Abstract: A method for fabricating a high-density silicon-on-insulator (SOI) cross-point memory array and an array structure are provided. The method includes the following steps: selectively forming a hard mask on an SOI substrate, defining memory areas, active device areas, and top electrode areas; etching to remove the exposed silicon (Si) surfaces; selectively forming metal sidewalls adjacent the hard mask; filling the memory areas with memory resistor material; removing the hard mask, exposing the underlying Si active device areas; forming an overlying layer of oxide; etching the oxide to form contact holes to the active device areas; forming diodes in the contact holes; and, forming bottom electrode lines overlying the diodes.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a buffered-layer memory cell. The method comprises: forming a bottom electrode; forming a colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) memory film overlying the bottom electrode; forming a memory-stable semiconductor buffer layer, typically a metal oxide, overlying the memory film; and, forming a top electrode overlying the semiconductor buffer layer. In some aspects of the method the semiconductor buffer layer is formed from YBa2Cu3O7?X (YBCO), indium oxide (In2O3), or ruthenium oxide (RuO2), having a thickness in the range of 10 to 200 nanometers (nm). The top and bottom electrodes may be TiN/Ti, Pt/TiN/Ti, In/TiN/Ti, PtRhOx compounds, or PtIrOx compounds. The CMR memory film may be a Pr1?XCaXMnO3 (PCMO) memory film, where x is in the region between 0.1 and 0.6, with a thickness in the range of 10 to 200 nm.

Abstract: Iridium oxide (IrOx) nanowires and a method forming the nanowires are provided. The method comprises: providing a growth promotion film with non-continuous surfaces, having a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 5 nanometers (nm), and made from a material such as Ti, Co, Ni, Au, Ta, polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si), SiGe, Pt, Ir, TiN, or TaN; establishing a substrate temperature in the range of 200 to 600 degrees C.; introducing oxygen as a precursor reaction gas; introducing a (methylcyclopentadienyl)(1,5-cyclooctadiene)iridium(I) precursor; using a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process, growing IrOx nanowires from the growth promotion film surfaces. The IrOx nanowires have a diameter in the range of 100 to 1000 ?, a length in the range of 1000 ? to 2 microns, an aspect ratio (length to width) of greater than 50:1. Further, the nanowires include single-crystal nanowire cores covered with an amorphous layer having a thickness of less than 10 ?.

Abstract: Provided are an electroluminescence (EL) device and corresponding method for forming a rare earth element-doped silicon (Si)/Si dioxide (SiO2) lattice structure. The method comprises: providing a substrate; DC sputtering a layer of amorphous Si overlying the substrate; DC sputtering a rare earth element; in response, doping the Si layer with the rare earth element; DC sputtering a layer of SiO2 overlying the rare earth-doped Si; forming a lattice structure; annealing; and, in response to the annealing, forming nanocrystals in the rare-earth doped Si having a grain size in the range of 1 to 5 nanometers (nm). In one aspect, the rare earth element and Si are co-DC sputtered. Typically, the steps of DC sputtering Si, DC sputtering the rare earth element, and DC sputtering the SiO2 are repeated 5 to 60 cycles, so that the lattice structure includes the plurality (5-60) of alternating SiO2 and rare earth element-doped Si layers.

Abstract: An ultra-shallow surface channel MOS transistor and method for fabricating the same have been provided. The method comprises: forming CMOS source and drain regions, and an intervening well region; depositing a surface channel on the surface overlying the well region; forming a high-k dielectric overlying the surface channel; and, forming a gate electrode overlying the high-k dielectric. Typically, the surface channel is a metal oxide, and may be one of the following materials: indium oxide (In2O3), ZnO, RuO, ITO, or LaX-1SrXCoO3. In some aspects, the method further comprises: depositing a placeholder material overlying the surface channel; and, etching the placeholder material to form a gate region overlying the surface channel. In one aspect, the high-k dielectric is deposited prior to the deposition of the placeholder material. Alternately, the high-k dielectric is deposited following the etching of the placeholder material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an ultrathin SOI memory transistor includes preparing a substrate, including forming an ultrathin SOI layer of the substrate; adjusting the threshold voltage of the SOI layer; depositing a layer of silicon oxide on the SOI layer; patterning and etching the silicon oxide layer to form a sacrificial oxide gate in a gate region; depositing a layer of silicon nitride and forming the silicon nitride into a silicon nitride sidewall for the sacrificial oxide gate; depositing and smoothing a layer of amorphous silicon; selectively etching the sacrificial gate oxide; growing a layer of oxide in the gate region; depositing and smoothing a second layer of amorphous silicon; patterning and etching the second layer of amorphous silicon; implanting ion to form a source region and a drain region; annealing the structure; and depositing a layer of passivation oxide.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a low defect germanium thin film includes preparing a silicon wafer for germanium deposition; forming a germanium film using a two-step CVD process, annealing the germanium thin film using a multiple cycle process; implanting hydrogen ions; depositing and smoothing a layer of tetraethylorthosilicate oxide (TEOS); preparing a counter wafer; bonding the germanium thin film to a counter wafer to form a bonded structure; annealing the bonded structure at a temperature of at least 375° C. to facilitate splitting of the bonded wafer; splitting the bonded structure to expose the germanium thin film; removing any remaining silicon from the germanium thin film surface along with a portion of the germanium thin film defect zone; and incorporating the low-defect germanium thin film into the desired end-product device.

