title: Atomic switch: atom/ion movement controlled devices for beyond von-neumann computers.
abstract: An atomic switch is a nanoionic device that controls the diffusion of metal ions/atoms and their reduction/oxidation processes in the switching operation to form/annihilate a conductive path. Since metal atoms can provide a highly conductive channel even if their cluster size is in the nanometer scale, atomic switches may enable downscaling to smaller than the 11 nm technology node, which is a great challenge for semiconductor devices. Atomic switches also possess novel characteristics, such as high on/off ratios, very low power consumption and non-volatility. The unique operating mechanisms of these devices have enabled the development of various types of atomic switch, such as gap-type and gapless-type two-terminal atomic switches and three-terminal atomic switches. Novel functions, such as selective volatile/nonvolatile, synaptic, memristive, and photo-assisted operations have been demonstrated. Such atomic switch characteristics can not only improve the performance of present-day electronic systems, but also enable development of new types of electronic systems, such as beyond von- Neumann computers.
authors: WPI Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. Tsuyoshi@nims.go.jp
authors: Tsuyoshi
authors: T
authors: Hasegawa
authors: Kazuya
authors: K
authors: Terabe
authors: Tohru
authors: T
authors: Tsuruoka
authors: Masakazu
authors: M
authors: Aono
mesh_terms: D003201:Computers; D004566:Electrodes; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry; D012666:Semiconductors
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D006046:Gold