To evaluate the possibility as a multi-level memory medium for the Ge2Sb2Te5/TiN/W-doped Ge2Sb2Te5 cell structure, the crystallization rate and stabilization characteristics according to voltage (V)- and current (I)- pulse sweeping were investigated. In the cell structures prepared by a magnetron sputtering system on a p-type Si (100) substrate, the Ge2Sb2Te5 and W-doped Ge2Sb2Te5 thin films were separated by a barrier metal, TiN, and the individual thicknesses were varied, but the total thickness was fixed at 200 nm. All cell structures exhibited relatively stable multi-level states of high-middle-low resistance (HR-MR-LR), which guarantee the reliability of the multilevel phase-change random access memory (PRAM). The amorphousto- multilevel crystallization rate was evaluated from a graph of resistance (R) vs. pulse duration (T) obtained by the nanoscaled pulse sweeping at a fixed applied voltage (12 V). For all structures, the phase-change rates of HR→MR and MR→LR were estimated to be approximately t<20 ns and t<40 ns, respectively, and the states were relatively stable. We believe that the doublestack structure of an appropriate Ge-Sb-Te film separated by barrier metal (TiN) can be optimized for high-speed and stable multilevel PRAM.

For phase transition method, good record sensitivity, low heat radiation, fast crystallization and hi-resolution are essential. Also, a retention time is very important part for phase-transition. In our past papers, we chose composition of Ge1Se1Te2 material to use a Se factor which has good optical sensitivity than conventional Sb. Sb/Ge-Se-Te thin films are fabricated and irradiated with UV light source to investigate a reversible phase change by Sb-doped condition. Because of Sb atoms, the Sb inserted sample showed better performance than conventional one. We should note that this novel one showed another possibility for phase-change random access memory.