Recent advances in the mechanism, properties, and applications of hafnia ferroelectric tunnel junctions

The increasing demand of information and communication technology has pushed conventional computing paradigm to its limit. In addition, physical and technological factors have constrained the advancement of conventional memory devices. Considering the rapid back-and-forth transfer of a large amount of information, emerging memory should demonstrate space efficiency, fast speed, and low-cost requirements. Accordingly, ferroelectric films based on HfO_x are being intensively researched owing to their high energy efficiency and compatibility with complementary metal oxide semiconductor. Particularly, owing to the simplicity of their structure, low power, and less variation, hafnia-based ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) stand out among ferroelectric memories. Numerous studies have demonstrated the improved ferroelectricity of FTJs using various engineering methods, including doping, annealing, and varying electrodes. To improve the properties of HfO_x-based FTJs and enhance their applications, it is necessary to organize and discuss recent studies and prospects. Therefore, this paper reviews in-depth and comprehensive studies on FTJs and their advantages compared to other emerging devices. Additionally, in-memory computing applications, outlook, and challenges of hafnia-based FTJs are presented.