Flash memory effects based on styrene/maleimiade copolymers with pendant azobenzene chromophores

Abstract Two styrene/maleimiade copolymers with pendant azobenzene chromophores, poly(styrene-1-(4-phenylazo-phenyl)-pyrrole-2,5-dione) (PS-DP) and poly((4-vinyl-benzyl)-9H-carbazole-1-(4-phenylazo-phenyl)-pyrrole-2,5-dione) (PVCz-DP), were synthesized. The polymeric memory devices based on each of the two polymer films (ITO/Polymer/Al) show similar rewritable flash memory behaviors but different transition voltages. By introduction of carbazole groups in the polymer side chains, the voltage difference from OFF to ON state of ITO/PVCz-DP/Al is reduced obviously in comparison with that of ITO/PS-DP/Al, which is beneficial to the protection of devices. Both ITO/PS-DP/Al and ITO/PVCz-DP/Al show high stability under a constant stress or continuous read pulses voltage of 1.0 V. The memory mechanism is governed by space-charge limited conduction (SCLC) on the basis of the I – V curves of these fabricated memory devices. With excellent flash memory characteristics and simple processability, the memory devices fabricated with these two styrene/maleimiade copolymers have potential applications for the future electronic memory devices.