High-speed energy-efficient memristor confined in sub-5 nm space with elemental oxygen reservoir layer

C Chenfei Li (State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) W Wencheng Niu D Da Wan L Lin Tang Z Zhengdao Xie K Kai Zhang Y Yuan Liu Q Qi Liu L Lei Liao (Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences) X Xuming Zou X Xingqiang Liu

Abstract

Abstract Random migration of oxygen vacancies (V O ) leads to unpredictable formation and rupture of conductive filaments (CFs) in oxide-based memristors. In this work, an atomically flat 4.5 nm hafnium oxide (HfO x ) switching layer and a 3.5 nm elemental oxygen reservoir (EOR) layer are confined between two-dimensional HfS 2 and MoS 2 layers, ensuring a homogeneous electric field distribution. The migration and redistribution of V O within the ultrathin HfO x switching layer enable the memristive behavior of the device. The EOR-based memristors achieve high set/reset transition speeds of 8 ns and 15 ns, respectively. The electroneutral EOR layer interacts with V O in the HfO x switching layer and, together with the HfO x tunnel layer above the HfS 2 , forms a barrier to suppress the high-resistance state current. Reliable endurance up to 10 5 cycles, and long retention up to 10 5  s are simultaneously obtained. Finally, a high recognition accuracy of 97.0% is achieved, demonstrating potential for low-power neuromorphic computing applications.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 17, Issue 1
Published March 18, 2026
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (11)

C

Chenfei Li

State Key Laboratory of Synergistic Chem-Bio Synthesis, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

W

Wencheng Niu

D

Da Wan

L

Lin Tang

Z

Zhengdao Xie

K

Kai Zhang

Y

Yuan Liu

Q

Qi Liu

L

Lei Liao

Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

X

Xuming Zou

X

Xingqiang Liu