Memory effect in thin films of insulating polymer and C₆₀ nanocomposites

We describe the use of C₆₀ fullerene molecules as the charge storage medium in an insulating poly-vinyl-phenol (PVP) polymer. The simple metal-organic-metal (MOM) sandwich structure devices deposited from solution exhibit distinct high and low conduction states, which can be used to program read, write and erase memory operations. The charge transfer and retention in C₆₀ molecules at room temperature has been confirmed by capacitance-voltage and Raman spectroscopy measurements. Conducting atomic force microscopy has been used to demonstrate that high and low conductance states persist even at the nanoscale.