Resistive random access memories (RRAMs) are a type of resistive memory with two metal electrodes and a semi-insulating switching material in-between. As the persistent technology node downscaling continues in transistor technologies, RRAM designers also face similar device scaling challenges in simple cross-point arrays. For this reason, a cost-effective 3D vertical RRAM (VRRAM) structure which requires a single pivotal lithography step is attracting significant attention from both the scientific community and the industry. Integrating an extremely thin plane electrode to such a structure is a difficult but necessary step to enable high memory density. In addition, experimentally verifying and modeling such devices is an important step to designing RRAM arrays with a high noise margin, low resistive-capacitive (RC) delays, and stable switching characteristics. In this work, we conducted an electromagnetic analysis on a 3D vertical RRAM with atomically thin graphene electrodes and compared it with the conventional metal electrode. Based on the experimental device measurement results, we derived a theoretical basis and models for each VRRAM design that can be further utilized in the estimation of graphene-based 3D memory at the circuit and architecture levels. We concluded that a 71% increase in electromagnetic field strength was observed in a 0.3 nm thick graphene electrode when compared to a 5 nm thick metal electrode. Such an increase in the field led to much lower energy consumption and fluctuation range during RRAM switching. Due to unique graphene properties resulting in improved programming behavior, the graphene-based VRRAM can be a strong candidate for stacked storage devices in new memory computing platforms.
Keywords: EM analysis; VRRAM; device modeling; graphene; memory; sub-nm thin electrode.