Resistive random-access memory (RRAM) is a promising candidate for next-generation non-volatile memory. However, due to the random formation and rupture of conductive filaments, RRMS still has disadvantages, such as small storage windows and poor stability. Therefore, the performance of RRAM can be improved by optimizing the formation and rupture of conductive filaments. In this study, a hafnium oxide-/aluminum-doped zinc oxide/hafnium oxide (HfO2/Al-ZnO/HfO2) tri-layer structure device was prepared using the sol-gel method. The oxygen-rich vacancy Al-ZnO layer was inserted into the HfO2 layers. The device had excellent RS properties, such as an excellent switch ratio of 104, retention of 104 s, and multi-level storage capability of six resistance states (one low-resistance state and five high-resistance states) and four resistance states (three low-resistance states and one high-resistance state) which were obtained by controlling stop voltage and compliance current, respectively. Mechanism analysis revealed that the device is dominated by ohmic conduction and space-charge-limited current (SCLC). We believe that the oxygen-rich vacancy concentration of the Al-ZnO insertion layer can improve the formation and rupture behaviors of conductive filaments, thereby enhancing the resistive switching (RS) performance of the device.
Keywords: Al-ZnO; HfO2; conductive filament; multi-level memory; resistive switching; sol–gel method.