ITMO scientists have developed a new family of metal-organic crystals capable of spontaneously transitioning from a 3D structure to 2D. These ultra-thin materials (from 4 nanometers) can be used to create energy-efficient memristors and ReRAM technology, designed for recording and storing data.
The main advantage of the method is the absence of the need for expensive lithography, which reduces production costs. The new process involves heating a solution of organic compounds and zinc salts, after which 3D crystals are formed. Then, drying in the air, they spontaneously transform into 2D structures. This simplifies the production of thin layers with improved electronic properties.
The finished 2D crystals can be used in microoptics and computing devices, including memory elements for artificial intelligence systems. They are non-volatile, allow selective access to individual memory cells, and operate on neuromorphic principles, mimicking the activity of brain neurons.
The resulting 2D crystals retain information for more than 2 hours and withstand over 100 conductivity switching cycles.
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