• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.44 no.1 s.296
• /
• pp.18-22
• /
• 2007

The phase transition behavior of $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ (GST) thin film, which is a candidate material of recording layer for phase change random access memory (PRAM), has been evaluated using an in-situ reflectance measurement method. The experimental data have been analyzed by using johnson-mehl-avrami-kolomogorov (JMAK) model. JMAK model can be used only in isothermal state. However, temperature changes with time during the operation of PRAM. To apply JMAK equation to PRAM simulation, it has been assumed that the temperature increases stepwise and isothermally. By using JMAK equation and assumption for the transient state, the phase transition behavior of GST thin film has been predicted under $3^{\circ}C/min$ heating rate in this study. The simulation result agrees well with the experimental results. Therefore, It can be concluded that JMAK equation can be used far the PRAM simulation model.

• 정보저장시스템학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.10a
• /
• pp.185-189
• /
• 2005

We reported here nano-scale electrical phase-change recording in amorphous $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ media using an atomic force microscope (AFM) having conducting probes. In recording process, a pulse voltage is applied to the conductive probe that touches the media surface to change locally the electrical resistivity of a film. However, in contact operation, tip/media wear and contamination could major obstacles, which degraded SNR, reproducibility, and lifetime. In order to overcome tip/media wear and contamination in contact mode operation, we adopted the W incorporated diamond-like carbon (W-DLC) films as a protective layer. Optimized mutilayer media were prepared by a hybrid deposition system of PECVD and RF magnetron sputtering. When suitable electrical pulses were applied to media through the conducting probe, it was observed that data bits as small as 25 nm in diameter have been written and read with good reproducibility, which corresponds to a data density of $1 Tbit/inch^2$. We concluded that stable electrical phase-change recording was possible mainly due to W-DLC layer, which played a role not only capping layer but also resistive layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 1997.04a
• /
• pp.20-22
• /
• 1997

In ours study, we investigated the various properties in Te-light doped $Sb_{85}$G $e_{15}$ thin films such as the change of reflectance and transmittance according to phase change from amorphous to crystalline states In all films the transmittance was decreased, but the reflectance was increased by annealing. Particularly, the reflectance between as- deposited state and annealed state showed the largest change in the T $e_{0.5}$($Sb_{85}$G $e_{15}$ )$_{99.5}$ thin film at 780nm, which was about 40% in as-deposited state and about 70% in annealed state. Therefore, it might be considered that the T $e_{0.5}$($Sb_{85}$G $e_{15}$ )$_{99.5}$ thin film is recording medium showing to a good optical properties if it is used to optical recording of the phase change type. change type.ype.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 1994.11a
• /
• pp.199-201
• /
• 1994

The switching characteristics of $As_{10}Ge_{15}Te_{75}$ thin film were investigated under dc bias. It was found that the threshold voltage depends on thickness, electrode distance, annealing time and temperature, respectively. The threshold voltage is increased as the thickness and the electrode distance is increased, while the threshold voltage is decreased in proportion to the increased annealing time and temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.18-23
• /
• 1975

The dc conductivity, ac conductivity and switching effect of As.Te-Si.Ge have beon investigated. The dc conductivity ranged from $3{\times}10^{-7}{\Omega}^{-1}cm^{-1}$ to $1.5{\times}10^{-8}{\Omega}^{-1}cm^{-1}$ at room temperature and was found to be expressed by ${\sigma}$ = ${\sigma}_0$exp(-${\Delta}$E/kT) below the phase transition temperature Tg. The ac conductivity was much higher than dc conductivity and this result is consistent to experimental formula ${\sigma}$(w)=${\sigma}_0+Aw^n$. In the temperature range of 298$^{\circ}K$ ~ $473^{\circ}K$ the ac conductivity was independent of temperature at 200KHs. At lower frequencies the ac conductivity increased strong1y with temperature. Also, it has been found that all samples showed a threshold switching, but not a memory switching.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2006.07c
• /
• pp.1438-1439
• /
• 2006

