Abstract: In some implementations described herein, a capacitor structure may include a metal-insulator-metal structure in which work function metal layers are included between the insulator layer of the capacitor structure and the conductive electrode layers of the capacitor structure. The work function metal layers may enable high-k dielectric materials to be used for the insulator layer in that the work function metal layers may provide an increased electron barrier height between the insulator layer and the conductive electrode layers, which may increase the breakdown voltage and may reduce the current leakage for the capacitor structure.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a memory device including a semiconductor substrate, a first electrode disposed over the semiconductor substrate, a ferroelectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the semiconductor substrate, and a first stressor layer separating the first electrode from the ferroelectric layer. The first stressor layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: Ferroelectric stacks are disclosed herein that can improve retention performance of ferroelectric memory devices. An exemplary ferroelectric stack has a ferroelectric switching layer (FSL) stack disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The ferroelectric stack includes a barrier layer disposed between a first FSL and a second FSL, where a first crystalline condition of the barrier layer is different than a second crystalline condition of the first FSL and/or the second FSL. In some embodiments, the first crystalline condition is an amorphous phase, and the second crystalline condition is an orthorhombic phase. In some embodiments, the first FSL and/or the second FSL include a first metal oxide, and the barrier layer includes a second metal oxide. The ferroelectric stack can be a ferroelectric capacitor, a portion of a transistor, and/or connected to a transistor in a ferroelectric memory device to provide data storage in a non-volatile manner.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a lower electrode structure disposed over one or more interconnects. The one or more interconnects are arranged within a lower inter-level dielectric (ILD) structure over a substrate. A barrier is arranged along a lower surface of the lower electrode structure. The barrier separates the lower electrode structure from the one or more interconnects. An amorphous initiation layer is over the lower electrode structure and a ferroelectric material is on the amorphous initiation layer. The ferroelectric material has a substantially uniform orthorhombic crystalline phase. An upper electrode is over the ferroelectric material.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising a memory cell with a sidewall spacer, and/or an etch stop layer, doped to reduce charge accumulation at an interface between the sidewall spacer and the etch stop layer. The memory cell comprises a bottom electrode, a data storage element overlying the bottom electrode, and a top electrode overlying the data storage element. The sidewall spacer overlies the bottom electrode on a common sidewall formed by the data storage element and the top electrode, and the etch stop layer lines the sidewall spacer. The sidewall spacer and the etch stop layer directly contact at the interface and form an electric dipole at the interface. The doping to reduce charge accumulation reduces an electric field produced by the electric dipole, thereby reducing the effect of the electric field on the memory cell.

Abstract: Ferroelectric stacks are disclosed herein that can improve retention performance of ferroelectric memory devices. An exemplary ferroelectric stack has a ferroelectric switching layer (FSL) stack disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The ferroelectric stack includes a barrier layer disposed between a first FSL and a second FSL, where a first crystalline condition of the barrier layer is different than a second crystalline condition of the first FSL and/or the second FSL. In some embodiments, the first crystalline condition is an amorphous phase, and the second crystalline condition is an orthorhombic phase. In some embodiments, the first FSL and/or the second FSL include a first metal oxide, and the barrier layer includes a second metal oxide. The ferroelectric stack can be a ferroelectric capacitor, a portion of a transistor, and/or connected to a transistor in a ferroelectric memory device to provide data storage in a non-volatile manner.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a first interconnect dielectric layer over a substrate and surrounding a first interconnect. A second interconnect dielectric layer is over the first interconnect dielectric layer and surrounds at least a part of a second interconnect. A bottom electrode is over the substrate, a top electrode is over the bottom electrode, and a ferroelectric layer is between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The ferroelectric layer includes a lower horizontally extending portion, an upper horizontally extending portion arranged above the lower horizontally extending portion, and a vertically extending portion coupling the lower horizontally extending portion and the upper horizontally extending portion. The vertically extending portion extends through the first interconnect dielectric layer and the second interconnect dielectric layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising a memory cell with a sidewall spacer, and/or an etch stop layer, doped to reduce charge accumulation at an interface between the sidewall spacer and the etch stop layer. The memory cell comprises a bottom electrode, a data storage element overlying the bottom electrode, and a top electrode overlying the data storage element. The sidewall spacer overlies the bottom electrode on a common sidewall formed by the data storage element and the top electrode, and the etch stop layer lines the sidewall spacer. The sidewall spacer and the etch stop layer directly contact at the interface and form an electric dipole at the interface. The doping to reduce charge accumulation reduces an electric field produced by the electric dipole, thereby reducing the effect of the electric field on the memory cell.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate and a top electrode disposed over the bottom electrode. A ferroelectric switching layer and a first seed layer are arranged between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. A second seed layer continuously extends between a lower surface physically contacting the ferroelectric switching layer and an upper surface physically contacting the top electrode. The first seed layer, the second seed layer, and the ferroelectric switching layer include non-monoclinic crystal phases.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip that includes one or more interconnect dielectric layers arranged over a substrate. A bottom electrode is disposed over a conductive structure and extends through the one or more interconnect dielectric layers. A top electrode is disposed over the bottom electrode. A ferroelectric layer is disposed between and contacts the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The ferroelectric layer includes a first lower horizontal portion, a first upper horizontal portion arranged above the first lower horizontal portion, and a first sidewall portion coupling the first lower horizontal portion to the first upper horizontal portion.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method includes forming a bottom electrode layer over a substrate and forming a seed layer over the bottom electrode layer. A ferroelectric switching layer is formed over the bottom electrode layer and to contact the seed layer. The ferroelectric switching layer is formed to have a first region with a first crystal phase and a second region with a different crystal phase. A top electrode layer is formed over the ferroelectric switching layer. One or more patterning processes are performed on the bottom electrode layer, the seed layer, the ferroelectric switching layer, and the top electrode layer to form a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method includes forming a lower electrode layer over a substrate, and an un-patterned amorphous initiation layer over the lower electrode layer. An intermediate ferroelectric material layer is formed have a substantially uniform amorphous phase on the un-patterned amorphous initiation layer. An anneal process is performed to change the intermediate ferroelectric material layer to a ferroelectric material layer having a substantially uniform orthorhombic crystalline phase. An upper electrode layer is formed over the ferroelectric material layer. One or more patterning processes are performed on the upper electrode layer, the ferroelectric material layer, the un-patterned amorphous initiation layer, and the lower electrode layer to form a ferroelectric memory device. An upper ILD layer is formed over the ferroelectric memory device, and an upper interconnect is formed to contact the ferroelectric memory device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip including a first conductive structure over a substrate. A data storage structure overlies the first conductive structure. The data storage structure comprises a first dielectric layer on the first conductive structure and a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer comprises a dielectric material and a first dopant having a concentration that changes from a top surface of the first dielectric layer in a direction towards the first conductive structure. A second conductive structure overlies the data storage structure.

