Resistive Memory Devices for Radiation Resistant Non-Volatile Memory

Ionizing radiation in space can damage electronic equipment, corrupting data and even disabling computers. Radiation resistant (rad hard) strategies must be employed to prolong the usefulness of electronics in space. Current rad hard strategies use redundant wiring or failsafe programming to minimize radiation damage. These strategies have drawbacks. Redundant wiring increases the amount of circuitry required, while failsafe programming typically requires extra memory, and can slow data processing. Rather than employ secondary rad hard strategies, we seek to build electronic components that are inherently rad hard. Resistive memory is a promising new form of memory that appears to be resistant to radiation. Hafnium oxide-based ReRAM has been show to have some degree of resistance to radiation damage. Tantalum oxide-based ReRAM has not been investigated, but has several properties making it superior to hafnium oxide for memory applications. Therefore, a comprehensive study of the radiation resistance of tantalum oxide will be performed. Further investigations with hafnium oxide will also be performed for comparison. Devices will be irradiated primarily with protons, alpha particles, gamma rays, and X-rays. Particles will range from a few hundred keV to 1 MeV.

Current rad hard strategies use redundant wiring or failsafe programming to minimize radiation damage. These strategies have drawbacks. Redundant wiring increases the amount of circuitry required, while failsafe programming typically requires extra memory, and can slow data processing. Rather than employ secondary rad hard strategies, we seek to build electronic components that are inherently rad hard.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.