Abstract: A method of forming a relaxed SiGe layer having a high germanium content in a semiconductor device includes preparing a silicon substrate; depositing a strained SiGe layer; implanting ions into the strained SiGe layer, wherein the ions include silicon ions and ions selected from the group of ions consisting of boron and helium, and which further includes implanting H+ ions; annealing to relax the strained SiGe layer, thereby forming a first relaxed SiGe layer; and completing the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A cross-point RRAM memory array includes a word line array having an array of substantially parallel word lines therein and a bit line array having an array of substantially parallel bit lines therein, wherein said bit lines are substantially perpendicular to said word lines, and wherein a cross-point is formed between said word lines and said bit lines. A memory resistor located between said word lines and said bit lines at each cross-point. A high-open-circuit-voltage gain, bit line sensing differential amplifier circuit located on each bit line, including a feedback resistor and a high-open-circuit-voltage gain amplifier, arranged in parallel, wherein a resistance of the feedback resistors is greater than a resistance of any of the memory resistors programmed at a low resistance state.

Abstract: A multi-layer PrxCa1-xMnO3 (PCMO) thin film capacitor and associated deposition method are provided for forming a bipolar switching thin film. The method comprises: forming a bottom electrode; depositing a nanocrystalline PCMO layer; depositing a polycrystalline PCMO layer; forming a multi-layer PCMO film with bipolar switching properties; and, forming top electrode overlying the PCMO film. If the polycrystalline layers are deposited overlying the nanocrystalline layers, a high resistance can be written with narrow pulse width, negative voltage pulses. The PCMO film can be reset to a low resistance using a narrow pulse width, positive amplitude pulse. Likewise, if the nanocrystalline layers are deposited overlying the polycrystalline layers, a high resistance can be written with narrow pulse width, positive voltage pulses, and reset to a low resistance using a narrow pulse width, negative amplitude pulse.

Abstract: A double-junction complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) filterless color imager cell is provided. The imager cell is fabricated from a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate including a silicon (Si) substrate, a silicon dioxide insulator overlying the substrate, and a Si top layer overlying the insulator. A photodiode set is formed in the SOI substrate, including a first and second photodiode formed as a double-junction structure in the Si substrate. A third photodiode is formed in the Si top layer. A (imager sensing) transistor set is formed in the top Si layer. The transistor set is connected to the photodiode set and detects an independent output signal for each photodiode. The transistor set may be an eight-transistor (8T), a nine-transistor (9T), or an eleven-transistor (11T) cell.

Abstract: A method of forming a SiGe layer having a relatively high germanium content and a relatively low threading dislocation density includes preparing a silicon substrate; depositing a layer of SiGe to a thickness of between about 100 nm to 500 nm, wherein the germanium content of the SiGe layer is greater than 20%, by atomic ratio; implanting H+ ions into the SiGe layer at a dose of between about 1·1016 cm?2 to 5·1016 cm?2, at an energy of between about 20 keV to 45 keV; patterning the SiGe layer with photoresist; plasma etching the structure to form trenches about regions; removing the photoresist; and thermal annealing the substrate and SiGe layer, to relax the SiGe layer, in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of between about 650° C. to 950° C. for between about 30 seconds and 30 minutes.

