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A map for phase-change materials

Nature Materials volume 7, pages 972–977 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Phase-change materials are characterized by a unique property portfolio well suited for data storage applications. Here, a first treasure map for phase-change materials is presented on the basis of a fundamental understanding of the bonding characteristics. This map is spanned by two coordinates that can be calculated just from the composition, and represent the degree of ionicity and the tendency towards hybridization (‘covalency’) of the bonding. A small magnitude of both quantities is an inherent characteristic of phase-change materials. This coordinate scheme enables a prediction of trends for the physical properties on changing stoichiometry.

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Figure 1: Typical phase-change materials.
Figure 2: Map for numerous Np=3 systems.
Figure 3: Results of FTIR reflectance measurements on SiSb2Te4.
Figure 4: Schematic model potentials in the case of local distortions.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge fruitful discussions with W. Bensch, R. Dronskowski and J. Robertson, the careful preparation of phase-change targets by Umicore (Liechtenstein) within the EU project CAMELS, the preparation and characterization of Si1Sb2Te4 films by M. Klein and S. Kremers and financial support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Wu 243/11).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. RWTH Aachen University, I. Physikalisches Institut (IA), 52056 Aachen, Germany

    Dominic Lencer, Martin Salinga & Matthias Wuttig

  2. Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany

    Blazej Grabowski, Tilmann Hickel & Jörg Neugebauer

  3. JARA-FIT, RWTH Aachen University, I. Physikalisches Institut (IA), 52056 Aachen, Germany

    Matthias Wuttig

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  1. Dominic Lencer
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Correspondence to Matthias Wuttig.

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Lencer, D., Salinga, M., Grabowski, B. et al. A map for phase-change materials. Nature Mater 7, 972–977 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2330

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