Temperature independence of pressure-induced amorphization of the phase-change memory alloy Ge2Sb2Te5

In the temperature range from room temperature to about 150 degrees C, the prototypic phase-change material Ge(2)Sb(2)Te(5) becomes amorphous upon hydrostatic compression. In the studied temperature range, the onset of amorphization is at about 15 GPa and the material completely amorphizes at 25 GPa; these values do not depend on temperature. Upon decompression, the amorphous phase is stable at lower temperatures, yet at higher temperatures (145 degrees C), the initial fcc phase is recovered upon decompression. A possible mechanism of pressure-induced amorphization and its implications for phase-change memories are discussed.