We report electrochemical metallization (ECM) resistive switching in polycrystalline YMnO3 memristive devices using Al as an active electrode. Al/YMnO3/Pt devices exhibit bipolar resistive switching with a high ROFF/RON ratio of 104, low operational voltages of VSet ≈ 1.7 V and VReset ≈ −0.36 V and good retention properties. The resistive switching is intimately linked to the coexistence of the orthorhombic and hexagonal YMnO3 phases. The characterization of these two nanocrystalline phases is realized not only by X-ray diffraction – which is shown to be unable to reveal the presence of the orthorhombic phase – but also by a set of correlative microscopy and spectroscopy methods (scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and conductive atomic force microscopy). The origin of resistive switching is ascribed to an Al filament-based electrochemical metallization mechanism that likely occurs along an oxygen-deficient grain boundary between the hexagonal and orthorhombic nanocrystalline YMnO3 phases. The unique microstructure provided by the mixed polycrystalline phase films allows to use Al as an active electrode in YMnO3-based ECM cells, and gives perspective for further miniaturization of the devices.
