Ultrahigh Stability and Operation Performance in Bi-doped GeTe/Sb₂Te₃ Superlattices Achieved by Tailoring Bonding and Structural Properties

Changes in bond types and the reversible switching process between metavalent and covalent bonds are related to the operating mechanism of the phase-change (PC) behavior. Thus, controlling the bonding characteristics is the key to improving the PC memory performance. In this study, we have controlled the bonding characteristics of GeTe/Sb₂Te₃ superlattices (SLs) via bismuth (Bi) doping. The incorporation of Bi into the GeTe sublayers tailors the metavalent bond. We observed significant improvement in device reliability, set speed, and power consumption induced upon increasing Bi incorporation. The introduction of Bi was found to suppress the change in density between the SET and RESET states, resulting in a significant increase in device reliability. The reduction in Peierls distortion, leading to a more octahedral-like atomic arrangement, intensifies electron-phonon coupling with increased bond polarizability, which are responsible for the fast set speed and low power consumption. This study demonstrates how the structural and thermodynamic changes in phase change materials alter phase change characteristics due to systematic changes of bonding and provides an important methodology for the development of PC devices.