High-Performance Multilevel Memory Crossbar Array Based on Two-Dimensional Imine Polymer Film with Tunable Memory Behavior

Abstract Multi-state memristors offer great promise for overcoming Moore’s law limitations and effectively increasing information storage density due to the exponential increase in the data storage density from 2n to 3n or even higher (where n is the number of devices in the storage array). Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of two-dimensional polymers (2DP) with spatial separation characteristics in their frontier orbitals, capable of memory with multi-states. High-performance multilevel memory crossbar arrays are constructed by inserting graphene into the electrode/two-dimensional polymer (2DP) interface. On the one hand, the high electronic conductivity and excellent impermeability of the graphene layer enable to optimize the power consumption and device yield; on the other hand, the polyimine 2DP films can produce a high ON/OFF ratio due to their low conductivity in the OFF state. Therefore, a low power consumption (SET/RESET power: 10–13 W/10–4 W) along with a corresponding high switch ratio of OFF/ON1/ON2 = 1:105:108 is achieved with only 5 nm-thick film. The crossbar arrays are successfully used for alphabet image display. Furthermore, we revealed that the memory behavior can be adjusted from Flash to WORM by tuning the donor–acceptor (D–A) combinations of 2DP films.