Patent ID: 8921156

Claim:
A method of forming a resistive-switching memory element, the method comprising: forming a first electrode comprising a non-noble material; forming a defect access layer over the first electrode, wherein the defect access layer comprises aluminum oxide; forming a base layer over the defect access layer; wherein the base layer comprises hafnium oxide, wherein the base layer is thicker than the defect access layer; forming a doping layer over the base layer such that the doping layer directly interfaces the base layer, wherein the doping layer comprises one of aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, or yttrium oxide; annealing the base layer and the doping layer, wherein annealing the base layer and the doping layer forms an interdiffused regions at an interface of the doping layer and the base layer; and forming a second electrode over the doping layer such that the defect access layer, the base layer, and the doping layer are disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.