Flash memory effects based on styrene/maleimiade copolymers with pendant azobenzene chromophores

Two styrene/maleimiade copolymers with pendant azobenzene chromophores, poly(styrene-1-(4-phenylazo-phenyl)-pyrrole-2,5-dione) (PS-DP) and poly((4-vinyl-benzyl)-9H-carbazole-1-(4-phenylazo-phenyl)-pyrrole-2,5-dione) (PVCz-DP), were synthesized. The polymeric memory devices based on each of the two polymer films (ITO/Polymer/Al) show similar rewritable flash memory behaviors but different transition voltages. By introduction of carbazole groups in the polymer side chains, the voltage difference from OFF to ON state of ITO/PVCz-DP/Al is reduced obviously in comparison with that of ITO/PS-DP/Al, which is beneficial to the protection of devices. Both ITO/PS-DP/Al and ITO/PVCz-DP/Al show high stability under a constant stress or continuous read pulses voltage of 1.0 V. The memory mechanism is governed by space-charge limited conduction (SCLC) on the basis of the I–V curves of these fabricated memory devices. With excellent flash memory characteristics and simple processability, the memory devices fabricated with these two styrene/maleimiade copolymers have potential applications for the future electronic memory devices.