Cellulose-Based Flexible Resistive Random-Access Memory Devices for Biodegradable Electronics

Excessive dependence on electronic gadgets in our daily life has led to a rapid increase in electronic waste (e-waste), causing significant harm to the environment and ecology. Cellulose-based biodegradable substrates, along with high-k cyanoethyl cellulose as the active layer, are utilized for development of flexible resistive random-access memory (RRAM) devices to ensure sustainability and biodegradability. Fabricated flexible RRAM devices exhibit bipolar resistive switching with Ion/Ioff in the range of 103 to 104, endurance over 120 cycles, retention of 104 s, and low device-to-device variation. The devices retained stable electrical characteristics under static bending down to a radius of 7.5 mm. Moreover, the devices retain their resistive switching characteristics at temperatures up to 200 °C. Finally, the devices show partial transience, with the cellulose components decomposing in water-rich soil within ∼30 days. Moreover, combustion-based assessment results in a mass reduction of ∼77%, leaving minimal ash residue. Overall, this study demonstrates a significant advancement toward the realization of transient and flexible memory devices on biodegradable substrates, thereby contributing to development of eco-friendly memory devices.