Switching element relying on nanogap electrodes

1. A switching element comprising:

an insulating substrate;

a first electrode arranged on a surface of the insulating substrate; and

a second electrode arranged on the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein:

a gap is present between the first electrode and the second electrode,

a distance G is a closest distance across the gap between any point on the first electrode and any point on the second electrode,

the distance G varies as metal elements, no smaller than an atom, of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode move in response to a voltage being applied between the first and second electrodes, and

the distance G remains less than 50 nm and greater than 0.1 nm.

2. The switching element as defined in claim 1 , wherein the switching element is placed in an ON state by decreasing the distance G.

3. The switching element as defined in claim 2 , wherein when the switching element is in the ON state, current flows between the first electrode and the second electrode via quantum tunneling.

4. The switching element as defined in claim 3 , wherein when the switching element is in the OFF state, current flows between the first electrode and the second electrode via quantum tunneling.

5. The switching element as defined in claim 2 , wherein the switching element is placed in an OFF state by increasing the distance G.

6. The switching element as defined in claim 5 , wherein a resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode is approximately:

1 kiloohm to 1 megaohm when the switching element is in the ON state, and

1 megaohm to 100 teraohms when the switching element is in the OFF state.

7. The switching element as defined in claim 5 , wherein the switching element is selectively placed in the OFF state by increasing the voltage being applied above a threshold voltage.

8. The switching element as defined in claim 7 , wherein, after being placed in the OFF state, the switching element is maintained in the OFF state by decreasing the voltage being applied below the threshold voltage.

9. The switching element as defined in claim 8 , wherein the switching element is selectively placed in the ON state by increasing the voltage being applied above the threshold voltage.

10. The switching element as defined in claim 9 , wherein, after being placed in the ON state, the switching element is maintained in the ON state by decreasing the voltage being applied below the threshold voltage.

11. A switching element comprising:

an insulating substrate;

a first electrode provided on the insulating substrate; and

a second electrode provided on the insulating substrate to have an interelectrode gap between the first and second electrodes, a distance G between the first and second electrodes being 0 nm<G≦50 nm,

the distance G being changed by moving metal elements, no smaller than an atom, that form at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode by applying a first voltage between the first and second electrodes, wherein the first voltage is higher than a threshold voltage, and wherein G remains greater than zero such that separation between the first electrode and the second electrode is maintained;

a resistance between the first and second electrodes being set to a first resistance when the distance G is decreased;

the resistance between the first and second electrodes being set to a second resistance when the distance G is increased, wherein the second resistance is higher than the first resistance;

when the voltage applied between the first and second electrodes is changed from the first voltage to a second voltage and the resistance between the first and second electrodes is the first resistance, the resistance between the first and second electrodes is maintained at the first resistance, wherein the second voltage is lower than the threshold voltage;

when the voltage applied between the first and second electrodes is changed from the first voltage to the second voltage and the resistance between the first and second electrodes is the second resistance, the resistance between the first and second electrodes is maintained at the second resistance;

the resistance between the first and second electrodes being the first resistance when the switching element is in an ON state; and

the resistance between the first and second electrodes being the second resistance when the switching element is in an OFF state.

12. The switching element as defined in claim 11 ,

wherein the distance G remains within 0.1 nm≈G≈20 nm.

13. The switching element as defined in claim 11 ,

wherein a material for the first electrode is at least one material selected from gold, silver, platinum, palladium, nickel, aluminum, cobalt, chromium, rhodium, copper, tungsten, tantalum, carbon, and alloys thereof.

14. The switching element as defined in claim 11 ,

wherein a material for the second electrode is at least one material selected from gold, silver, platinum, palladium, nickel, aluminum, cobalt, chromium, rhodium, copper, tungsten, tantalum, carbon, and alloys thereof.

15. The switching element as defined in claim 11 ,

wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode has a multilayer structure.

16. The switching element as defined in claim 11 ,

wherein the first resistance is 1 kiloohm to 1 megaohm, and

wherein the second resistance is 1 megaohm to 100 teraohms.

17. The switching element as defined in claim 11 , further comprising:

a sealing member that encompasses at least the interelectrode gap.

18. The switching element as defined in claim 17 ,

wherein a pressure inside the sealing member is 2×10 5 Pa or less.

19. The switching element as defined in claim 11 , wherein when the switching element is in the ON state, current flows between the first electrode and the second electrode via quantum tunneling.

20. The switching element as defined in claim 19 , wherein when the switching element is in the OFF state, current flows between the first electrode and the second electrode via quantum tunneling.