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Phase-change memory functionality in gallium nanoparticles

Phase-change memory functionality in gallium nanoparticles
Phase-change memory functionality in gallium nanoparticles
We report that the structural phase of gallium nanoparticles can be switched by optical excitation and read via their cathodoluminescence (CL) when excited by a scanning electron beam. This opens a new paradigm in developing high-density phase change optical memory elements. A film of gallium nanoparticles was sputtered at the end face of an optical fiber, through which the reflectivity at 195 K was monitored by a 1.31 µm laser. By launching a single pulse from a 1.55 µm laser (17 mW, 1 µs) to the sample, a solid-to-liquid phase transition was observed as an immediate change of reflectivity from 10.0 to 10.5 %. CL spectra were measured immediately before and after the phase transition. The spectra show that gallium nanoparticles luminesce in the range of 400-650 nm, in which there at 520 nm is a 10 % difference of emission before and after the phase transition, due to a difference in optical properties. In future continuation of this first demonstration of electron beam read-out of the phase of nanoparticles, it is likely that the electron beam itself can change the phase of individual nanoparticles in the film, and that this phase furthermore can be read out at lower power by its cathode luminescence response with the same electron beam.
Denisyuk, Andrey I.
3e1a7750-188c-4a89-820a-f58b721e4345
Jonsson, Fredrik
53a3fa1c-c987-496b-ab8b-1a9ba67f8346
Zheludev, Nikolay I.
32fb6af7-97e4-4d11-bca6-805745e40cc6
Denisyuk, Andrey I.
3e1a7750-188c-4a89-820a-f58b721e4345
Jonsson, Fredrik
53a3fa1c-c987-496b-ab8b-1a9ba67f8346
Zheludev, Nikolay I.
32fb6af7-97e4-4d11-bca6-805745e40cc6

Denisyuk, Andrey I., Jonsson, Fredrik and Zheludev, Nikolay I. (2007) Phase-change memory functionality in gallium nanoparticles. 8th International Congress on Optical Particle Characterization, , Graz, Austria. 09 - 13 Jul 2007. 1 pp .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

We report that the structural phase of gallium nanoparticles can be switched by optical excitation and read via their cathodoluminescence (CL) when excited by a scanning electron beam. This opens a new paradigm in developing high-density phase change optical memory elements. A film of gallium nanoparticles was sputtered at the end face of an optical fiber, through which the reflectivity at 195 K was monitored by a 1.31 µm laser. By launching a single pulse from a 1.55 µm laser (17 mW, 1 µs) to the sample, a solid-to-liquid phase transition was observed as an immediate change of reflectivity from 10.0 to 10.5 %. CL spectra were measured immediately before and after the phase transition. The spectra show that gallium nanoparticles luminesce in the range of 400-650 nm, in which there at 520 nm is a 10 % difference of emission before and after the phase transition, due to a difference in optical properties. In future continuation of this first demonstration of electron beam read-out of the phase of nanoparticles, it is likely that the electron beam itself can change the phase of individual nanoparticles in the film, and that this phase furthermore can be read out at lower power by its cathode luminescence response with the same electron beam.

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e-pub ahead of print date: July 2007
Venue - Dates: 8th International Congress on Optical Particle Characterization, , Graz, Austria, 2007-07-09 - 2007-07-13

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 47830
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/47830
PURE UUID: 8ef4203e-16d0-4a54-9869-d03fc3abf94e
ORCID for Nikolay I. Zheludev: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1013-6636

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 15 Aug 2007
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:43

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Contributors

Author: Andrey I. Denisyuk
Author: Fredrik Jonsson
Author: Nikolay I. Zheludev ORCID iD

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