Patent ID: 8188466

Claim:
A resistance variable element of a laminated structure comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; a first oxide layer positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode; a second oxide layer held in contact with the first oxide layer and positioned between the first oxide layer and the second electrode; and an oxygen ion generation promoting layer held in contact with the first oxide layer and positioned between the first oxide layer and the first electrode; wherein the first oxide layer is switchable from a low-resistance state to a high-resistance state by donating oxygen ions to the second oxide layer and switchable from a high-resistance state to a low-resistance state by accepting oxygen ions from the second oxide layer; wherein the second oxide layer is switchable from a low-resistance state to a high-resistance state by accepting oxygen ions from the first oxide layer and switchable from a high-resistance state to a low-resistance state by donating oxygen ions to the first oxide layer; wherein the first oxide layer is greater in thickness than the second oxide layer; wherein the oxygen ion generation promoting layer promotes the generation of oxygen ions which are to move within the first oxide layer and the second oxide layer; and wherein the oxygen ion generation promoting layer is made of a conductive oxide containing a noble metal.