Patent ID: 8487292

Claim:
A non-volatile resistance-switching memory element, comprising: a first electrode at a first height above a substrate; a plurality of layers provided on the first electrode, the plurality of layers is in series with the first electrode, and comprises a resistance-switching element and a steering element in series with the resistance-switching element, the steering element comprising a diode, the resistance-switching element comprises a Hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ) layer, where a cation of a metal is a dopant in the HfO 2 layer, the dopant is provided at a concentration of greater than 10%, and the metal is one of Magnesium (Mg), Praesodymium (Pr), Neodymium (Nd), Samarium (Sm), Europium (Eu), Gadolinium (Gd), Terbium (Tb), Calcium (Ca), Scandium (Sc) or Yttrium (Y), and the plurality of layers further comprise an n+silicon layer contacting one side of the HfO 2 layer and a titanium, titanium oxide, titanium nitride or carbon layer contacting an opposite side of the HfO 2 layer; and a second electrode provided on the plurality of layers, at a second height above the substrate, and in series with the plurality of layers.