R&D: Self-Healing and Corrosion Resistance in Flexible Sb-based Phase-change Memory Devices under Sweat Conditions

Surfaces and Interfaces has published an article written by Yukun Wang, and Yifeng Hu, School of Mathematics and Physics, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, 213000, PR China.

Abstract: “Current phase-change memory research focuses on material and device performance but neglects wearable environments. This study pioneers analysis of phase change memory under simulated human sweat conditions. In this study, 1 % NaCl solution was used as a sweat simulation agent to explore the influence of human sweat on flexible Sb-based phase change storage devices on PEEK substrates. The results show that after soaking for 30 mins, the Sb film can still achieve complete phase transformation. Its resistance increases by three orders of magnitude, and the phase transformation temperature rises from 181 to 307 °C. NaCl solution causes physical corrosion, increases the band gap and resistance drift coefficient, and its corrosion effect is more significant than that of pure water. Microscopic structure observation shows film delamination and diffusion. Despite NaCl immersion and bending, the device still exhibited a reversible SET-RESET transformation.“