Aging mechanisms in amorphous GeTe

Aging phenomena are common to all amorphous structures, but of special importance in phase change materials (PCM) since it impedes the realization of multi-level memories. Different interpretations have been proposed, but we focus here on the structural relaxation of amorphous GeTe, chosen because it is the simplest system that is representative of the wider class of GST alloys, lying along the GeTe-Sb2Te3 composition line of the GeSbTe phase diagram. We investigate the structure of amorphous GeTe using Density Functional Theory based Molecular Dynamics, using either the standard Generalized Gradient Approximation, or more elaborate Van der Waals approximation. New insight is provided on the stability of homopolar GeGe bonds and tetrahedral Ge bonding, in relation with the resistance drift phenomenon, that is investigated experimentally using photothermal deflection spectroscopy experiment