Patent ID: 8320154

Claim:
A switching element comprising: a first electrode containing an ionic conductor; a second electrode composed of an electric conductor; and a photoresponsive film disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode so as to fill up a space between the first electrode and the second electrode, the photoresponsive film receiving light to generate a carrier, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are made to be physically and electrically connected to each other through deposition of a metal ion from the ionic conductor by applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode in a first direction while irradiating light to the photoresponsive film so that an electron in the carrier can bond with the metal ion from the ionic conductor, and the first electrode and the second electrode are made to be physically and electrically disconnected through removal of the deposition by applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode in a second direction opposite to the first direction while irradiating light to the photoresponsive film so that a hole in the carrier can remove the deposition after further ionization reaction.