Resistive switching in diamondoid thin films

The electrical transport properties of a thin film of the diamondoid adamantane, deposited on an Au/W substrate, were investigated experimentally. The current I, in applied potential V, from the admantane-thiol/metal heterstructure to a wire lead on its surface exhibited non-symmetric (diode-like) characteristics and a signature of resistive switching (RS), an effect that is valuable to non-volatile memory applications. I(V) follows a hysteresis curve that passes twice through $$I(0)=0$$ I ( 0 ) = 0 linearly, indicating RS between two states with significantly different conductances, possibly due to an exotic mechanism.