  Solid-state programmable metallization cells have attracted considerable
attention as memristive elements for Redox-based Resistive Random Access Memory
(ReRAM) for low-power and low-voltage applications. In principle, liquid-state
metallization cells could offer the same advantages for aqueous systems, such
as biomedical lab-on-a-chip devices, but robust resistive switching has not yet
been achieved in liquid electrolytes, where electrodeposition is notoriously
unstable to the formation of fractal dendrites. Here, the recently discovered
physics of shock electrodeposition are harnessed to stabilize aqueous copper
growth in polycarbonate nanopores, whose surfaces are modified with charged
polymers. Stable bipolar resistive switching is demonstrated for 500 cycles
with <10s retention times, prior to any optimization of the geometry or
materials.
