Asymmetric Resonant Ferroelectric Tunnel Junctions for Simultaneous High Tunnel Electroresistance and Low Resistance-Area Product

Abstract

Ferroelectric tunnel junctions offer potential for non-volatile memory with low power, fast switching, and scalability, but their performance is limited by a high resistance-area product and a low tunnel electroresistance ratio. To address these challenges, we propose a doped HfO2-based, silicon-compatible asymmetric resonant ferroelectric tunnel junction design with a quantum well embedded between two ferroelectric layers, replacing the conventional metal-ferroelectric-metal structure. Using a self-consistent coupling of the non-equilibrium Green's function method with a Preisach-based model, we demonstrate that the quantum well enhances resonant tunneling effects, leading to a simultaneous reduction in the resistance-area product and a boost in the tunnel electroresistance ratio. The low-resistance state becomes more robust, while the high-resistance state is suppressed, improving readout speed and reducing power usage. We observed that incorporating a 2 nm quantum well significantly enhances the tunnel electroresistance ratio, achieving a peak value of approximately 6.15 x 10^4 percent, while simultaneously minimizing the resistance-area product to 47.1 Ohm-cm^2 at 0.175 V. Additionally, the device exhibits negative differential resistance, further enhancing its functionality. Our results confirm that this design enables scalable, energy-efficient, and high-performance non-volatile memory, making it a strong candidate for future memory technologies.