Abstract: A two-terminal resistive switching device (TTRSD) such as a non-volatile two-terminal memory device or a volatile two-terminal selector device can be formed according to a manufacturing process. The process can include forming an etch stop layer that is made of aluminum and can include forming a buffer layer below the etch stop layer and/or between the etch stop layer and a top electrode of the TTRSD.

Abstract: Fabrication of resistive switching memory devices is herein provided. By way of example, a method for a two-step etch for fabricating a non-volatile resistive memory device is disclosed. In another example, a method for a three-step etch for fabricating a non-volatile resistive memory device is provided. Still other embodiments disclose a method for fabricating a non-volatile metal nitrogen/metal oxygen resistive switching memory device. Further embodiments disclose a method for fabricating a volatile resistive switching selector device. Processes for forming protective spacers in conjunction with fabricating a disclosed resistive memory device are also provided.

Abstract: Resistive switching memory cells having filament-based switching mechanisms are provided. By way of example, resistive switching memory cells having resistive filaments constrained to a core of the cell are disclosed. In other examples, methods for fabricating resistive switching memory cells to constrain a conductive filament formed in the resistive switching memory cell to a central portion of core of the cell are disclosed.

Abstract: A two-terminal resistive switching device (TTRSD) such as a non-volatile two-terminal memory device or a volatile two-terminal selector device can be formed according to a manufacturing process. The process can include forming an etch stop layer that is made of aluminum and can include forming a buffer layer below the etch stop layer and/or between the etch stop layer and a top electrode of the TTRSD.

Abstract: A two-terminal resistive switching device (TTRSD) such as a non-volatile two-terminal memory device or a volatile two-terminal selector device can be formed according to a manufacturing process. The process can include forming an etch stop layer that is made of aluminum and can include forming a buffer layer below the etch stop layer and/or between the etch stop layer and a top electrode of the TTRSD.

Abstract: Two-terminal memory devices can be formed in dielectric material that is electrically insulating and operates as a blocking layer to mitigate diffusion of material from a metal layer. A stack of layers of the two-terminal memory device can be covered with a liner layer that can comprise the dielectric material. Thus, in some implementations, the liner layer and the blocking layer can have a similar etch rate.

Abstract: Two-terminal memory devices can be formed in part within a dielectric material that is electrically insulating and operates as a blocking layer to mitigate diffusion of metal particles employed in integrated circuit fabrication. This dielectric material can be protected from other fabrication processes corrosive to the dielectric material (e.g., CMP, HF clean, etc) by a silicon containing liner. Use of the silicon containing liner can enable a minimum thickness of the dielectric material to be preserved and can facilitate step height differences between adjacent material surfaces that form a two-terminal memory device to be on the order of less than about five angstroms. This small step height difference, particularly when underlying a switching layer of the two-terminal memory device, can yield excellent switching characteristics.

Abstract: Providing for a memory device having a resistive switching memory integrated within backend layers of the memory device is described herein. By way of example, the resistive switching memory can be embedded memory such as cache, random access memory, or the like, in various embodiments. The resistive memory can be fabricated between various backend metallization schemes, including backend copper metal layers and in part utilizing one or more damascene processes. In some embodiments, the resistive memory can be fabricated in part with damascene processes and in part with subtractive etch processing, utilizing four or fewer photo-resist masks. Accordingly, the disclosure provides a relatively low cost, high performance embedded memory compatible with a variety of fabrication processes of integrated circuit foundries.

Abstract: A memory cell that includes a first metal layer formed over a substrate is provided. The substrate includes one or more complementary metal-oxide semiconductor devices. The memory cell also includes a via device that connects at least a portion of the first metal layer and at least another portion of a second metal layer. The first metal layer has a first thickness having an edge thereof that serves as an electrode for a memory cell formed by the via device. The memory cell scales as a function of the first thickness and at least in part independent of a minimum feature size of the memory device.

Abstract: A method for forming a resistive switching device. The method includes providing a substrate having a surface region and forming a first dielectric material overlying the surface region. A first wiring structure is formed overlying the first dielectric material. The method forms one or more first structure comprising a junction material overlying the first wiring structure. A second structure comprising a stack of material is formed overlying the first structure. The second structure includes a resistive switching material, an active conductive material overlying the resistive switching material, and a second wiring material overlying the active conductive material. The second structure is configured such that the resistive switching material is free from a coincident vertical sidewall region with the junction material.

Abstract: A recessed high voltage metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor is provided for use in a two-terminal memory cell. The two-terminal memory cell can include a resistive switching device connected to the recessed MOS transistor. The recessed MOS transistor provides for an increased channel length relative to the transistor size in comparison to a traditional MOS transistor. This allows for a decreased memory cell size while maintaining comparable electrical parameters (threshold voltage, channel length, and leakage) than would otherwise be possible. The recessed MOS transistor can be made as either a NMOS or PMOS device using n-type or p-type materials respectively, where the channel, or inversion layer, is formed by electrons (NMOS) or holes (PMOS) between the source and drain in the transistor.

