Patent ID: RE42040

Claim:
A switching element comprising : an ion conductor capable of conducting metal ions therein ; , a first electrode and a second electrode which are disposed in contact with said ion conductor; and a third electrode disposed in contact with said ion conductor and including said metal ions; wherein an interelectrode distance L 1 between said first electrode and said second electrode, an interelectrode distance L 2 between said first electrode and said third electrode, and an interelectrode distance L 3 between said second electrode and said third electrode satisfy the condition according to the expression: L1<L2×2 and L1<L3×2 , a second electrode, and a third electrode; wherein said first electrode is of a structure including a region made of a material that is not capable of supplying said metal ions to said ion conductor; at least one or two electrodes from among said second electrode and said third electrode is/are held in contact with said ion conductor, and at least one or two electrodes held in contact with said ion conductor is/are of a structure including a material capable of supplying said metal ions to said ion conductor; and wherein the first, second and third electrodes are arranged such that an electrical conductivity between said first electrode and said second electrode is controlled by applying a voltage to said third electrode .