title: Crystal structure assessment of Ge-Sb-Te phase change nanowires.
abstract: Further improvement of phase change memory devices based on Ge-Sb-Te alloys imposes the reduction of the active cell dimensions to the nanoscale. We investigate the atomic arrangement of Ge(1)Sb(2)Te(4) and Ge(2)Sb(2)Te(5) nanowires. We identify the stacking sequence in each crystal structure by combining the direct observation by High Angle Annular Dark Field imaging and proper simulations. We find out that Ge and Sb atoms randomly share the same lattice sites, although this configuration is considered not stable according to the existing theoretical models elaborated for the bulk material.
authors: IMEM-CNR, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy. enzo.rotunno@imem.cnr.it
authors: Enzo
authors: E
authors: Rotunno
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Lazzarini
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Longo
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Grillo
mesh_terms: D000965:Antimony / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D005857:Germanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D013691:Tellurium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D005857:Germanium; D000965:Antimony; D013691:Tellurium