Theoretical investigation of kinetics of a Cu2S-based gap-type atomic switch

Atomic switch, operating by forming and dissolving a metal-protrusion in a nanogap, shows an exponentially large bias dependence and a faster switching with increasing temperature and decreasing off-resistance. These major characteristics are explained with a simple model where the electrochemical potential at the subsurface of solid-electrolyte electrode determines the precipitation rate of metal atoms and the electric-field in the nanogap strongly affects the formation of metal-protrusion. Theoretically calculated switching time, based on this model, well reproduced the measured properties of a Cu2S-based atomic switch as a function of bias, temperature and off-resistance, providing a significant physical insight into the mechanism. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3597154]