High-Performance Molecular Memory Device Using Ag-TCNQ Crystals Grown by Solution Process

The one-dimensional nano/microstructures of metal-organic complex (Ag-TCNQ) were synthesized by solution route via the reaction between Ag film and TCNQ. We have grown micrometer-sized Ag-TCNQ crystals by simply spin-coating the TCNQ solution over Ag substrate and treating at elevated temperature. The reproducible memory behavior with on/off ratio similar to 500 has been observed in devices based on Ag-TCNQ nano/microcrystals. The on/off ratio of the devices has been increased by more than 2 orders of magnitude by incorporating a layer of polymer on top of the TCNQ film. The mass production of large size crystals via this method holds great promise for applications in high-density information storage.