Abstract: A multilayer structure, a capacitor structure and an electronic device are provided. The multilayer structure includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer and an intermediate dielectric layer. The intermediate dielectric layer is disposed between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. A material of the intermediate dielectric layer is represented by a formula of AxB1-xO, wherein A includes hafnium (Hf), zirconium (Zr), lanthanum (La) or tantalum (Ta), B includes lanthanum (La), aluminum (Al) or tantalum (Ta), A is different from B, O is oxygen, and x is a number less than 1 and greater than 0.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a memory device including a first bottom electrode layer over a substrate. A ferroelectric switching layer is disposed over the first bottom electrode layer. A first top electrode layer is disposed over the ferroelectric switching layer. A second bottom electrode layer is disposed between the first bottom electrode layer and the ferroelectric switching layer. The second bottom electrode layer is less susceptible to oxidation than the first bottom electrode layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a bottom electrode layer, and depositing a first ferroelectric layer over the bottom electrode layer. The first ferroelectric layer is amorphous. A second ferroelectric layer is deposited over the first ferroelectric layer, and the second ferroelectric layer has a polycrystalline structure. The method further includes depositing a third ferroelectric layer over the second ferroelectric layer, with the third ferroelectric layer being amorphous, depositing a top electrode layer over the third ferroelectric layer, and patterning the top electrode layer, the third ferroelectric layer, the second ferroelectric layer, the first ferroelectric layer, and the bottom electrode layer to form a Ferroelectric Random Access Memory cell.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming an integrated chip, the method includes forming a bottom electrode over a substrate. A first switching layer is formed on the bottom electrode. The first switching layer comprises a dielectric material doped with a first dopant. A second switching layer is formed over the first switching layer. An atomic percentage of the first dopant in the second switching layer is less than an atomic percentage of the first dopant in the first switching layer. A top electrode is formed over the second switching layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a memory device including a first bottom electrode layer over a substrate. A ferroelectric switching layer is disposed over the first bottom electrode layer. A first top electrode layer is disposed over the ferroelectric switching layer. A second bottom electrode layer is disposed between the first bottom electrode layer and the ferroelectric switching layer. The second bottom electrode layer is less susceptible to oxidation than the first bottom electrode layer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a lower electrode structure disposed over one or more interconnects. The one or more interconnects are arranged within a lower inter-level dielectric (ILD) structure over a substrate. A barrier is arranged along a lower surface of the lower electrode structure. The barrier separates the lower electrode structure from the one or more interconnects. An amorphous initiation layer is over the lower electrode layer and a ferroelectric material is on the amorphous initiation layer. The ferroelectric material has a substantially uniform orthorhombic crystalline phase. An upper electrode is over the ferroelectric material.

Abstract: A Deep Trench Isolation (DTI) structure is disclosed. The DTI structures according to embodiments of the present disclosure include a composite passivation layer. In some embodiments, the composite passivation layer includes a hole accumulation layer and a defect repairing layer. The defect repairing layer is disposed between the hole accumulation layer and a semiconductor substrate in which the DTI structure is formed. The defect repairing layer reduces lattice defects in the interface, thus, reducing the density of interface trap (DIT) at the interface. Reduced density of interface trap facilitates strong hole accumulation, thus increasing the flat band voltage. In some embodiments, the hole accumulation layer according to the present disclosure is enhanced by an oxidization treatment.