Patent ID: 8822972

Claim:
A non-volatile memory element comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a variable resistance layer which is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and reversibly changes its resistance value in response to an electric signal applied between the first electrode and the second electrode; the variable resistance layer including, when a first metal is M and a second metal is N: a third metal oxide layer having a composition expressed as NO z ; a second metal oxide layer having a composition expressed as NO y ; and a first metal oxide layer having a composition expressed as MO x such that the third metal oxide layer, the second metal oxide layer and the first metal oxide layer are stacked in this order; wherein when an oxygen content atomic percentage of an oxide of the first metal M in a stoichiometric state is A, an oxygen content atomic percentage of an oxide of the second metal N in a stoichiometric state is B, an oxygen content atomic percentage of MO x is C, an oxygen content atomic percentage of NO y is D, and an oxygen content atomic percentage of NO z is E, (D/B)<(C/A), (E/B)<(C/A) and y<z are satisfied.