Two-terminal switching devices comprising coated nanotube elements

• US 10,181,569 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2017
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZEON Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nantero Incorporated
• Inventors: Ghenciu, Eliodor G., Rueckes, Thomas, Yao, Thierry, Kocab, J. Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tobergte, Nicholas J
• Application Number:
  US15/694,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20180013084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0069 Writing or programming circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/025 using fullerenes, e.g. C60, or nanotubes, e.g. carbon or silicon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2013/009 Write using potential difference applied between cell electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2213/79 Array wherein the access device being a transistor
• CPC Class Codes: H10B 63/30 comprising selection components having three or more electrodes, e.g. transistors
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/50 Bistable switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 19/202 Integrated devices comprising a common active layer
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/12 using liquid deposition, e.g. spin coating
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/20 Carbon compounds, e.g. carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/221 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/021 Formation of switching materials, e.g. deposition of layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/20 Multistable switching devices, e.g. memristors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/231 based on solid-state phase change, e.g. between amorphous and crystalline phases, Ovshinsky effect
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/826 adapted for essentially vertical current flow, e.g. sandwich or pillar type devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/8845 Carbon or carbides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

An improved switching material for forming a composite article over a substrate is disclosed. A first volume of nanotubes is combined with a second volume of nanoscopic particles in a predefined ration relative to the first volume of nanotubes to form a mixture. This mixture can then be deposited over a substrate as a relatively thick composite article via a spin coating process. The composite article may possess improved switching properties over that of a nanotube-only switching article. A method for forming substantially uniform nanoscopic particles of carbon, which contains one or more allotropes of carbon, is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A two-terminal switching device comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode; and

a switching composite article disposed between and in constant electrical communication with each of said first electrode and said second electrode of said two terminal switching device, wherein said composite article is comprised of comprises a plurality of nanotube elements and a volume of nanoscopic particles;

wherein said volume of nanoscopic particles is miscible with said plurality of nanotube elements and forms a continuous material around at least one of said nanotube elements.

2. The two-terminal switching device of claim 1 wherein substantially all of said nanotube elements are coated in a continuous material formed from said nanoscopic particles.

3. The two-terminal switching device of claim 1 wherein said continuous material coating increases the distance between said nanotube elements within said composite article.

4. The two-terminal switching device of claim 1 wherein said continuous material coating improves the switching functionality of said two-terminal switching device.

5. The two-terminal switching device of claim 1 wherein said volume of nanoscopic particles includes silicon oxide particles.

6. The two-terminal switching device of claim 1 wherein said volume of nanoscopic particles includes silicon nitride particles.

7. The two-terminal switching device of claim 1 wherein said nanotube elements are substantially all carbon nanotubes.

8. The two-terminal switching device of claim 1, wherein said composite article has less than about 10¹¹ metal atoms/cm².