Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an amorphous bottom electrode structure (BES) for a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The MIM capacitor comprises a bottom electrode, an insulator layer overlying the bottom electrode, and a top electrode overlying the insulator layer. The bottom electrode comprises a crystalline BES and the amorphous BES, and the amorphous BES overlies the crystalline BES and forms a top surface of the bottom electrode. Because the amorphous BES is amorphous, instead of crystalline, a top surface of the amorphous BES may have a small roughness compared to that of the crystalline BES. Because the amorphous BES forms the top surface of the bottom electrode, the top surface of the bottom electrode may have a small roughness compared to what it would otherwise have if the crystalline BES formed the top surface. The small roughness may improve a lifespan of the MIM capacitor.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated chip including a first conductive structure over a substrate. A first dielectric layer is on the first conductive structure. A second dielectric layer is on the first dielectric layer, where thermal conductivities of the first and second dielectric layers are different from one another. A second conductive structure is over the second dielectric 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: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an amorphous bottom electrode structure (BES) for a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The MIM capacitor comprises a bottom electrode, an insulator layer overlying the bottom electrode, and a top electrode overlying the insulator layer. The bottom electrode comprises a crystalline BES and the amorphous BES, and the amorphous BES overlies the crystalline BES and forms a top surface of the bottom electrode. Because the amorphous BES is amorphous, instead of crystalline, a top surface of the amorphous BES may have a small roughness compared to that of the crystalline BES. Because the amorphous BES forms the top surface of the bottom electrode, the top surface of the bottom electrode may have a small roughness compared to what it would otherwise have if the crystalline BES formed the top surface. The small roughness may improve a lifespan of the MIM capacitor.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated chip including a first conductive structure over a substrate. A first dielectric layer is on the first conductive structure. A second dielectric layer is on the first dielectric layer, where thermal conductivities of the first and second dielectric layers are different from one another. A second conductive structure is over the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a data storage element and a first electrode electrically connected to the data storage element. The semiconductor device structure also includes a second electrode electrically connected to the data storage element and an ion diffusion barrier layer between the data storage element and the second electrode. The ion diffusion barrier layer is spaced apart from the second electrode. The semiconductor device structure further includes a protective element extending upwards from a lower surface of the data storage element to a height level above a top of the ion diffusion barrier layer and a topmost surface of the second electrode.

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: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor and methods of forming the same are described. In some embodiments, the method includes forming an opening having a first depth in one or more dielectric layers, depositing a layer in the opening and on the one or more dielectric layers, performing an anisotropic etch process to remove portions of the layer formed on horizontal surfaces, extending the opening to a second depth in the one or more dielectric layers, removing the layer, extending the opening to a third depth in the one or more dielectric layers, and forming a MIM capacitor in the opening.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a method for forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor comprising an enhanced interfacial layer to reduce breakdown failure. In some embodiments, a bottom electrode layer is deposited over a substrate. A native oxide layer is formed on a top surface of the bottom electrode layer and has a first adhesion strength with the top surface. A plasma treatment process is performed to replace the native oxide layer with an interfacial layer. The interfacial layer is conductive and has a second adhesion strength with the top surface of the bottom electrode layer, and the second adhesion strength is greater than the first adhesion strength. An insulator layer is deposited on the interfacial layer. A top electrode layer is deposited on the insulator layer. The top and bottom electrode layers, the insulator layer, and the interfacial layer are patterned to form a MIM capacitor.

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 electrode structure comprising an inert metal. A metal diffusion barrier is disposed on the first electrode structure. The metal diffusion barrier has a thickness of between approximately 5 Angstroms and approximately 30 Angstroms. A switching structure is on the metal diffusion barrier. A second electrode structure is separated from the metal diffusion barrier by the switching structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a first electrode over a substrate. A second electrode overlies the first electrode. A switching structure is between the first electrode and the second electrode. The switching structure includes a first oxide layer over the first electrode and a second oxide layer over the first layer. The first oxide layer comprises a first dopant and the second oxide layer is undoped. A thickness of the first oxide layer is less than a thickness of the second oxide layer.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor and methods of forming the same are described. In some embodiments, the method includes forming an opening having a first depth in one or more dielectric layers, depositing a layer in the opening and on the one or more dielectric layers, performing an anisotropic etch process to remove portions of the layer formed on horizontal surfaces, extending the opening to a second depth in the one or more dielectric layers, removing the layer, extending the opening to a third depth in the one or more dielectric layers, and forming a MIM capacitor in the opening.

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: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a bottom electrode structure disposed over a lower interconnect within a lower inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over a substrate. The bottom electrode structure has an upper surface including a noble metal. A diffusion barrier layer is over the bottom electrode structure, a data storage structure is over the diffusion barrier layer, and a top electrode structure is over the data storage structure. The diffusion barrier layer is configured to mitigate a diffusion of noble metal atoms from the bottom electrode structure to the data storage structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards a method for forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor comprising an enhanced interfacial layer to reduce breakdown failure. In some embodiments, a bottom electrode layer is deposited over a substrate. A native oxide layer is formed on a top surface of the bottom electrode layer and has a first adhesion strength with the top surface. A plasma treatment process is performed to replace the native oxide layer with an interfacial layer. The interfacial layer is conductive and has a second adhesion strength with the top surface of the bottom electrode layer, and the second adhesion strength is greater than the first adhesion strength. An insulator layer is deposited on the interfacial layer. A top electrode layer is deposited on the insulator layer. The top and bottom electrode layers, the insulator layer, and the interfacial layer are patterned to form a MIM capacitor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The structure includes a substrate and a data storage element over the substrate. The structure also includes a protective element extending into the data storage element. A bottom surface of the protective element is between a top surface of the data storage element and a bottom surface of the data storage element. The structure further includes a first electrode electrically connected to the data storage element and a second electrode electrically connected to the data storage element.

Abstract: A stack structure and the manufacturing methods thereof are provided. The structure includes a first electrode material layer, a first piezoelectric layer disposed over the first electrode material layer, a second electrode material layer disposed over the first piezoelectric layer, a second piezoelectric layer disposed over the second electrode material layer, and a third electrode material layer disposed over the second piezoelectric layer. A first oxygen-containing interface is formed between the first piezoelectric layer and the second electrode material layer, and a first lattice-matching interface is formed between the first piezoelectric layer and the first electrode material layer. A second oxygen-containing interface is formed between the second piezoelectric layer and the third electrode material layer, and a second lattice-matching interface is formed between the second piezoelectric layer and the second electrode material layer.

Abstract: An interfacial layer is provided that binds a hydrophilic interlayer dielectric to a hydrophobic gap-filling dielectric. The hydrophobic gap-filling dielectric extends over and fill gaps between devices in an array of devices disposed between two metal interconnect layers over a semiconductor substrate and is the product of a flowable CVD process. The interfacial layer provides a hydrophilic upper surface to which the interlayer dielectric adheres. Optionally, the interfacial layer is also the product of a flowable CVD process. Alternatively, the interfacial layer may be silicon nitride or another dielectric that is hydrophilic. The interfacial layer may have a wafer contact angle (WCA) intermediate between a WCA of the hydrophobic dielectric and a WCA of the interlayer dielectric.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device. The device includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed over a substrate. A doped data storage structure is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The doped data storage structure includes a dopant with a doping concentration profile having a skew normal distribution that is vertically offset from a center of the doped data storage structure.