Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a ferroelectric memory device that includes a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric structure overlying the bottom electrode, and a top electrode overlying the ferroelectric structure where the bottom electrode includes molybdenum.

Abstract: A resistive memory device includes a bottom electrode, a switching layer disposed over the bottom electrode, a top electrode disposed over the switching layer, and an auxiliary layer disposed between the switching layer and one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode includes a metal and is a relatively inert electrode in comparison with the other one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The auxiliary layer includes a nitride of the metal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a random access memory (RAM) structure and a dielectric layer. The RAM structure is over a substrate and includes a bottom electrode layer, a ferroelectric layer over the bottom electrode layer, and a top electrode layer over the ferroelectric layer. The dielectric layer is over the substrate and laterally surrounds a lower portion of the RAM structure. From a cross-sectional view, the bottom electrode layer of the RAM structure has a lateral portion and a vertical portion, and the vertical portion upwardly extends from the lateral portion to a position higher than a top surface of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device has an RRAM cell that includes a top electrode, an RRAM dielectric layer, and a bottom electrode having a surface that interfaces with the RRAM dielectric layer. Oxides of the bottom electrode are substantially absent from the bottom electrode surface. The bottom electrode has a higher density in a zone adjacent the surface as compared to a bulk region of the bottom electrode. The surface has a roughness Ra of 2 nm or less. A process for forming the surface includes chemical mechanical polishing followed by hydrofluoric acid etching followed by argon ion bombardment. An array of RRAM cells formed by this process is superior in terms of narrow distribution and high separation between low and high resistance states.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes depositing a ferroelectric layer over the substrate; performing a first ionized physical deposition process to deposit a top electrode layer over the ferroelectric layer; patterning the top electrode layer into a top electrode; and patterning the ferroelectric layer to into a ferroelectric element below the top electrode.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of forming an integrated chip including forming a ferroelectric layer over a bottom electrode layer, forming a top electrode layer over the ferroelectric layer, performing a first removal process to remove peripheral portions of the bottom electrode layer, the ferroelectric layer, and the top electrode layer, and performing a second removal process using a second etch that is selective to the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer to remove portions of the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer, so that after the second removal process the ferroelectric layer has a surface that protrudes past a surface of the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) device. The FeRAM device includes a bottom electrode structure and a top electrode overlying the ferroelectric structure. The top electrode has a first width as measured between outermost sidewalls of the top electrode. A ferroelectric structure separates the bottom electrode structure from the top electrode. The ferroelectric structure has a second width as measured between outermost sidewalls of the ferroelectric structure. The second width is greater than the first width such that the ferroelectric structure includes a ledge that reflects a difference between the first width and the second width. A dielectric sidewall spacer structure is disposed on the ledge and covers the outermost sidewalls of the top electrode.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of forming an integrated chip including forming a ferroelectric layer over a bottom electrode layer, forming a top electrode layer over the ferroelectric layer, performing a first removal process to remove peripheral portions of the bottom electrode layer, the ferroelectric layer, and the top electrode layer, and performing a second removal process using a second etch that is selective to the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer to remove portions of the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer, so that after the second removal process the ferroelectric layer has a surface that protrudes past a surface of the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer.

Abstract: A ferroelectric tunnel junction is formed, comprising a plurality of layers including at least a bottom electrode layer, a top electrode layer, and at least one ferroelectric layer disposed between the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer. The at least one ferroelectric layer comprises a ferroelectric material. At least one layer of the plurality of layers is in contact with the ferroelectric layer and has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is at least 25% lower than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the ferroelectric layer; and inducing ferroelectric phase crystallization in the ferroelectric layer by annealing the plurality of layers.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a ferroelectric memory device that includes a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric structure overlying the bottom electrode, and a top electrode overlying the ferroelectric structure where the bottom electrode includes molybdenum.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a structure includes one or more first transistors in a first region of a device, the one or more first transistors supporting a memory access function of the device. The structure includes one or more ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) capacitors in a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer over the one or more first transistors in the first region. The structure also includes one or more metal-ferroelectric insulator-metal (MFM) decoupling capacitors in the first IMD layer in a second region of the device. The MFM capacitors may include two or more capacitors coupled in series to act as a voltage divider.

