Abstract: An FeRAM comprising includes a ferroelectric material sandwiched between a top electrode and a bottom electrode. A V0-contact provides an electrical connection with an underlying CS-contact. The V0-contact is aligned using the bottom electrode. A liner layer covers a sidewall of the bottom electrode and provides a stop to an etch a hole forming the V0-contact. A method is utilized to form a V0-contact in an FeRAM comprising. An Fe capacitor of the FeRAM is encapsulated, a bottom electrode is etched, a liner layer is deposited covering a sidewall of the bottom electrode, and a hole is etched for the VO-contact until the etching is stopped by the liner layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sidewall oxygen diffusion barrier and a method for fabricating the sidewall oxygen diffusion barrier that reduces the diffusion of oxygen into contact plugs during a CW hole reactive ion etch of a ferroelectric capacitor of an FeRAM device. In one embodiment the sidewall barrier is formed from a substrate fence. In another embodiment, the sidewall barrier is formed by etching back an oxygen barrier.

Abstract: A ferroelectric device includes a bottom electrode on which are formed ferrocapacitor elements and, over the ferroelectric elements, top electrodes. The bottom electrodes are connected to lower layers of the device via conductive plugs, and the plugs and bottom electrodes are spaced apart by barrier elements of Ir and/or IrO2. The barrier elements are narrower than the bottom electrode elements, and are formed by a separate etching process. This means that Ir fences are not formed during the etching of the bottom electrode. Also, little Ir and/or IrO2 diffuses through the bottom electrode to the ferroelectric elements, and therefore there is little risk of damage to the ferroelectric material.

Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor device and method for producing such a device comprises forming a substrate, and forming a contact plug passing through the substrate. An electrically insulating layer is formed on the substrate, and a first electrode is formed on the electrically insulating layer. A ferroelectric layer is formed on the first electrode and a second electrode is formed on the ferroelectric layer. The first electrode is then electrically connected to the plug through the electrically insulating layer.

Abstract: A method for forming high capacitance crystalline dielectric layers with (111) texture is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, deposition of a plurality of nuclei is performed at a temperature in the range of about 430 to 460 degrees Celsius, followed by growth of a continuous BSTO dielectric layer at a temperature greater than 600 degrees Celsius. In an exemplary embodiment, a process is disclosed for growing a barium strontium titanium oxide film with high capacitance and thickness of about 30 nm or less.

Abstract: A capacitor structure having a capacitor with a top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a capacitor dielectric layer between the top and bottom electrodes is disclosed. The capacitor includes upper and lower portions. The demarcation between the upper and lower portion is located between top and bottom surfaces of the capacitor dielectric layer. A dielectric layer is provided on the sidewalls of the upper portion of the capacitor to prevent shorting between the electrodes that can be caused by a conductive fence formed during processing.

Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor device and method for producing such a device comprises forming a substrate, and forming a contact plug passing through the substrate. An electrically insulating layer is formed on the substrate, and a first electrode is formed on the electrically insulating layer. A ferroelectric layer is formed on the first electrode and a second electrode is formed on the ferroelectric layer. The first electrode is then electrically connected to the plug through the electrically insulating layer.

Abstract: An FeRAM comprising includes a ferroelectric material sandwiched between a top electrode and a bottom electrode. A V0-contact provides an electrical connection with an underlying CS-contact. The V0-contact is aligned using the bottom electrode. A liner layer covers a sidewall of the bottom electrode and provides a stop to an etch a hole forming the V0-contact. A method is utilized to form a V0-contact in an FeRAM comprising. An Fe capacitor of the FeRAM is encapsulated, a bottom electrode is etched, a liner layer is deposited covering a sidewall of the bottom electrode, and a hole is etched for the VO-contact until the etching is stopped by the liner layer.

Abstract: A ferroelectric device includes a bottom electrode on which are formed ferrocapacitor elements and, over the ferroelectric elements, top electrodes. The bottom electrodes are connected to lower layers of the device via conductive plugs, and the plugs and bottom electrodes are spaced apart by barrier elements of Ir and/or IrO2. The barrier elements are narrower than the bottom electrode elements, and are formed by a separate etching process. This means that Ir fences are not formed during the etching of the bottom electrode. Also, little Ir and/or IrO2 diffuses through the bottom electrode to the ferroelectric elements, and therefore there is little risk of damage to the ferroelectric material.

Abstract: A multi-layer electrode (246) and method of fabrication thereof in which a conductive region (244) is separated from a barrier layer (222) by a first conductive liner (240) and a second conductive liner (242). First conductive layer (240) comprises Pt, and second conductive liner (242) comprises a thin layer of conductive oxide. The multi-layer electrode (246) prevents oxygen diffusion through the top conductive region (244) and reduces material variation during electrode patterning.

