Crystallization study of “melt quenched” amorphous GeTe by transmission electron microscopy for phase change memory applications

In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations were performed for a better understanding of the “melt quenched” GeTe crystallization mechanism. The evolution of the crystallite morphology observed during annealing shows a growth-dominated crystallization behavior. Scanning transmission electron microscopy—electron dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and high resolution electron microscopy experiments were also performed on cycled GeTe devices, showing that void formation is responsible for the cell failure after 107 cycles.