O-doped Sb materials for improved thermal stability and high-speed phase change memory application

The O-doped Sb materials were proved to have higher crystallization temperature (similar to 205 degrees C), larger crystallization activation energy (3.95 eV) and better data retention ability (143 degrees C for 10 years). The band gap was broadened by O-doping and the grain size was refined. The formation of Sb oxide increased the binding energy. The fast phase change speed was obtained for O-doped Sb materials by picosecond laser technology. After O-doping, the phase change film had a smaller surface roughness (1.05 nm). (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.