The present invention provides a planar polymer memory device that can operate as a non-volatile memory device. A planar polymer memory device can be formed with two or more electrodes and an electrode extension associated with one electrode, wherein a selectively conductive medium and dielectric separate the electrodes. The method for forming a planar polymer memory device comprises at least one of forming a first electrode with an associated plug, forming a second electrode, forming a passive layer over the extension, depositing an organic polymer and patterning the organic polymer. The method affords integration of a planar polymer memory device into a semiconductor fabrication process. A thin film diode (TFD) can further be employed with a planar polymer memory device to facilitate programming. The TFD can be formed between the first electrode and the selectively conductive medium or the second electrode and the selectively conductive medium.