PdNeuRAM: forming-free, multi-bit Pd/HfO2 ReRAM for energy-efficient neuromorphic computing

Memristor technology offers a promising route toward energy-efficient computing but faces challenges including resistance drift, variability, and the need for electroforming. Filamentary resistive random-access memory, one of the most studied memristive platforms, typically requires a high-voltage electroforming step to initiate conductive filaments, leading to increased power overhead and reduced endurance. Here we report HfO₂-based forming-free memristive devices (PdNeuRAM) that operate at low voltages, support multi-bit functionality, and exhibit reduced variability. Through combined electrical and materials characterization, we identify a Pd-O-Hf interfacial configuration that lowers oxygen-vacancy formation and migration barriers, creating a dense network of shallow defect states. Together with a Ti top electrode acting as an oxygen reservoir and an ultrathin (5 nm) HfO₂ layer, this interfacial engineering enables charge redistribution at room temperature and eliminates the need for electroforming. The fabricated devices provide tunable resistance states and reduce programming and read energy by 43% and 38%, respectively, in spiking neural network inference tasks. These results provide mechanistic insight into forming-free resistive switching and demonstrate the potential of Pd/HfO₂ devices for energy-efficient neuromorphic computing.