Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip including a memory cell overlying a substrate and comprising a top electrode. A sidewall spacer structure is disposed along sidewalls of the memory cell. The sidewall spacer structure comprises a first spacer layer on the memory cell, a second spacer layer around the first spacer layer, and a third spacer layer around the second spacer layer. The second spacer layer comprises a lateral segment adjacent to a vertical segment. The lateral segment abuts the top electrode and has a top surface aligned with or disposed below a top surface of the top electrode. A first conductive structure overlies the memory cell and contacts the lateral segment and the top electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods of fabrication thereof including a substrate, a doped well formed in the substrate, a transistor formed on the substrate, a dielectric material located over the doped well and the transistor and including interconnect structures extending through the dielectric material, the interconnect structures including a first set of interconnect structures electrically coupled to an active region of the transistor and a second set of interconnect structures electrically coupled to the doped well, an active memory cell electrically coupled to the active region of the transistor via the first set of interconnect structures; and a dummy memory cell electrically coupled to the doped well via the second set of conductive interconnect structures. The dummy memory cell and the second set of conductive interconnect structures may provide a low resistance pathway for plasma charge to flow to the doped well, thereby minimizing plasma induced damage to the transistor.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a memory device surrounded by a dielectric structure disposed over a substrate. The memory device includes a data storage structure disposed between a bottom electrode and a top electrode. A bottom electrode via couples the bottom electrode to a lower interconnect. A top electrode via couples the top electrode to an upper interconnect. A bottommost surface of the top electrode via is directly over the top electrode and has a first width that is smaller than a second width of a bottommost surface of the bottom electrode via.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cell having an extended upper electrode, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the MRAM cell has a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) arranged over a conductive lower electrode. A conductive upper electrode is arranged over the magnetic tunnel junction. Below the conductive lower electrode is a first conductive via structure in a first dielectric layer. Below the conductive via structure is a discrete conductive jumper structure in a second dielectric layer. A dielectric body of a third dielectric material that is different from the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material extends vertical from the first dielectric layer at least partially into the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a memory device. The method includes forming a first memory cell and a second memory cell over a substrate. A first dielectric layer is formed over and around the first and second memory cells. The first dielectric layer comprises sidewalls defining an opening spaced laterally between the first and second memory cells. A second dielectric layer is formed over the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer is disposed in the opening. A planarization process is performed on the first and second dielectric layers. At least a portion of the second dielectric layer is in the opening after the planarization process.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a magnetic tunnel junction arranged between a bottom electrode and a top electrode and surrounded by a dielectric structure disposed over a substrate. The top electrode has a width that decreases as a height of the top electrode increases. A bottom electrode via couples the bottom electrode to a lower interconnect. An upper interconnect structure is coupled to the top electrode. The upper interconnect structure has a vertically extending surface that is disposed laterally between first and second outermost sidewalls of the upper interconnect structure and along a sidewall of the top electrode. The vertically extending surface and the first outermost sidewall are connected to a bottom surface of the upper interconnect structure that is vertically below a top of the top electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cell having an extended upper electrode, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the MRAM cell has a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) arranged over a conductive lower electrode. A conductive upper electrode is arranged over the magnetic tunnel junction. Below the conductive lower electrode is a first conductive via structure in a first dielectric layer. Below the conductive via structure is a discrete conductive jumper structure in a second dielectric layer. A dielectric body of a third dielectric material that is different from the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material extends vertical from the first dielectric layer at least partially into the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A memory device includes a bottom electrode, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack, a top electrode, and a sidewall spacer. The MTJ stack is over the bottom electrode. The top electrode is over the MTJ stack. The sidewall spacer laterally surrounds the MTJ stack and the top electrode. The sidewall spacer has an outermost sidewall laterally set back from an outermost sidewall of the bottom electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cell having an extended upper electrode, and a method of formation the same. In some embodiments, the MRAM cell has a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) arranged over a conductive lower electrode. Two protection layers sequentially surround a sidewall of the MTJ. The two protection layers have etch selectivity over one another.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming an integrated chip. The method includes forming a memory cell stack over a substrate. The memory cell stack includes a top electrode. A sidewall spacer structure is formed around the memory cell stack. The sidewall spacer structure includes a first sidewall spacer layer, a second sidewall spacer layer, and a protective sidewall spacer layer sandwiched between the first and second sidewall spacer layers. A dielectric structure is formed over the sidewall spacer structure. A first etch process is performed on the dielectric structure and the second sidewall spacer layer to define an opening above the top electrode. The second sidewall spacer layer and the dielectric structure are etched at a higher rate than the protective sidewall spacer layer during the first etch process. A top electrode via is formed within the opening.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) structure laterally surrounding a conductive interconnect. A dielectric protection layer is disposed over the ILD structure and a passivation layer is disposed over the dielectric protection layer. The passivation layer includes a protrusion extending outward from an upper surface of the passivation layer. A bottom electrode continuously extends from over the passivation layer to between sidewalls of the passivation layer. A data storage element is over the bottom electrode and a top electrode is over the data storage element.

