Project description
Improved thin-film structures could render memristors more reliable
The amount of digital information produced globally is exploding. A whopping 90 % of the world’s data that existed in 2016 had been created in the previous two years alone. Non-volatile memory technology is key to efficiently storing and managing this data deluge, offering high speeds and reduced power consumption. Memristors, fundamental two-terminal circuit elements, have promising applications in non-volatile memory and neuromorphic computing. However, despite a decade of intense research efforts, lack of precise control of thin-film properties prevent them from being uniform and hinder their large-scale production. The EU-funded EROS project plans to engineer new forms of nanostructured oxide thin-films with improved resistive switching behaviour. Improved thin-film structures will render oxide memristors more reliable and change the technology landscape in artificial intelligence and security.
Objective
We are at the beginning of a Data Age. Data is exploding. In 2016, 90% of the world’s data ever created was in the two previous years. AI and data analytics are further increasing the growth. The power demand is huge and growing. Within a few years some developed countries will not have sufficient power to sustain the growth. The negative effects on the planet are serious. Non-volatile memory (NVM) technology (including memory and neuromorphic computing elements in a single device) could strongly help to solve the problem, giving two orders of magnitude power reduction and, by removing the data transfer bottleneck, increased speed. Oxide memristors have significant advantages over competing NVM technologies, particularly in terms of speed, cost and temperature stability. However, after more than a decade of intense effort, serious challenges remain in terms of scaling, uniformity and robustness. The challenges all relate to a lack of precise control of the materials. Completely new thinking in thin film materials engineering is needed.
EROS provides this new thinking by designing and engineering new forms of nanostructured oxide films to give highly Efficient, Robust Oxide Switching in an ultra-dense, ultra-low power, reliable oxide memristor system, with potential to change the technology landscape in AI, IoT, and security. ‘Ideal’ films will first be designed, fabricated, and understood. These will direct the way to simple industry-platform devices. Stochastic effects will be eliminated by creating films with separate vertical nanoscale ionic and electron channels with highly controlled vacancy and electronic concentrations, allowing scaling to a few nm, in a forming-free system. Also, multifunctional hybrid structures will be developed to give robustness. Furthermore, ferroelectricity will be induced, allowing simpler and smaller devices. Confidence in the proposed approach comes from proof-of-concept model systems shown by the PI.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences internet internet of things
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
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