Abstract: A process of forming an electronic device can include forming a stack including a tunnel barrier layer. The tunnel barrier layer can have a ratio of the metal atoms to oxygen atoms of greater than a stoichiometric ratio, wherein the ratio has a particular value. The process can also include forming a gettering layer having a composition capable of gettering oxygen, and depositing an insulating layer over the gettering layer. The process can further include exposing the insulating layer to a temperature of at least approximately 60° C. In one embodiment, after such exposure, a portion of the gettering layer is converted to an insulating material. In another embodiment, an electronic device can include a magnetic tunnel junction and an adjacent insulating layer lying within an opening in another insulating layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor process integrates three bridge circuits, each include magnetoresistive sensors coupled as a Wheatstone bridge on a single chip to sense a magnetic field in three orthogonal directions. The process includes various deposition and etch steps forming the magnetoresistive sensors and a plurality of flux guides on one of the three bridge circuits for transferring a “Z” axis magnetic field onto sensors orientated in the XY plane.

Abstract: A method of forming a magnetoelectronic device includes forming a dielectric material (114) surrounding a magnetic bit (112), etching the dielectric material (114) to define an opening (122) over the magnetic bit (112) without exposing the magnetic bit (112), the opening (122) having a sidewall, depositing a blanket layer (132) of cladding material over the dielectric material (118), including over the sidewall, removing by a sputtering process the blanket layer (132) in the bottom of the opening (122) and the dielectric material (124) over the magnetic bit (112), and forming a conductive material (146) within the opening (122) to form a bit line (154). This process reduces errors caused by process irregularities such as edges of the bits (112) protruding and thereby causing defects in the cladding layer (132) formed thereover.

Abstract: A method of forming a magnetoelectronic device includes forming a dielectric material (114) surrounding a magnetic bit (112), etching the dielectric material (114) to define an opening (122) over the magnetic bit (112) without exposing the magnetic bit (112), the opening (122) having a sidewall, depositing a blanket layer (132) of cladding material over the dielectric material (118), including over the sidewall, removing by a sputtering process the blanket layer (132) in the bottom of the opening (122) and the dielectric material (124) over the magnetic bit (112), and forming a conductive material (146) within the opening (122) to form a bit line (154). This process reduces errors caused by process irregularities such as edges of the bits (112) protruding and thereby causing defects in the cladding layer (132) formed thereover.

Abstract: The method includes storing a memory data state in the ferroelectric memory cell. An event will trigger the evaluation of signal margin on a memory cell. If the memory cell is identified to have a weak signal, the memory cell is exercised. Exercising includes either performing one or more data read/re-write events or performing one or more simulated data read and data write events of an alternating high data state and a low data state to the memory cell associated with the weak data bit. Both the lifetime retention testing and the memory data state exercising are performed in the background of normal memory operation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is presented. In one aspect, the method comprises forming conductive and ferroelectric material layers on a semiconductor substrate. The material layers are patterned to form electrodes and a ferroelectric layer of a ferroelectric capacitor, wherein a conductive noble metal-containing polymer is generated on sidewalls of the ferroelectric capacitor. The method also comprises converting the conductive noble metal-containing polymer into a non-conducting metal oxide. Converting includes forming a water-soluble metal salt from the conductive noble metal-containing polymer and reacting the water-soluble metal salt with an acqueous acidic solution to form a metal hydroxide. Converting also includes oxidizing the metal hydroxide to form the non-conducting metal oxide.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for reducing the imprint of a ferroelectric memory cell. The method comprises storing a memory data state in the ferroelectric memory cell. An event will trigger the evaluation of signal margin on a memory cell. If the memory cell is identified to have a weak signal, the memory cell is exercised. Exercising comprises either performing one or more data read/re-write events or performing one or more simulated data read and data write events of an alternating high data state and a low data state to the memory cell associated with the weak data bit. Both the lifetime retention testing and the memory data state exercising are performed in the background of normal memory operation. Other methods and circuits are also disclosed.

Abstract: Hardmasks and fabrication methods are presented for producing ferroelectric capacitors in a semiconductor device, wherein a hardmask comprising aluminum oxide or strontium tantalum oxide is formed above an upper capacitor electrode material, and capacitor electrode and ferroelectric layers are etched to define a ferroelectric capacitor stack.

Abstract: A process of forming an electronic device can include forming a stack including a tunnel barrier layer. The tunnel barrier layer can have a ratio of the metal atoms to oxygen atoms of greater than a stoichiometric ratio, wherein the ratio has a particular value. The process can also include forming a gettering layer having a composition capable of gettering oxygen, and depositing an insulating layer over the gettering layer. The process can further include exposing the insulating layer to a temperature of at least approximately 60° C. In one embodiment, after such exposure, a portion of the gettering layer is converted to an insulating material. In another embodiment, an electronic device can include a magnetic tunnel junction and an adjacent insulating layer lying within an opening in another insulating layer.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are diffusion barriers, integrated circuits, and semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating them. The method of fabricating a diffusion barrier can include providing a dielectric layer, forming a first silicon enriched layer over the dielectric layer by exposing the dielectric layer to a silicon-containing ambient, and forming a barrier layer over the first silicon enriched layer.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of fabricating a haze free, phase pure, PZT layer, 3, where a lead rich PZT film, 102, is formed over a phase pure stoichiometric PZT film, 101.

Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor stack is formed over a metal-dielectric interconnect layer. After forming the interconnect layer, the surface of the interconnect layer is treated with gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) processing. Prior to this processing, the surface typically includes metal recesses. The GCIB processing smoothes these recesses and provides a more level surface on which to form the ferroelectric capacitor stack. When the ferroelectric capacitor stack is formed on this leveled surface, leakage is reduced and yields increased as compared to the case where GCIB processing is not used.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is presented. In one aspect, the method comprises forming conductive and ferroelectric material layers on a semiconductor substrate. The material layers are patterned to form electrodes and a ferroelectric layer of a ferroelectric capacitor, wherein a conductive noble metal-containing polymer is generated on sidewalls of the ferroelectric capacitor. The method also comprises converting the conductive noble metal-containing polymer into a non-conducting metal oxide. Converting includes forming a water-soluble metal salt from the conductive noble metal-containing polymer and reacting the water-soluble metal salt with an acqueous acidic solution to form a metal hydroxide. Converting also includes oxidizing the metal hydroxide to form the non-conducting metal oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ferroelectric capacitor, a method of manufacture therefor, and a method of manufacturing a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) device. The ferroelectric capacitor (100), among other elements, includes a substantially planar ferroelectric dielectric layer (165) located over a first electrode layer (160), wherein the substantially planar ferroelectric dielectric layer (165) has an average surface roughness of less than about 4 nm. The ferroelectric capacitor (100) further includes a second electrode layer (170) located over the substantially planar ferroelectric dielectric layer (165).

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, method of forming a barrier layer 300 over a semiconductor substrate 110. The method comprises forming an opening 120 in an insulating layer 130 located over a substrate thereby uncovering an underlying copper layer 140. The method further comprises exposing the opening and the underlying copper layer to a plasma-free reducing atmosphere 200 in the presence of a thermal anneal. The also comprises depositing a barrier layer in the exposed opening and on the exposed underlying copper layer. Such methods and resulting conductive structures thereof may be advantageously used in methods to manufacture integrated circuits comprising copper interconnects.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, method of forming a barrier layer 300 over a semiconductor substrate 110. The method comprises forming an opening 120 in an insulating layer 130 located over a substrate thereby uncovering an underlying copper layer 140. The method further comprises exposing the opening and the underlying copper layer to a plasma-free reducing atmosphere 200 in the presence of a thermal anneal. The also comprises depositing a barrier layer in the exposed opening and on the exposed underlying copper layer. Such methods and resulting conductive structures thereof may be advantageously used in methods to manufacture integrated circuits comprising copper interconnects.

Abstract: Methods (100) are provided for fabricating a ferroelectric capacitor in a semiconductor device wafer, comprising forming (118) a lower electrode, depositing (126) PZT ferroelectric material on the lower electrode at a temperature below 450 degrees C., and forming (128) an upper electrode on the PZT. Methods are also provided for fabricating a ferroelectric memory cell in a semiconductor device wafer, comprising forming (106) a transistor in the wafer, forming (108) a nickel silicide structure on the gate or a source/drain of the transistor, forming (110) a dielectric over the transistor, forming (112) a conductive contact extending through the dielectric to the silicide structure, forming (114, 116, 118, 120) a lower electrode on at least a portion of the conductive contact, forming (126) PZT ferroelectric material above and in contact with the lower electrode at a temperature below 450 degrees C.

Abstract: Hardmasks and fabrication methods are presented for producing ferroelectric capacitors in a semiconductor device, wherein a hardmask comprising aluminum oxide or strontium tantalum oxide is formed above an upper capacitor electrode material, and capacitor electrode and ferroelectric layers are etched to define a ferroelectric capacitor stack.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a method of forming a copper layer (100) over a semiconductor substrate (105). The method comprises coating a copper seed layer (110) located over a semiconductor substrate with a protective agent (120) to form a protective layer (125). The method also includes placing the semiconductor substrate in an acid bath (145) to remove the protective layer. The method further includes electrochemically depositing a second copper layer (155) on the copper seed layer. Such methods and resulting conductive structures thereof may be advantageously used in methods to manufacture integrated circuits comprising copper interconnects.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to form a seed layer for an integrated circuit. The method may include depositing a metal seed layer (106) over a barrier layer (104) such that the metal seed layer (106) has a greater thickness along a top surface portion (114) of at least one recessed feature (102) formed in the substrate that is substantially coplanar with the substrate than a sidewall surface portion (112) of the at least one recessed feature (102). A portion of the metal seed layer (106) is etched from the top surface portion (114) of the at least one recessed feature (102) to improve coverage of the metal seed layer (106) along the sidewall surface portion (112) of the at least one recessed feature (102) and to mitigate overhang of the metal seed layer.