$Ge_{2}Sb_{2}Te_5$(GST) thin film at present is a promising candidate for a phase change random access memory (PCRAM) based on the difference in resistivity between the crystalline and amorphous phase. PCRAM is an easy to manufacture, low cost storage technology with a high storage density. Therefore today several major chip in manufacturers are investigating this data storage technique. Recently, A. Pirovano et al. showed that PCRAM can be safely scaled down to the 65 nm technology node. G. T Jeonget al. suggested that physical limit of PRAM scaling will be around 10 nm node. Etching process of GST thin ra films below 100 nm range becomes more challenging. However, not much information is available in this area. In this work, we report on a parametric study of ICP etching of GST thin films in $Cl_2$/Ar chemistry. The etching characteristics of $Ge_{2}Sb_{2}Te_5$ thin films were investigated using an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) of $Cl_2$/Ar gas mixture. The etch rate of the GST films increased with increasing $Cl_2$ flow rate, source and bias powers, and pressure. The selectivity of GST over the $SiO_2$ films was higher than 10:1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) was performed to examine the chemical species present in the etched surface of GST thin films. XPS results showed that the etch rate-determining element among the Ge, Sb, and Te was Te in the $Cl_2$/Ar plasma.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2004.05a
• /
• pp.115-118
• /
• 2004

The phase transition between amorphous and crystalline states in chalcogenide semiconductor films can controlled by electric pulses or pulsed laser beam; hence some chalcogenide semoconductor films can be applied to electrically write/erase nonvolatile memory devices, where the low conductive amorphous state and the high conductive crystalline stale are assigned to binary states. AST(AsSbTe) used to phase change material by applying electical pulses. Thickness of AST chalcogenide thin film have about 100nm. Electrodes are made of ITO and Al. $T_c$(Crystallization temperature) of AST system is lower than that of the GST(GeSbTe) system, so that the current pulse width of crystallization process can be decreased.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2016.02a
• /
• pp.322-322
• /
• 2016

Phase change memory (PCM) has attracted much attention as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation nonvolatile memory. In that regard, the purposes of the study are to propose reference of effective pulse parameter to control phase switching operation and to invest the effect of nitrogen doped in PCM materials for improved cycling stability and economic energy consumption. Switching operation of PCM is affected by electric pulse parameter and as shown in figure.1 are composed to RT(rising time), ST(setting time), FT(falling time) and the effect of these parameter was precisely investigated. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to confirm fine structure and retention cycle test was conducted to confirm reliability. Finally improvement reliability and economic power consumption in quantitatively are obtainable by optimum pulse parameter and nitrogen doping in GST material. these study is related to the engineering background of other semiconductor industries and it have confirmed to possibility further applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2005.07a
• /
• pp.205-206
• /
• 2005

PRAM (Phase change Random Access Memory) is one of the most promising candidates for next generation Non-volatile Memories. The Phase change material has been researched in the field of optical data storage media. Among the phase change materials, $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$(GST) is very well known for its high optical contrast in the state of amorphous and crystalline. However, the characteristics required in solid state memory are quite different from optical ones. In this study, the structural properties of GST thin films with bottom electrode were investigated for PRAM. The 100-nm thick GST films were deposited on TiN/Si and TiAlN/Si substrates by RF sputtering system. In order to characterize the crystal structure and morphology of these films, we performed x-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.199-202
• /
• 2015

A simple and novel transmission electron microscopy (TEM) sample preparation method for phase change nanowire is investigated. A $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ (GST) nanowire TEM sample was meticulously prepared using nanomanipulator and gas injection system in a field emission scanning electron microscopy for efficient and accurate TEM analysis. The process can minimize the damage during the TEM sample preparation of the nanowires, thus enabling the crystallographic analysis of as-grown GST nanowires without unexpected phase transition caused by e-beam heating.