Combined Assembly by Soft and Hard chemistry, from hierarchically ordered nanoparticle/block-copolymer composites to non-volatile memory devices (CASH-Memory)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Marcus Halik
• Subject Area: Polymer Materials ; Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: from 2014 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 265245389

Within this project (Combined Assembly by Soft and Hard chemistry CASH Memory) we will investigate NP-doped block-copolymer PS-b-PEO in their various doping levels and phases (cylindric, lamellar and inverted cylindric) as functional non-volatile memory layers. We target two different memory concepts i) floating gate approach for organic TFTs and ii) conductive bridging cells (CB-RAM) as array-compatible concept. Besides the device related topics, we will investigate general scientific questions of our system (PS-b-PEO/NPs) in order to understand and to realize those complex memory concepts. Those questions relate to phase orientation by SAM surface treatment, to selective load of phases with hydrophilic or hydrophobic or both kinds of our core-shell NPs, to the phase morphology as function of NP concentration and NP size and the preferential accumulation of NPs in phase or at the phase interface by using homo-shells or Janus-type NPs. From our project we expect to provide both, scientific insight into CASH systems and suitable non-volatile memory platforms for reliable, endurable and long term stable operation with potential to become implemented in flexible electronics applications.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants