allows extraction of the Cu+ diffusion coefficient, providing quantitative insight into the underlying transport kinetics. The understanding of ionic-redox based resistive switching in CuCrP2S6 is crucial for unleashing its full potential as a material platform for dual- or multi-mode operation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Ferroelectric hysteresis in singly aligned graphene-hBN moir\'e superlattices

Ferroelectric materials have the unique ability to maintain an electric polarization which can be reversed under an external applied electric field. This property makes them valuable for applications such as non-volatile random-access memories, transducers, actuators and electro optic modulators. Recently, emergent unconventional ferroelectricity has been demonstrated in moir\'e superlattices of bilayer graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) hosting non centrosymmetric stacking order. Whether this phenomenon is also present in noncentrosymmetric single layer graphene (SLG)-hBN moir\'e superlattices is still under debate. Here we demonstrate a ferroelectric response in an SLG-hBN moir\'e superlattice. Through Hall measurements, we pinpoint the origin of the hysteretic behavior to abnormal charge screening due to the moir\'e superlattice band and estimate the spontaneous polarization magnitude in the moir\'e superlattice structure. Temperature dependent measurements confirm that the hysteretic behavior persists from 2K up to room temperature, opening opportunities for high-mobility, ultrathin non-volatile devices

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Peak splitting and bias fields in ferroelectric hafnia mediated by interface charge effects

The pristine state of hafnium based ferroelectric devices exhibits various unwanted properties, such as imprint and peak splitting, which diminish with bipolar cycling. The incorporation of a niobium oxide layer at different positions in metal-ferroelectric-metal and metal-ferroelectric-insulator-metal stacks is used to modify the pristine state of the device. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy measurements are used to investigate the influence of niobium oxide on the zirconium hafnium oxide layer. It is hypothesized that the charged vacancies generated by the introduced niobium oxide in the adjacent zirconium hafnium oxide layer result in an electric bias field that influences the pristine polarization state of the domains. A comparison of different stacks shows that peak splitting in the pristine state is most likely related to the formation of opposing electric bias fields in upwards and downwards polarized domains. Furthermore, the incorporation of niobium oxide in the zirconium hafnium oxide/aluminum oxide capacitor stack in between the ferroelectric and insulating layer leads to a peak splitting free device without imprint, which could be explained by the increased influence of charge trapping near the zirconium hafnium oxide-/niobium oxide and niobium oxide-/aluminum oxide interfaces.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Weight update in ferroelectric memristors with identical and non-identical pulses

Ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) are a class of memristor which promise low-power, scalable, field-driven analog operation. In order to harness their full potential, operation with identical pulses is targeted. In this paper, several weight update schemes for FTJs are investigated, using either non-identical or identical pulses, and with time delays between the pulses ranging from 1 us to 10 s. Experimentally, a method for achieving non-linear weight update with identical pulses at long programming delays is demonstrated by limiting the switching current via a series resistor. Simulations show that this concept can be expanded to achieve weight update in a 1T1C cell by limiting the switching current through a transistor operating in sub-threshold or saturation mode. This leads to a maximum linearity in the weight update of 86% for a dynamic range (maximum switched polarization) of 30 {\mu}C/cm2. It is further demonstrated via simulation that engineering the device to achieve a narrower switching peak increases the linearity in scaled devices to >93 % for the same range.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

A multi-pulse wakeup scheme for on-chip operation of devices based on ferroelectric doped HfO2 thin films

A wakeup scheme for ferroelectric thin Hf$_{0.5}$Zr$_{0.5}$O$_2$ films is presented, based on a gradual switching approach using multiple short pulses with a voltage amplitude roughly equal to the coercive voltage. This enables the on-chip wakeup and switching operation of ferroelectric devices such as tunnel junctions (FTJs) with identical pulses. After wakeup using alternating pulse trains which gradually switch the film polarization, FTJ operation is demonstrated to be as effective as after `normal' wakeup, with bipolar pulses of an amplitude larger than the coercive voltage. In this case the voltage applied during wakeup was reduced by 26\%, thereby lowering the required operating power.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2023

Towards Non-Volatile Spin Orbit Devices: Deposition of Ferroelectric Hafnia on Monolayer Graphene/Co/HM Stacks

Although technologically challenging, the integration of ferroelectric thin films with graphene spintronics potentially allows the realization of highly efficient, electrically tuneable, non-volatile memories. Here, the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of ferroelectric Hf$_{0.5}$Zr$_{0.5}$O$_2$ (HZO) directly on graphene (Gr)/Co/heavy metal (HM) epitaxial stacks is investigated via the implementation of several nucleation methods. With an in-situ method employing an Al$_2$O$_3$ layer, the HZO demonstrates a remanent polarization (2Pr) of 19.2 $μC/cm^2$. An ex-situ, naturally oxidized sputtered Ta layer for nucleation produces a film with 2Pr of 10.81 $μC/cm^2$, but a lower coercive field over the stack and switching enduring over subsequent cycles. Magnetic hysteresis measurements taken before and after ALD deposition show strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), with only slight deviations in the magnetic coercive fields due to the HZO deposition process, thus pointing to a good preservation of the single-layer Gr. X-ray diffraction measurements further confirm that the high-quality interfaces demonstrated in the stack remain unperturbed by the ferroelectric deposition and anneal.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

