Resistive Switching Memory Devices Based on Layer-by-Layer Assembled-Superparamagnetic Nanocomposite Multilayers via Nucleophilic Substitution Reaction in Nonpolar Solvent

We demonstrate a facile and robust layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly method for the fabrication of nonvolatile resistive switching memory (NRSM) devices based on superparamagnetic nanocomposite multilayers, which allows the highly enhanced magnetic and resistive switching memory properties as well as the dense and homogeneous adsorption of nanoparticles, via nucleophilic substitution reaction (NSR) in nonpolar solvent. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MP) of about size 12 nm (or 7 nm) synthesized with oleic acid (OA) in nonpolar solvent could be converted into 2-bromo-2-methylpropionic acid (BMPA)-stabilized iron oxide nanoparticles (BMPA-MP) by stabilizer exchange without change of solvent polarity. In addition, bromo groups of BMPA-MP could be connected with highly branched amine groups of poly (amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMA) in ethanol by NSR of between bromo and amine groups. Based on these results, nanocomposite multilayers using LbL assembly could be fabricated in nonpolar solvent by NSR of between BMPA-MP and PAMA without any additional phase transfer of MP for conventional LbL assembly. These resulting superparamagnetic multilayers displayed highly improved magnetic and resistive switching memory properties in comparison with those of multilayers based on water-dispersible MP. Furthermore, NRSM devices, which were fabricated by LbL assembly method under atmospheric conditions, exhibited the outstanding performances such as long-term stability, fast switching speed and high ON/OFF ratio comparable to that of conventional inorganic NRSM devices produced by vacuum deposition.