Patent ID: 8779407

Claim:
A nonvolatile memory element comprising a first layer, wherein the first layer is operable as a first electrode; a second layer, wherein the second layer is operable as a resistive switching layer, wherein the second layer comprises a compound comprising Me 1 v Me 2 w Si x O y N z , where Me 1 and Me 2 are metals, v≧0, w≧0, x≧0, y>0, and z≧0, and at least one of v, w, and x is greater than zero, and wherein the compound has near-stoichiometric composition and bistable resistance; and a third layer, wherein the third layer is operable as a second electrode; wherein at least one of the first layer or the third layer is a layer comprising a substoichiometric nitride or substoichiometric oxynitride, and having a resistivity between 0.1 and 10 Ωcm; and wherein a resistivity or defect density of the substoichiometric nitride or substoichiometric oxynitride is consistent with sputtered atoms impinging on the growing second layer at an incident angle greater than about 55 degrees relative to a surface normal.