Study of localized defects in phase change materials and oxides with atom probe tomography and correlative microscopy (C08*)

• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 167917811

Project C8 will explore the structural, electrical, and chemical properties of various valence-change and phase-change materials at the nanoscale by means of the combination of atom probe tomography with transmission electron microscopy and electron-beam induced current. We will detect chemical inhomo-geneities in three dimensions at the sub-nanometer level and will analyze the role of defects. For the different material and device concepts explored within the SFB, including Mott-type oxides and superlat-tice layers in interfacial phase-change materials, the project will provide insights into the role of chemistry and structural changes for the switching processes and its kinetics.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 917: Resistively Switching Chalcogenides for Future Electronics - Structure, Kinetics and Device Scalability: 'Nanoswitches'
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Project Head: Professorin Oana Cojocaru-Mirédin, Ph.D.