Abstract: Provided is a monolithic integration of resistive memory with complementary metal oxide semiconductor using integrated circuit foundry processes. A memory device is provided that includes a substrate comprising one or more complementary metal-oxide semiconductor devices, a first insulator layer formed on the substrate; and a monolithic stack. The monolithic stack includes multiple layers fabricated as part of a monolithic process over the first insulator layer. The multiple layers include a first metal layer, a second insulator layer, and a second metal layer. A resistive memory device structure is formed within the second insulator layer and within a thermal budget of the one or more complementary metal-oxide semiconductor devices. The resistive memory device structure is implemented as a pillar device or as a via device. Further, the first metal layer is coupled to the second metal layer.

Abstract: A two-terminal memory device can be formed according to a manufacturing process that utilizes two distinct chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) processes for each of bottom electrode/terminal (BE) and the top electrode/terminal (TE). The CMP processes can reduce planar height variations for a top surface of the BE and a top surface of the TE. The CMP processes can reduce height differences between the top surface of the BE and adjacent dielectric surfaces and reduce height differences between the top surface of the TE and adjacent dielectric surfaces.

Abstract: Two-terminal memory devices can be formed in part within a dielectric material that is electrically insulating and operates as a blocking layer to mitigate diffusion of metal particles employed in integrated circuit fabrication. This dielectric material can be protected from other fabrication processes corrosive to the dielectric material (e.g., CMP, HF clean, etc) by a silicon containing liner. Use of the silicon containing liner can enable a minimum thickness of the dielectric material to be preserved and can facilitate step height differences between adjacent material surfaces that form a two-terminal memory device to be on the order of less than about five angstroms. This small step height difference, particularly when underlying a switching layer of the two-terminal memory device, can yield excellent switching characteristics.

Abstract: A two-terminal resistive switching device (TTRSD) such as a non-volatile two-terminal memory device or a volatile two-terminal selector device can be formed according to a manufacturing process. The process can include forming an etch stop layer comprising aluminum and can include forming a buffer layer below the etch stop layer and/or between the etch stop layer and a top electrode of the TTRSD.

Abstract: Provided is a monolithic integration of resistive memory with complementary metal oxide semiconductor using integrated circuit foundry processes. A memory device is provided that includes a substrate comprising one or more complementary metal-oxide semiconductor devices, a first insulator layer formed on the substrate; and a monolithic stack. The monolithic stack includes multiple layers fabricated as part of a monolithic process over the first insulator layer. The multiple layers include a first metal layer, a second insulator layer, and a second metal layer. A resistive memory device structure is formed within the second insulator layer and within a thermal budget of the one or more complementary metal-oxide semiconductor devices. The resistive memory device structure is implemented as a pillar device or as a via device. Further, the first metal layer is coupled to the second metal layer.

Abstract: Provision of fabrication, construction, and/or assembly of a two-terminal memory device is described herein. The two-terminal memory device can include an active region with a silicon bearing layer, an interface layer, and an active metal layer. The interface layer can created comprising a non-stoichiometric sub-oxide that can be a combination of multiple silicon and/or silicon oxide layers with an aggregate chemical formula of SiOX, where X can be a non-integer greater than zero and less than 2. The sub-oxide can be created in a variety of ways, including various techniques related to growing the sub-oxide, depositing the sub-oxide, or transforming an extant film into the sub-oxide.

Abstract: A method includes patterning a layered structure comprising a monolithic stack including a bottom electrode surrounded by a dielectric material, a switching material, a barrier material, a dielectric hardmask, and a patterned photoresist formed above and adjacent to a portion of the dielectric hardmask. The patterning includes patterning the dielectric hardmask using a first etchant and employing the patterned photoresist as a mask, patterning the barrier material using a second etchant and employing a portion of the dielectric hardmask remaining after the patterning the dielectric hardmask as a mask, and patterning the switching material using ion milling or etching and employing the portion of the dielectric hardmask remaining after the patterning the barrier material as a mask.

Abstract: A memory device comprising a doped conductive polycrystalline layer having an electrically resistive portion, is described herein. By way of example, ion implantation to a subset of the conductive polycrystalline layer can degrade and modify the polycrystalline layer, forming the electrically resistive portion. The electrically resistive portion can include resistive switching properties facilitating digital information storage. Parametric control of the ion implantation can facilitate control over corresponding resistive switching properties of the resistive portion. For example, a projected range or depth of the ion implantation can be controlled, allowing for preferential placement of atoms in the resistive portion, and fine-tuning of a forming voltage of the memory device. As another example, dose and number of atoms implanted, type of atoms or ions that are implanted, the conductive polycrystalline material used, and so forth, can facilitate control over switching characteristics of the memory device.

Abstract: A recessed high voltage metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor is provided for use in a two-terminal memory cell. The two-terminal memory cell can include a resistive switching device connected to the recessed MOS transistor. The recessed MOS transistor provides for an increased channel length relative to the transistor size in comparison to a traditional MOS transistor. This allows for a decreased memory cell size while maintaining comparable electrical parameters (threshold voltage, channel length, and leakage) than would otherwise be possible. The recessed MOS transistor can be made as either a NMOS or PMOS device using n-type or p-type materials respectively, where the channel, or inversion layer, is formed by electrons (NMOS) or holes (PMOS) between the source and drain in the transistor.