Reversible, electrical and optical switching on silver 3-phenyl-1-ureidonitrile complex thin films

We report on the reversible, electrical and optical switching on silver 3-phenyl-1-ureidonitrile complex thin films. The films can switch from a high impedance state to a low impedance state with an applied electric field at the threshold of 3.5×10⁷V/m. Furthermore, the films can be switched back to the original state by treating the samples at about 80℃. The optical recording is fulfilled using a semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 780 nm. Erasure can be accomplished by bulk heating or by the laser working with the power beneath the threshold. No loss of the organic was found in the experiments. This material may have a potential application in ultrahigh data density storage.