Abstract: Asymmetrically structured memory cells and a fabrication method are provided. The method comprises: forming a bottom electrode; forming an electrical pulse various resistance (EPVR) first layer having a polycrystalline structure over the bottom electrode; forming an EPVR second layer adjacent the first layer, with a nano-crystalline or amorphous structure; and, forming a top electrode overlying the first and second EPVR layers. EPVR materials include CMR, high temperature super conductor (HTSC), or perovskite metal oxide materials. In one aspect, the EPVR first layer is deposited with a metalorganic spin coat (MOD) process at a temperature in the range between 550 and 700 degrees C. The EPVR second layer is formed at a temperature less than, or equal to the deposition temperature of the first layer. After a step of removing solvents, the MOD deposited EPVR second layer is formed at a temperature less than, or equal to the 550 degrees C.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory resistor cell with a nanotip electrode, and corresponding fabrication method are provided. The method comprises: forming a first electrode with nanotips; forming a memory resistor material adjacent the nanotips; and, forming a second electrode adjacent the memory resistor material, where the memory resistor material is interposed between the first and second electrodes. Typically, the nanotips are iridium oxide (IrOx) and have a tip base size of about 50 nanometers, or less, a tip height in the range of 5 to 50 nm, and a nanotip density of greater than 100 nanotips per square micrometer. In one aspect, the substrate material can be silicon, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or a noble metal. A metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process is used to deposit Ir. The IrOx nanotips are grown from the deposited Ir.

Abstract: An asymmetric-area memory cell, and a fabrication method for forming an asymmetric-area memory cell, are provided. The method comprises: forming a bottom electrode having an area; forming a CMR memory film overlying the bottom electrode, having an asymmetric area; and, forming a top electrode having an area, less than the bottom electrode area, overlying the CMR film. In one aspect, the CMR film has a first area adjacent the top electrode and a second area, greater than the first area, adjacent the bottom electrode. Typically, the CMR film first area is approximately equal to the top electrode area, although the CMR film second area may be less than the bottom electrode area.

Abstract: Resistive cross point memory devices are provided, along with methods of manufacture and use, including a method of changing an electrically programmable resistance cross point memory bit. The memory device comprises an active layer of perovskite material interposed between upper electrodes and lower electrodes. A bit region located within the active layer at the cross point of an upper electrode and a lower electrode has a resistivity that can change through a range of values in response to application of one, or more voltage pulses. Voltage pulses may be used to increase the resistivity of the bit region, decrease the resistivity of the bit region, or determine the resistivity of the bit region. Memory circuits are provided to aid in the programming and read out of the bit region.

Abstract: A strained-silicon (Si) channel CMOS device shallow trench isolation (STI) oxide region, and method for forming same have been provided. The method forms a Si substrate with a relaxed-SiGe layer overlying the Si substrate, or a SiGe on insulator (SGOI) substrate with a buried oxide (BOX) layer. The method forms a strained-Si layer overlying the relaxed-SiGe layer; a silicon oxide layer overlying the strained-Si layer, a silicon nitride layer overlying the silicon oxide layer, and etches the silicon nitride layer, the silicon oxide layer, the strained-Si layer, and the relaxed-SiGe layer, forming a STI trench with trench corners and a trench surface. The method forms a sacrificial oxide liner on the STI trench surface. In response to forming the sacrificial oxide liner, the method rounds and reduces stress at the STI trench corners, removes the sacrificial oxide liner, and fills the STI trench with silicon oxide.

Abstract: An alternating source MOCVD process is provided for depositing tungsten nitride thin films for use as barrier layers for copper interconnects. Alternating the tungsten precursor produces fine crystal grain films, or possibly amorphous films. The nitrogen source may also be alternated to form WN/W alternating layer films, as tungsten is deposited during periods where the nitrogen source is removed.

Abstract: One-transistor ferroelectric memory devices using an indium oxide film (In2O3), an In2O3 film structure, and corresponding fabrication methods have been provided. The method for controlling resistivity in an In2O3 film comprises: depositing an In film using a PVD process, typically with a power in the range of 200 to 300 watts; forming a film including In overlying a substrate material; simultaneously (with the formation of the In-including film) heating the substrate material, typically the substrate is heated to a temperature in the range of 20 to 200 degrees C.; following the formation of the In-including film, post-annealing, typically in an O2 atmosphere; and, in response to the post-annealing: forming an In2O3 film; and, controlling the resistivity in the In2O3 film. For example, the resistivity can be controlled in the range of 260 to 800 ohm-cm.

Abstract: Resistive cross-point memory devices are provided, along with methods of manufacture and use. The memory devices are comprised by an active layer of resistive memory material interposed between upper electrodes and lower electrodes. A bit region located within the resistive memory material at the cross-point of an upper electrode and a lower electrode has a resistivity that can change through a range of values in response to application of one, or more, voltage pulses. Voltage pulses may be used to increase the resistivity of the bit region, decrease the resistivity of the bit region, or determine the resistivity of the bit region. A diode is formed between at the interface between the resistive memory material and the lower electrodes, which may be formed as doped regions. The resistive cross-point memory device is formed by doping lines within a substrate one polarity, and then doping regions of the lines the opposite polarity to form diodes.