Abstract: A method of forming a memory cell is provided. The method includes forming a first pillar-shaped element that includes a first semiconductor material, forming a first opening self-aligned with the first pillar-shaped element, and depositing a second semiconductor material in the first opening to form a second pillar-shaped element above the first pillar-shaped element. Other aspects are also provided.

Abstract: An electrode is provided for an electrochemical lithium battery cell. The electrode includes a bulk material that has a plurality of voids dispersed substantially throughout the bulk material. The bulk material is silicon. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: An electrode is provided for an electrochemical lithium battery cell. The electrode includes multiple silicon sheets, each silicon sheet including multiple apertures, each aperture extending all or partly through a thickness of the silicon sheet. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including vertically oriented diode structures between conductors and methods of fabricating the same are provided. Two-terminal devices such as passive element memory cells can include a diode steering element in series with an antifuse and/or other state change element. The devices are formed using pillar structures at the intersections of upper and lower sets of conductors. The height of the pillar structures are reduced by forming part of the diode for each pillar in a rail stack with one of the conductors. A diode in one embodiment can include a first diode component of a first conductivity type and a second diode component of a second conductivity type. A portion of one of the diode components is divided into first and second portions with one on the portions being formed in the rail stack where it is shared with other diodes formed using pillars at the rail stack.

Abstract: A method of forming a memory cell is provided. The method includes forming a first pillar-shaped element that includes a first semiconductor material, forming a first opening self-aligned with the first pillar-shaped element, and depositing a second semiconductor material in the first opening to form a second pillar-shaped element above the first pillar-shaped element. Other aspects are also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a memory cell is provided. The method includes forming a first pillar-shaped element that includes a first semiconductor material, forming a first opening self-aligned with the first pillar-shaped element, and depositing a second semiconductor material in the first opening to form a second pillar-shaped element above the first pillar-shaped element. Other aspects are also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a memory cell is provided, the method including forming a first pillar-shaped element comprising a first semiconductor material, forming a first mold comprising an opening self-aligned with the first pillar-shaped element, and depositing a second semiconductor material in the opening to form a second pillar-shaped element above the first pillar-shaped element. Other aspects are also provided.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including vertically oriented diode structures between conductors and methods of fabricating the same are provided. Two-terminal devices such as passive element memory cells can include a diode steering element in series with an antifuse and/or other state change element. The devices are formed using pillar structures at the intersections of upper and lower sets of conductors. The height of the pillar structures are reduced by forming part of the diode for each pillar in a rail stack with one of the conductors. A diode in one embodiment can include a first diode component of a first conductivity type and a second diode component of a second conductivity type. A portion of one of the diode components is divided into first and second portions with one on the portions being formed in the rail stack where it is shared with other diodes formed using pillars at the rail stack.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including vertically oriented diode structures between conductors and methods of fabricating the same are provided. Two-terminal devices such as passive element memory cells can include a diode steering element in series with an antifuse and/or other state change element. The devices are formed using pillar structures at the intersections of upper and lower sets of conductors. The height of the pillar structures are reduced by forming part of the diode for each pillar in a rail stack with one of the conductors. A diode in one embodiment can include a first diode component of a first conductivity type and a second diode component of a second conductivity type. A portion of one of the diode components is divided into first and second portions with one on the portions being formed in the rail stack where it is shared with other diodes formed using pillars at the rail stack.

Abstract: A method is provided to form densely spaced metal lines. A first set of metal lines is formed by etching a first metal layer. A thin dielectric layer is conformally deposited on the first metal lines. A second metal is deposited on the thin dielectric layer, filling gaps between the first metal lines. The second metal layer is planarized to form second metal lines interposed between the first metal lines, coexposing the thin dielectric layer and the second metal layer at a substantially planar surface. In some embodiments, planarization continues to remove the thin dielectric covering tops of the first metal lines, coexposing the first metal lines and the second metal lines, separated by the thin dielectric layer, at a substantially planar surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a memory cell is provided, the method including forming a first pillar-shaped element comprising a first semiconductor material, forming a first mold comprising an opening self-aligned with the first pillar-shaped element, and depositing a second semiconductor material in the opening to form a second pillar-shaped element above the first pillar-shaped element. Other aspects are also provided.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including vertically oriented diode structures between conductors and methods of fabricating the same are provided. Two-terminal devices such as passive element memory cells can include a diode steering element in series with an antifuse and/or other state change element. The devices are formed using pillar structures at the intersections of upper and lower sets of conductors. The height of the pillar structures are reduced by forming part of the diode for each pillar in a rail stack with one of the conductors. A diode in one embodiment can include a first diode component of a first conductivity type and a second diode component of a second conductivity type. A portion of one of the diode components is divided into first and second portions with one on the portions being formed in the rail stack where it is shared with other diodes formed using pillars at the rail stack.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional, non-volatile memory array utilizing damascene fabrication techniques is disclosed. A bottom set of conductors is formed and a set of first pillar shaped elements of heavily doped semiconductor material as formed thereon. A mold is formed of insulating material having pillar shaped openings self-aligned with the first pillar shaped elements and a second semiconductor is deposited over the mold to form second pillar shaped elements aligned with the first pillar shaped elements. The pillar elements formed may be further processed by forming another mold of insulating material having trench openings aligned with the pillar shaped elements and then filling the trenches with conductive material to form conductors coupled to the pillar shaped elements.

Abstract: A method is provided to form densely spaced metal lines. A first set of metal lines is formed by etching a first metal layer. A thin dielectric layer is conformally deposited on the first metal lines. A second metal is deposited on the thin dielectric layer, filling gaps between the first metal lines. The second metal layer is planarized to form second metal lines interposed between the first metal lines, coexposing the thin dielectric layer and the second metal layer at a substantially planar surface. In some embodiments, planarization continues to remove the thin dielectric covering tops of the first metal lines, coexposing the first metal lines and the second metal lines, separated by the thin dielectric layer, at a substantially planar surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional, non-volatile memory array utilizing damascene fabrication techniques is disclosed. A bottom set of conductors is formed and a set of first pillar shaped elements of heavily doped semiconductor material as formed thereon. A mold is formed of insulating material having pillar shaped openings self-aligned with the first pillar shaped elements and a second semiconductor is deposited over the mold to form second pillar shaped elements aligned with the first pillar shaped elements. The pillar elements formed may be further processed by forming another mold of insulating material having trench openings aligned with the pillar shaped elements and then filling the trenches with conductive material to form conductors coupled to the pillar shaped elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for repairing and improving the endurance characteristics of process damaged oxide film formed in a semiconductor device involving sonic annealing by vibrating or oscillating a wafer at a predetermined frequency, wave amplitude, and duration. A signal from a frequency generator is amplified by a voltage amplifier and then sent to a speaker or other acoustic device for the production of vibrating acoustical wave energy. This acoustical wave energy is then directed at a submicron device wafer during a specified time period in order to anneal the gate oxide and, thereby, improve the characteristics of the oxide film.

Abstract: A method of fabricating contacts to device elements of an integrated circuit on a semiconductor substrate that includes: (a) using a plasma process to form a first hole in the material above a first portion of the device, wherein the first hole has a depth and a width at the end of the plasma process, and wherein the first hole has an aspect ratio at the end of the plasma process defined by its depth divided by its width; (b) using a plasma process to form a second hole in the material above a second portion of the device, adjacent to the first portion, wherein the second hole has a depth and a width at the end of the plasma process, and wherein the second hole has an aspect ratio at the end of the plasma process defined by its depth divided by its width; and (c) wherein the aspect ratio of the first hole is substantially equivalent to the aspect ratio of the second hole.