Current fluctuations in polystyrene nano-compounds

The current fluctuations in a polystyrene matrix (PS) doped by gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) and small conjugated molecules of 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ) have been characterized. The electrical properties of the PS composite allow using it as a responsive layer in non-volatile memory devices due to its switching capability between two well separated conducting states. The analysis of current fluctuations at fixed bias voltages showed the presence of two states in charge carrier transport regardless of the operating conducting state of the device. Moreover, noise spectra have been investigated in the low frequency region, allowing the estimation of charge relaxation times between current levels in the two memory states. The presence of these slow and large fluctuations can seriously affect the final electrical performances of this class of nanostructured memories.