Holy memristor

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel, simple fabrication method for electrochemical memory devices using whiskey deposits as insulating layers, leading to biodegradable and recyclable electronics.

Contribution

It introduces a unique fabrication approach utilizing whiskey deposits for ECM cells, simplifying production and enabling eco-friendly, biodegradable memory devices.

Findings

Device exhibits typical ECM switching behavior

Surface coating simplifies fabrication process

Device is biodegradable and recyclable

Abstract

It was recently shown that when a drop of Glenlivet whiskey evaporates, it leaves behind a uniform deposit [PRL 116, 124501 (2016)]. We utilize this fascinating finding in the fabrication of electrochemical metallization memory (ECM) cells. The top (Ag) and bottom (Co) electrodes in our structure are separated by a layer of Glenlivet whiskey deposit (an insulator). Measurements show the device response is typical of ECM cells that involve threshold-type switching, pinched hysteresis loops, and a large difference between the high- and low-resistance states. The surface coating process used in our experiments simplifies the device fabrication and results in a biodegradable insulating layer, which may facilitate the recovery of recyclable materials at the end of the device's use.