W-Sb-Te phase-change material: A candidate for the trade-off between programming speed and data retention

W-Sb-Te phase-change material has been proposed to improve the performance of phase-change memory (PCM). Crystallization temperature, crystalline resistance, and 10-year data retention of Sb2Te increase markedly by W doping. The Wx(Sb2Te)1−x films crystallize quickly into a stable hexagonal phase with W uniformly distributing in the crystal lattice, which ensures faster SET speed and better operation stability for the application in practical device. PCM device based on W0.07(Sb2Te)0.93 shows ultrafast SET operation (6 ns) and good endurance (1.8 × 105 cycles). W-Sb-Te material is a promising candidate for the trade-off between programming speed and data retention.