Nanometer-scale order in amorphous Ge2Sb2Te 5 analyzed by fluctuation electron microscopy

Min Ho Kwon, Bong Sub Lee, Stephanie N. Bogle, Lakshmi N. Nittala, Stephen G. Bishop, John R. Abelson, Simone Raoux, Byung Ki Cheong, Ki Bum Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The phase change material Ge2 Sb2 Te5 is widely investigated for use in nonvolatile memories. It has been reported that the crystallization speed depends on the thermal history, indicating that structural differences exist between amorphous states. The authors apply fluctuation electron microscopy to quantify differences in the nanometer-scale structural order between several amorphous states of Ge2 Sb2 Te5. All as-deposited films are found to contain ordered regions. Thermal annealing below the crystallization threshold increases the nanoscale order, and such samples crystallize slightly more rapidly. The authors hypothesize that the nanoscale ordered regions act as the nuclei for crystallization, with the largest regions being the most significant.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number021923
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume90
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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