Electrochemically prepared oxides for resistive switching memories.

Redox-based resistive switching memories (ReRAMs) are the strongest candidates for next generation nonvolatile memories. These devices are commonly composed of metal/solid electrolyte/metal junctions, where the solid electrolyte is usually an oxide layer. A key aspect in the ReRAMs development is the solid electrolyte engineering, since it is crucial to tailor the material properties for obtaining excellent switching properties (e.g. retention, endurance, etc.). Here we present an anodizing process as a non vacuum and low temperature electrochemical technique for growing oxides with tailored structural and electronic properties. The effect of the anodizing conditions on the solid state properties of the anodic oxides is studied in relation to the final ReRAM device performances demonstrating the great potentiality of this technique to produce high quality oxide thin films for resistive switching memories.

A Computational Tool for the Microstructure Optimization of a Polymeric Heart Valve Prosthesis.

Styrene-based block copolymers are promising materials for the development of a polymeric heart valve prosthesis (PHV), and the mechanical properties of these polymers can be tuned via the manufacturing process, orienting the cylindrical domains to achieve material anisotropy. The aim of this work is the development of a computational tool for the optimization of the material microstructure in a new PHV intended for aortic valve replacement to enhance the mechanical performance of the device. An iterative procedure was implemented to orient the cylinders along the maximum principal stress direction of the leaflet. A numerical model of the leaflet was developed, and the polymer mechanical behavior was described by a hyperelastic anisotropic constitutive law. A custom routine was implemented to align the cylinders with the maximum principal stress direction in the leaflet for each iteration. The study was focused on valve closure, since during this phase the fibrous structure of the leaflets must bear the greatest load. The optimal microstructure obtained by our procedure is characterized by mainly circumferential orientation of the cylinders within the valve leaflet. An increase in the radial strain and a decrease in the circumferential strain due to the microstructure optimization were observed. Also, a decrease in the maximum value of the strain energy density was found in the case of optimized orientation; since the strain energy density is a widely used criterion to predict elastomer's lifetime, this result suggests a possible increase of the device durability if the polymer microstructure is optimized. The present method represents a valuable tool for the design of a new anisotropic PHV, allowing the investigation of different designs, materials, and loading conditions.

Photoelectrochemical evidence of nitrogen incorporation during anodizing sputtering--deposited Al-Ta alloys.

Anodic films were grown to 20 V on sputtering-deposited Al-Ta alloys in ammonium biborate and borate buffer solutions. According to glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, anodizing in ammonium containing solution leads to the formation of N containing anodic layers. Impedance measurements did not evidence significant differences between the dielectric properties of the anodic films as a function of the anodizing electrolyte. Photoelectrochemical investigation allowed evidencing that N incorporation induces a red-shift in the light absorption threshold of the films due to the formation of allowed localized states inside their mobility gap. The estimated Fowler threshold for the internal photoemission processes of electrons resulted to be independent of the anodizing electrolyte confirming that N incorporation does not appreciably affect the density of states distribution close to the conduction band mobility edge. The transport of photogenerated carriers has been rationalized according to the Pai-Enck model of geminate recombination.