Patent ID: 8445886

Claim:
A nonvolatile memory element comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a resistance variable layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, resistance values of the resistance variable layer reversibly changing in response to electric signals applied between the first electrode and the second electrode; the resistance variable layer including a first tantalum oxide layer comprising a first tantalum oxide and a second tantalum oxide layer comprising a second tantalum oxide which is different in oxygen content from the first tantalum oxide, the first tantalum oxide layer and the second tantalum oxide layer being stacked together, and being configured such that 0<x<2.5 is satisfied when the first tantalum oxide is expressed as TaO x and x<y≦2.5 is satisfied when the second tantalum oxide is expressed as TaO y ; the second electrode being in contact with the second tantalum oxide layer and comprising platinum and tantalum; and the second electrode having a platinum content which is not less than 27 atm % and not more than 92 atm %.