Realizing multiple non-volatile resistance states in a two-dimensional domain wall ferroelectric tunneling junction

Abstract

Two-dimensional ferroelectric tunnel junctions (2D FTJs) with an ultrathin van der Waals ferroelectrics sandwiched by two electrodes have great applications in memory and synaptic devices. Domain walls (DWs), formed naturally in ferroelectrics, are being actively explored for their low energy consumption, reconfigurable, and non-volatile multi-resistance characteristics in memory, logic and neuromorphic devices. However, DWs with multiple resistance states in 2D FTJ have rarely been explored and reported. Here, we propose the formation of 2D FTJ with multiple non-volatile resistance states manipulated by neutral DWs in a nanostripe-ordered β′-In₂Se₃ monolayer. By combining density functional theory (DFT) calculations with nonequilibrium Green's function method, we found that a large TER ratio can be obtained due to the blocking effect of DWs on the electronic transmission. Multiple conductance states are readily obtained by introducing different numbers of the DWs. This work opens a new route to designing multiple non-volatile resistance states in 2D DW-FTJ.