Biodegradable ReRAM based on chitosan for nonvolatile memory application

ReRAM cell based on Silver nano particle incorporated Chitosan nano composite, using a simple spin coating technique. Switching between ON and OFF states were observed at operating voltage as low as 0.23V A high ON/OFF ratio of more than 3 orders was observed in the first cycle. Further, we also observed a multilevel switching from ON state to OFF state in the second cycle, with an ON/OFF ratio of about 5 orders of magnitude at again a switching voltage as low as ~ 0.6V. To understand the switching, we analysed the I-V characteristics in terms of conduction mechanisms. In general the conduction is hopping type just before switching. Particularly in the second cycle, when the switching occurs from LRS to HRS (ON to OFF states), conduction changes from hopping type in On state to Ohmic behavior in the OFF state. This complete change of conduction behavior may be the reason for the observed huge ON/OFF ratio of 5 orders of magnitude. This high ON/OFF ratio is quite encouraging in this Chitosan-Silver nano composite system