Polymer:metal nanoparticle devices with electrode-sensitive bipolar resistive switchings and their application as nonvolatile memory devices

Devices with a polystyrene film blended with gold nanoparticles capped with conjugated 2-naphthalenethiol exhibited electrode-sensitive bipolar resistive switchings. The resistances of the two states could be different by almost three orders of magnitude, and the devices could be switched between the two states for numerous times. Thus, these devices can be used as nonvolatile memory devices. The resistive switching voltage is related to the work function of the electrode. The electrode sensitivity of the resistive switchings is attributed to the contact potential at the contact of gold nanoparticles and electrode arising from charge transfer between them.