Phase changeable silver selenide thin films fabricated by pulse electrodeposition

We have used a simple and direct method to successfully prepare Ag₂Se thin films by pulse electrodeposition from a single aqueous solution of Ag and Se ions. The composition analysis confirms the stoichiometry and the morphological characterization shows that the thin films are dense and smooth. The films have the orthorhombic structure of regular Ag₂Se materials at room temperature, while the electrical measurements reveal an interesting electrical behavior, similar to that of the Ag₂Se nanowire arrays. The Ag₂Se thin films were successfully deposited into polymer templates to form well-defined Ag₂Se nanostructure, which provides a possibility to apply the method to high density, non-volatile memories based on phase change materials.