Patent ID: 7932505

Claim:
A nonvolatile memory element, comprising: an electrode; and a switch layer comprising a CER (colossal-electro resistance) material, said CER material being a three-element rare earth, copper and oxygen combination exhibiting a CER effect, wherein said electrode and said switch layer are structured to form a non-ohmic contact at an interface therebetween, and wherein said electrode and said switch layer are structured such that current-voltage properties of said nonvolatile memory element exhibit hysteresis in which when a voltage higher than or equal to an upper threshold voltage is applied across said nonvolatile memory element, a switch layer resistance is set to one of high and low resistance states, when a voltage lower than or equal to a lower threshold voltage is applied across said nonvolatile memory element, said switch layer resistance is set to the other of said high and low resistance states, and when a voltage in between said upper and lower threshold voltages is applied across said nonvolatile memory element, said switch layer resistance is maintained at one of said high and low resistance states.