Low-voltage programming of RRAM-based crossbar arrays using MOS parasitic diodes

Due to their high density, scalability, and low-power properties, 1-transistor-1-resistor (1T1R) RRAM-based crossbars have been exploited in the past. However, the series resistance of the transistor is a major problem in 1T1R crossbar arrays. This limits the maximum current available for inducing r...

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Main Authors: Sachin Maheshwari, Alex Serb, Themis Prodromakis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Nanotechnology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnano.2025.1587700/full
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author Sachin Maheshwari
Alex Serb
Themis Prodromakis
author_facet Sachin Maheshwari
Alex Serb
Themis Prodromakis
author_sort Sachin Maheshwari
collection DOAJ
description Due to their high density, scalability, and low-power properties, 1-transistor-1-resistor (1T1R) RRAM-based crossbars have been exploited in the past. However, the series resistance of the transistor is a major problem in 1T1R crossbar arrays. This limits the maximum current available for inducing resistive switching and degrades the array’s performance. To mitigate this issue, we propose a new configuration—1-transistor-1-diode-1-resistor (1T1D1R)—in which diodes are used (including bulk source/drain parasitic diodes of the access transistor) to bypass the gating transistor during the programming operation (“write”). The proposed solution trades increased overhead in the layout area for a dramatic increase in the maximum achievable current drive on RRAM devices, resulting in the ability to deliver 1.5 mA+ with a voltage supply as low as 1.2 V using minimum-size devices (in our implementation). We designed a 32 × 32 crossbar array with on-chip peripheral circuitry in commercially available 0.18 μm triple-well CMOS technology for the proof of concept. We demonstrate bidirectional programming, showing a memristance change of ≈500 Ω for 120 and 80 pulses in positive and negative directions, respectively.
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spelling doaj-art-475c53abea3341bb91f5e804e1f5eeb62025-08-20T02:44:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nanotechnology2673-30132025-07-01710.3389/fnano.2025.15877001587700Low-voltage programming of RRAM-based crossbar arrays using MOS parasitic diodesSachin MaheshwariAlex SerbThemis ProdromakisDue to their high density, scalability, and low-power properties, 1-transistor-1-resistor (1T1R) RRAM-based crossbars have been exploited in the past. However, the series resistance of the transistor is a major problem in 1T1R crossbar arrays. This limits the maximum current available for inducing resistive switching and degrades the array’s performance. To mitigate this issue, we propose a new configuration—1-transistor-1-diode-1-resistor (1T1D1R)—in which diodes are used (including bulk source/drain parasitic diodes of the access transistor) to bypass the gating transistor during the programming operation (“write”). The proposed solution trades increased overhead in the layout area for a dramatic increase in the maximum achievable current drive on RRAM devices, resulting in the ability to deliver 1.5 mA+ with a voltage supply as low as 1.2 V using minimum-size devices (in our implementation). We designed a 32 × 32 crossbar array with on-chip peripheral circuitry in commercially available 0.18 μm triple-well CMOS technology for the proof of concept. We demonstrate bidirectional programming, showing a memristance change of ≈500 Ω for 120 and 80 pulses in positive and negative directions, respectively.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnano.2025.1587700/fullcrossbar arraylow voltageRRAM1T1Rparasitic diodeprogramming
spellingShingle Sachin Maheshwari
Alex Serb
Themis Prodromakis
Low-voltage programming of RRAM-based crossbar arrays using MOS parasitic diodes
Frontiers in Nanotechnology
crossbar array
low voltage
RRAM
1T1R
parasitic diode
programming
title Low-voltage programming of RRAM-based crossbar arrays using MOS parasitic diodes
title_full Low-voltage programming of RRAM-based crossbar arrays using MOS parasitic diodes
title_fullStr Low-voltage programming of RRAM-based crossbar arrays using MOS parasitic diodes
title_full_unstemmed Low-voltage programming of RRAM-based crossbar arrays using MOS parasitic diodes
title_short Low-voltage programming of RRAM-based crossbar arrays using MOS parasitic diodes
title_sort low voltage programming of rram based crossbar arrays using mos parasitic diodes
topic crossbar array
low voltage
RRAM
1T1R
parasitic diode
programming
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnano.2025.1587700/full
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AT themisprodromakis lowvoltageprogrammingofrrambasedcrossbararraysusingmosparasiticdiodes