Numerical simulation of silver pillar growth and switching behavior in Ag/Ag2S nanometer scale switch

Abstract

The growth of silver pillars and switching behavior in Ag/Ag2S nanometer scale switch were numerically simulated. The mechanism of silver pillar growth, which is assumed to be the same one of the frost column growth, was modeled using a phase field method. Supply of the silver flux reduced by tunneling electron at the Ag/Ag2S interface into the upper part of the pillar led to the growth of silver pillar successfully. The growth velocity of the pillar increased with the increase of the applied voltage. However, it decreased by applying a potential necessary for the precipitation of silver from Ag2S phase. Moreover, the switching behavior was also well reproduced with the fact that switching time decreased with the increase of the switching voltage. © 2009 The Japan Institute of Metals.