A Ferroelectric Tunnel Junction-based Integrate-and-Fire Neuron

Event-based neuromorphic systems provide a low-power solution by using artificial neurons and synapses to process data asynchronously in the form of spikes. Ferroelectric Tunnel Junctions (FTJs) are ultra low-power memory devices and are well-suited to be integrated in these systems. Here, we present a hybrid FTJ-CMOS Integrate-and-Fire neuron which constitutes a fundamental building block for new-generation neuromorphic networks for edge computing. We demonstrate electrically tunable neural dynamics achievable by tuning the switching of the FTJ device.

cs.ET↗

arXiv2022

Improvement of FTJ on-current by work function engineering for massive parallel neuromorphic computing

HfO2-based ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) exhibit attractive properties for adoption in neuromorphic applications. The combination of ultra-low-power multi-level switching capability together with the low on-current density suggests the application in circuits for massive parallel computation. In this work, we discuss one example circuit of a differential synaptic cell featuring multiple parallel connected FTJ devices. Moreover, from the circuit requirements we deduce that the absolute difference in currents (Ion - Ioff) is a more critical figure of merit than the tunneling electroresistance ratio (TER). Based on this, we discuss the potential of FTJ device optimization by means of electrode work function engineering in bilayer HZO/Al2O3 FTJs.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2022

Optimizing nucleation layers for the integration of ferroelectric HZO on CVD-grown graphene

Direct integration of ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) on the inert surface of graphene is challenging. Here, using nucleation layers to promote atomic layer deposition of HZO was investigated. Different metals were deposited as nucleation layers via dc sputtering. Ta, which oxidizes in air to form a sub-stoichiometric oxide, was compared to Pt, which offers a more stable electrode. For thicker interlayers, Ta leads to unstable switching behavior of the HZO film. Conversely, at smaller thicknesses, a higher Pr can be achieved with an oxidized Ta interlayer. In both cases, Pt offers higher endurance. The choice of interlayer may strongly depend on the required application.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Investigating charge trapping in ferroelectric thin films through transient measurements

A measurement technique is presented to quantify the polarization loss in ferroelectric thin films as a function of delay time during the first 100s after switching. This technique can be used to investigate charge trapping in ferroelectric thin films by analyzing the magnitude and rate of polarization loss. Exemplary measurements have been performed on Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) and HZO/Al2O3 films, as a function of pulse width and temperature. It is found that the competing effects of the depolarization field, internal bias field and charge trapping lead to a characteristic Gaussian dependence of the rate of polarization loss on the delay time. From this, a charge trapping and screening model could be identified which describes the dynamics of polarization loss on short timescales.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

A 120dB Programmable-Range On-Chip Pulse Generator for Characterizing Ferroelectric Devices

Novel non-volatile memory devices based on ferroelectric thin films represent a promising emerging technology that is ideally suited for neuromorphic applications. The physical switching mechanism in such films is the nucleation and growth of ferroelectric domains. Since this has a strong dependence on both pulse width and voltage amplitude, it is important to use precise pulsing schemes for a thorough characterization of their behaviour. In this work, we present an on-chip 120 dB programmable range pulse generator, that can generate pulse widths ranging from 10ns to 10ms $\pm$2.5% which eliminates the RLC bottleneck in the device characterisation setup. We describe the pulse generator design and show how the pulse width can be tuned with high accuracy, using Digital to Analog converters. Finally, we present experimental results measured from the circuit, fabricated using a standard 180nm CMOS technology.

cs.ET↗

arXiv2021

Ferroelectric Tunneling Junctions for Edge Computing

Ferroelectric tunneling junctions (FTJ) are considered to be the intrinsically most energy efficient memristors. In this work, specific electrical features of ferroelectric hafnium-zirconium oxide based FTJ devices are investigated. Moreover, the impact on the design of FTJ-based circuits for edge computing applications is discussed by means of two example circuits.

cs.ET↗

arXiv2018

Suppression of axial growth by boron incorporation in GaAs nanowires grown by self-catalyzed molecular beam epitaxy

The addition of boron to GaAs nanowires grown by self-catalyzed molecular beam epitaxy was found to have a strong effect on the nanowire morphology, with axial growth greatly reduced as the nominal boron concentration was increased. Transmission electron microscopy measurements show that the Ga catalyst droplet was unintentionally consumed during growth. Concurrent radial growth, a rough surface morphology and tapering of nanowires grown under boron flux suggest that this droplet consumption is due to reduced Ga adatom diffusion on the nanowire sidewalls in the presence of boron. Modelling of the nanowire growth puts the diffusion length of Ga adatoms under boron flux at around 700-1000nm. Analyses of the nanowire surfaces show regions of high boron concentration, indicating the surfactant nature of boron in GaAs.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