Advances in Ovonic Threshold Switch Selector Technologies for Storage Class Memory: From Fundamentals to Development and Beyond

Abstract The explosive increase in the demand for data driven by advancements in artificial intelligence technology and rapid expansion of data centers necessitates storage class memory (SCM) capable of alleviating data traffic and workload issues. The success of SCM depends heavily on the selector....

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Main Authors: Sanghyun Ban, Jangseop Lee, Yoori Seo, Wootae Lee, Taehoon Kim, Hyunsang Hwang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-05-01
Series:Advanced Electronic Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400665
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author Sanghyun Ban
Jangseop Lee
Yoori Seo
Wootae Lee
Taehoon Kim
Hyunsang Hwang
author_facet Sanghyun Ban
Jangseop Lee
Yoori Seo
Wootae Lee
Taehoon Kim
Hyunsang Hwang
author_sort Sanghyun Ban
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The explosive increase in the demand for data driven by advancements in artificial intelligence technology and rapid expansion of data centers necessitates storage class memory (SCM) capable of alleviating data traffic and workload issues. The success of SCM depends heavily on the selector. The ovonic threshold switch (OTS), a chalcogenide‐based amorphous thin film, has garnered increasing attention as a selector owing to its suitable characteristics. Here, OTS devices based on various chalcogens (tellurium, selenium, and sulfur) are reviewed, and how the selection of a chalcogen should be dictated by the specific requirements of the application is highlighted, because the OTS characteristics vary significantly depending on the choice. Additionally, OTS characteristic engineering from multiple perspectives, including material engineering via elemental doping, electrode engineering, physical property engineering via post‐treatment, and structural/interface engineering using multiple layers is reviewed. Finally, selector‐only memory (SOM) is examined, which offers better scalability and performance than the existing one‐memory and one‐selector structure, which combines an OTS with phase‐change memory. Moreover, a cost‐effective 3D vertical X‐point memory is also discussed, emphasizing that its ultimate implementation should be achieved using an SOM. Thus, insights and guidelines for OTS material design, stack engineering, and cell parameter design are provided here.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-05-01
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spelling doaj-art-ec8f2d965d6a463dae56049c83cd740c2025-08-20T03:52:16ZengWiley-VCHAdvanced Electronic Materials2199-160X2025-05-01116n/an/a10.1002/aelm.202400665Advances in Ovonic Threshold Switch Selector Technologies for Storage Class Memory: From Fundamentals to Development and BeyondSanghyun Ban0Jangseop Lee1Yoori Seo2Wootae Lee3Taehoon Kim4Hyunsang Hwang5Center for Single Atom‐Based Semiconductor Device Department of Material Science and Engineering Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) Pohang 790‐784 South KoreaCenter for Single Atom‐Based Semiconductor Device Department of Material Science and Engineering Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) Pohang 790‐784 South KoreaCenter for Single Atom‐Based Semiconductor Device Department of Material Science and Engineering Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) Pohang 790‐784 South KoreaSK hynix Inc. Icheon‐si Gyeonggi‐do 467‐701 South KoreaSK hynix Inc. Icheon‐si Gyeonggi‐do 467‐701 South KoreaCenter for Single Atom‐Based Semiconductor Device Department of Material Science and Engineering Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) Pohang 790‐784 South KoreaAbstract The explosive increase in the demand for data driven by advancements in artificial intelligence technology and rapid expansion of data centers necessitates storage class memory (SCM) capable of alleviating data traffic and workload issues. The success of SCM depends heavily on the selector. The ovonic threshold switch (OTS), a chalcogenide‐based amorphous thin film, has garnered increasing attention as a selector owing to its suitable characteristics. Here, OTS devices based on various chalcogens (tellurium, selenium, and sulfur) are reviewed, and how the selection of a chalcogen should be dictated by the specific requirements of the application is highlighted, because the OTS characteristics vary significantly depending on the choice. Additionally, OTS characteristic engineering from multiple perspectives, including material engineering via elemental doping, electrode engineering, physical property engineering via post‐treatment, and structural/interface engineering using multiple layers is reviewed. Finally, selector‐only memory (SOM) is examined, which offers better scalability and performance than the existing one‐memory and one‐selector structure, which combines an OTS with phase‐change memory. Moreover, a cost‐effective 3D vertical X‐point memory is also discussed, emphasizing that its ultimate implementation should be achieved using an SOM. Thus, insights and guidelines for OTS material design, stack engineering, and cell parameter design are provided here.https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400665crosspoint arrayovonic threshold switchselectorselector‐only memoryvertical crosspoint memory
spellingShingle Sanghyun Ban
Jangseop Lee
Yoori Seo
Wootae Lee
Taehoon Kim
Hyunsang Hwang
Advances in Ovonic Threshold Switch Selector Technologies for Storage Class Memory: From Fundamentals to Development and Beyond
Advanced Electronic Materials
crosspoint array
ovonic threshold switch
selector
selector‐only memory
vertical crosspoint memory
title Advances in Ovonic Threshold Switch Selector Technologies for Storage Class Memory: From Fundamentals to Development and Beyond
title_full Advances in Ovonic Threshold Switch Selector Technologies for Storage Class Memory: From Fundamentals to Development and Beyond
title_fullStr Advances in Ovonic Threshold Switch Selector Technologies for Storage Class Memory: From Fundamentals to Development and Beyond
title_full_unstemmed Advances in Ovonic Threshold Switch Selector Technologies for Storage Class Memory: From Fundamentals to Development and Beyond
title_short Advances in Ovonic Threshold Switch Selector Technologies for Storage Class Memory: From Fundamentals to Development and Beyond
title_sort advances in ovonic threshold switch selector technologies for storage class memory from fundamentals to development and beyond
topic crosspoint array
ovonic threshold switch
selector
selector‐only memory
vertical crosspoint memory
url https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400665
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AT jangseoplee advancesinovonicthresholdswitchselectortechnologiesforstorageclassmemoryfromfundamentalstodevelopmentandbeyond
AT yooriseo advancesinovonicthresholdswitchselectortechnologiesforstorageclassmemoryfromfundamentalstodevelopmentandbeyond
AT wootaelee advancesinovonicthresholdswitchselectortechnologiesforstorageclassmemoryfromfundamentalstodevelopmentandbeyond
AT taehoonkim advancesinovonicthresholdswitchselectortechnologiesforstorageclassmemoryfromfundamentalstodevelopmentandbeyond
AT hyunsanghwang advancesinovonicthresholdswitchselectortechnologiesforstorageclassmemoryfromfundamentalstodevelopmentandbeyond