Patent ID: 7501648
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: G11B,H01L

Abstract:
1. A device, comprising: a phase change material that includes: i) at least one of the elements Ge, Sb, Te, Se, As, and S; and ii) at least one nitride compound as a dopant, wherein the nitride compound constitutes at least 1 atomic percent of the phase change material, wherein the dopant, said at least one element, and concentrations of the dopant and said at least one element are selected so that the phase change material has a crystallization temperature of at least 250° C., a resistivity of at least 0.001 Ohm-cm, and a crystallization time of less than 20 nanoseconds; and a component that includes at least one of the following: a) electrodes for passing current through the phase change material, thereby heating the phase change material, b) a scanning probe microscopy-based element for applying heat to the phase change material, and c) a laser having output used to heat the phase change material, wherein the component enables at least one of the following: reading data from the phase change material and writing data into the phase change material.