Abstract: An MRAM memory cell includes a substrate and a transistor. The transistor includes: first and second source regions; a drain region between the first and second source regions; a first channel region between the drain region and the first source region; a second channel region between the drain region and the second source region; a first gate structure over the first channel region; and a second gate structure over the second channel region. A magnetic tunnel junction is overlying the transistor. The drain region is coupled to the magnetic tunnel junction. A first metal layer is overlying the transistor, and a second metal layer is overlying the first metal layer. The second and first metal layers couple a common source line signal to the first and second source regions of the MRAM memory cell and to those of a neighboring MRAM memory cell.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature in a first dielectric layer, a buffer layer over the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer over the buffer layer, a first bottom via extending through the buffer layer and the second dielectric layer, a second bottom via extending through the buffer layer and the second dielectric layer, a first bottom electrode disposed on the first bottom via, a second bottom electrode disposed on the second bottom via, a first magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack over the first bottom electrode, and a second MTJ stack over the second bottom electrode. The first MTJ stack and the second MTJ stack have a same thickness. The first MTJ stack has a first width and the second MTJ stack has a second width greater than the first width.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate. The bottom electrode has a first thickness along an outermost edge and a second thickness between the outermost edge and a lateral center of the bottom electrode. The first thickness is larger than the second thickness. A data storage structure is over the bottom electrode and a top electrode is over the data storage structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming an integrated chip. The method includes forming a memory cell stack over a substrate. The memory cell stack includes a top electrode. A sidewall spacer structure is formed around the memory cell stack. The sidewall spacer structure includes a first sidewall spacer layer, a second sidewall spacer layer, and a protective sidewall spacer layer sandwiched between the first and second sidewall spacer layers. A dielectric structure is formed over the sidewall spacer structure. A first etch process is performed on the dielectric structure and the second sidewall spacer layer to define an opening above the top electrode. The second sidewall spacer layer and the dielectric structure are etched at a higher rate than the protective sidewall spacer layer during the first etch process. A top electrode via is formed within the opening.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including a memory region, a logic region adjacent to the memory region, a first magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) cell and a second MTJ cell over the memory region, and a carbon-based layer over the memory region, wherein the carbon-based layer includes a recess between the first MTJ cell and the second MTJ cell.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory unit and a shielding element disposed on the memory unit. The memory unit includes a bottom electrode, a memory element disposed on the bottom electrode, and a top electrode disposed on the memory element. The shielding element is disposed on the memory unit to deviate an external magnetic field away from the memory element.

Abstract: An MRAM memory cell includes a substrate and a transistor. The transistor includes: first and second source regions; a drain region between the first and second source regions; a first channel region between the drain region and the first source region; a second channel region between the drain region and the second source region; a first gate structure over the first channel region; and a second gate structure over the second channel region. A magnetic tunnel junction is overlying the transistor. The drain region is coupled to the magnetic tunnel junction. A first metal layer is overlying the transistor, and a second metal layer is overlying the first metal layer. The second and first metal layers couple a common source line signal to the first and second source regions of the MRAM memory cell and to those of a neighboring MRAM memory cell.

Abstract: A memory cell with dual sidewall spacers and its manufacturing methods are provided. In some embodiments, the memory cell includes a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate, a resistance switching dielectric disposed over the bottom electrode and having a variable resistance, and a top electrode disposed over the resistance switching dielectric. The memory cell further includes a first sidewall spacer disposed on an upper surface of the bottom electrode and extending upwardly alongside the resistance switching dielectric and the top electrode. The memory cell further includes a second sidewall spacer having a bottom surface disposed on the upper surface of the bottom electrode and directly and conformally lining the first sidewall spacer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit die includes a magnetic tunnel junction as a storage element of a MRAM cell. The integrated circuit die includes a top electrode positioned on the magnetic tunnel junction. The integrated circuit die includes a first sidewall spacer laterally surrounding the top electrode. The first sidewall spacer acts as a mask for patterning the magnetic tunnel junction. The integrated circuit die includes a second sidewalls spacer positioned on a lateral surface of the magnetic tunnel junction.