Abstract: A semiconductor die is provided. The semiconductor die includes a substrate having a front surface, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and a sidewall connected between the front surface and the rear surface. The sidewall includes a first primary segment immediately connected to the front surface, a second primary segment immediately connected to the rear surface, and a middle segment between the first primary segment and the second primary segment. The slope of the second primary segment is less than the slope of the first primary segment, and the slope of the middle segment is less than the slope of the second primary segment. Each of the first primary segment, the second primary segment, and the middle segment is a flat surface having a slope greater than 0 degrees relative to a line parallel to the front surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode, a sidewall spacer, and a data storage element. The sidewall spacer is disposed aside the top electrode. The data storage element is located between the bottom electrode and the top electrode, and includes a ferroelectric material. The data storage element has a peripheral region which is disposed beneath the sidewall spacer and which has at least 60% of ferroelectric phase. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device and a method for transforming a non-ferroelectric phase of a ferroelectric material to a ferroelectric phase are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for efficiently waking up ferroelectric memory is provided. A wafer is formed with a plurality of first signal lines, a plurality of second signal lines, a plurality of third signal lines, and a plurality of ferroelectric memory cells that constitute a ferroelectric memory array. Each of the ferroelectric memory cells is electrically connected to one of the first signal lines, one of the second signal lines and one of the third signal lines. Voltage signals are simultaneously applied to the first signal lines, the second signal lines and the third signal lines to induce occurrence of a wake-up effect in the ferroelectric memory cells.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) device. The FeRAM device includes a bottom electrode structure and a top electrode overlying the ferroelectric structure. The top electrode has a first width as measured between outermost sidewalls of the top electrode. A ferroelectric structure separates the bottom electrode structure from the top electrode. The ferroelectric structure has a second width as measured between outermost sidewalls of the ferroelectric structure. The second width is greater than the first width such that the ferroelectric structure includes a ledge that reflects a difference between the first width and the second width. A dielectric sidewall spacer structure is disposed on the ledge and covers the outermost sidewalls of the top electrode.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a structure includes one or more first transistors in a first region of a device, the one or more first transistors supporting a memory access function of the device. The structure includes one or more ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) capacitors in a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer over the one or more first transistors in the first region. The structure also includes one or more metal-ferroelectric insulator-metal (MFM) decoupling capacitors in the first IMD layer in a second region of the device. The MFM capacitors may include two or more capacitors coupled in series to act as a voltage divider.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device has an RRAM cell that includes a top electrode, an RRAM dielectric layer, and a bottom electrode having a surface that interfaces with the RRAM dielectric layer. Oxides of the bottom electrode are substantially absent from the bottom electrode surface. The bottom electrode has a higher density in a zone adjacent the surface as compared to a bulk region of the bottom electrode. The surface has a roughness Ra of 2 nm or less. A process for forming the surface includes chemical mechanical polishing followed by hydrofluoric acid etching followed by argon ion bombardment. An array of RRAM cells formed by this process is superior in terms of narrow distribution and high separation between low and high resistance states.

Abstract: A method for sawing a semiconductor wafer is provided. The method includes sawing the semiconductor wafer with a first dicing blade to form a first opening. The semiconductor wafer includes a dicing tape and a substrate attached to the dicing tape. The first opening is formed in the upper portion of the substrate. The method also includes sawing the semiconductor wafer with a second dicing blade from the first opening to form a second opening under the first opening and in the middle portion of the substrate. The method further includes sawing the semiconductor wafer with a third dicing blade from the second opening to form a third opening under the second opening and penetrating the lower portion of the substrate, so that the semiconductor wafer is divided into two dies. The first dicing blade, the second dicing blade, and the third dicing blade have different widths.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode, a sidewall spacer, and a data storage element. The sidewall spacer is disposed aside the top electrode. The data storage element is located between the bottom electrode and the top electrode, and includes a ferroelectric material. The data storage element has a peripheral region which is disposed beneath the sidewall spacer and which has at least 60% of ferroelectric phase. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device and a method for transforming a non-ferroelectric phase of a ferroelectric material to a ferroelectric phase are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for efficiently waking up ferroelectric memory is provided. A wafer is formed with a plurality of first signal lines, a plurality of second signal lines, a plurality of third signal lines, and a plurality of ferroelectric memory cells that constitute a ferroelectric memory array. Each of the ferroelectric memory cells is electrically connected to one of the first signal lines, one of the second signal lines and one of the third signal lines. Voltage signals are simultaneously applied to the first signal lines, the second signal lines and the third signal lines to induce occurrence of a wake-up effect in the ferroelectric memory cells.