Issue 45, 2015

Interface formation of two- and three-dimensionally bonded materials in the case of GeTe–Sb2Te3 superlattices

Abstract

GeTe–Sb2Te3 superlattices are nanostructured phase-change materials which are under intense investigation for non-volatile memory applications. They show superior properties compared to their bulk counterparts and significant efforts exist to explain the atomistic nature of their functionality. The present work sheds new light on the interface formation between GeTe and Sb2Te3, contradicting previously proposed models in the literature. For this purpose [GeTe(1 nm)–Sb2Te3(3 nm)]15 superlattices were grown on passivated Si(111) at 230 °C using molecular beam epitaxy and they have been characterized particularly with cross-sectional HAADF scanning transmission electron microscopy. Contrary to the previously proposed models, it is found that the ground state of the film actually consists of van der Waals bonded layers (i.e. a van der Waals heterostructure) of Sb2Te3 and rhombohedral GeSbTe. Moreover, it is shown by annealing the film at 400 °C, which reconfigures the superlattice into bulk rhombohedral GeSbTe, that this van der Waals layer is thermodynamically favored. These results are explained in terms of the bonding dimensionality of GeTe and Sb2Te3 and the strong tendency of these materials to intermix. The findings debate the previously proposed switching mechanisms of superlattice phase-change materials and give new insights in their possible memory application.

Graphical abstract: Interface formation of two- and three-dimensionally bonded materials in the case of GeTe–Sb2Te3 superlattices

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Jul 2015
Accepted
20 Oct 2015
First published
26 Oct 2015
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Nanoscale, 2015,7, 19136-19143

Author version available

Interface formation of two- and three-dimensionally bonded materials in the case of GeTe–Sb2Te3 superlattices

J. Momand, R. Wang, J. E. Boschker, M. A. Verheijen, R. Calarco and B. J. Kooi, Nanoscale, 2015, 7, 19136 DOI: 10.1039/C5NR04530D

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