Abstract: A multi-layer barrier for a ferroelectric capacitor includes an outdiffusion barrier layer permeable to both hydrogen and oxygen. The outdiffusion barrier layer covers the ferroelectric of the capacitor. Oxygen passes through the outdiffusion barrier layer into the ferroelectric during an oxygen anneal in order to repair damage to the ferroelectric caused during etching. The outdiffusion barrier layer reduces the decomposition of the ferroelectric by blocking molecules leaving the ferroelectric during the oxygen anneal. The multi-layer barrier also includes a hydrogen barrier layer deposited on the outdiffusion barrier layer after repair of the ferroelectric by the oxygen anneal. The hydrogen barrier layer allows the multi-layer barrier to block the passage of hydrogen into the ferroelectric during back-end processes.

Abstract: A multi-layer barrier for a ferroelectric capacitor includes an outdiffusion barrier layer permeable to both hydrogen and oxygen. The outdiffusion barrier layer covers the ferroelectric of the capacitor. Oxygen passes through the outdiffusion barrier layer into the ferroelectric during an oxygen anneal in order to repair damage to the ferroelectric caused during etching. The outdiffusion barrier layer reduces the decomposition of the ferroelectric by blocking molecules leaving the ferroelectric during the oxygen anneal. The multi-layer barrier also includes a hydrogen barrier layer deposited on the outdiffusion barrier layer after repair of the ferroelectric by the oxygen anneal. The hydrogen barrier layer allows the multi-layer barrier to block the passage of hydrogen into the ferroelectric during back-end processes.

Abstract: An electrode 1 of a ferrocapacitor formed by an etching process is treated by oxygen implantation to reduce the size of crystal domains 15 in side regions 11 of the electrode 1. Subsequently a cover layer 3 is deposited over the side wall of the electrode to protect the ferrocapacitor in subsequent process steps. Later in the fabrication process the ferrocapacitor is subject to heat treatments, but due to the reduced size of the crystal domains 15 the growth of the crystal domains in the side regions 11 of the electrode is more homogenous, and causes reduced stresses in the cover layer 3, leading to a reduced risk of the cover layer 3 failing to protect the ferrocapacitor.

Abstract: Si, Al, Al plus TiN, and Ir02 are used as adhesion layers to prevent peeling of noble metal electrodes, such as Pt, from a silicon dioxide (5i02) substrate in capacitor structures of memory devices.

Abstract: Si, Al, Al plus TiN, and Ir02 are used as adhesion layers to prevent peeling of noble metal electrodes, such as Pt, from a silicon dioxide (5i02) substrate in capacitor structures of memory devices.

Abstract: A multi-layer electrode (246) and method of fabrication thereof in which a conductive region (244) is separated from a barrier layer (222) by a first conductive liner (240) and a second conductive liner (242). First conductive layer (240) comprises Pt, and second conductive liner (242) comprises a thin layer of conductive oxide. The multi-layer electrode (246) prevents oxygen diffusion through the top conductive region (244) and reduces material variation during electrode patterning.

Abstract: A capacitor structure having a capacitor with a top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a capacitor dielectric layer between the top and bottom electrodes is disclosed. The capacitor comprises an upper and lower portion. The demarcation between the upper and lower portion is located between top and bottom surfaces of the capacitor dielectric layer. A dielectric layer is provided on the sidewalls of the upper portion of the capacitor to prevent shorting between the electrodes that can be caused by a conductive fence formed during processing.

Abstract: In semiconductor device fabrication processes which include the formation of hardmask elements 17 including Al2O2, unwanted Al2O3 is left between the hardmask elements 17. The unwanted Al2O3 includes a layer 9 of Al2O3which is not homogenous across the surface of the structure 3 it overlies, and Al2O3 deposits on the sides of the hardmask elements 17. A method is proposed in which any such unwanted Al2O3 between the hardmask elements 17 is removed by a wet etching step in which the unwanted Al2O3 is exposed to an etchant liquid which etches the Al2O3 at a faster rate than other portions of the structure. This step allows the unwanted Al2O3 to be removed substantially completely without causing significant detriment to those other portions of the structure. Subsequently, an RIE etching step can be performed using the hardmask elements 17 as a mask, without the unwanted Al2O3 obstructing the RIE etching step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sidewall oxygen diffusion barrier and method for fabricating the sidewall oxygen diffusion barrier to reduce the diffusion of oxygen to contact plugs during CW hole reactive ion etch processing of a ferroelectric capacitor of an FeRAM device. In one embodiment the sidewall barrier is formed from a substrate fence, while in another embodiment the sidewall barrier is formed by etching back an oxygen barrier.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip in which stress on the effective stress on the substrate is reduced in order to reduce bowing. To reduce the effective stress, a stress compensation layer is provided on the backside of the chip. The stress compensating layer produces a stress opposite of that produced by the IC. Thus the overall or effective stress on the substrate is reduced.