Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated circuit including a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) cell. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and an interconnect structure disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect structure includes a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of metal layers that are stacked over one another in alternating fashion. The plurality of metal layers include a lower metal layer and an upper metal layer disposed over the lower metal layer. A bottom electrode is disposed over and in electrical contact with the lower metal layer. A magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) is disposed over an upper surface of bottom electrode. A top electrode is disposed over an upper surface of the MTJ and is in direct electrical contact with a lower surface of the upper metal layer.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to method of forming a memory device. In some embodiments, the method may be performed by forming a floating gate over a first dielectric on a substrate. A control gate is formed over the floating gate and first and second spacers are formed along sidewalls of the control gate. The first and second spacers extend past outer edges of an upper surface of the floating gate. An etching process is performed on the first and second spacers to remove a portion of the first and second spacers that extends past the outer edges of the upper surface of the floating gate along an interface between the first and second spacers and the floating gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a first gate structure on a first side of an active area and a second gate structure on a second side of the active area, where the first gate structure and the second gate structure share the active area. A method of forming the semiconductor arrangement includes forming a deep implant of the active area before forming the first gate structure, and then forming a shallow implant of the active area. Forming the deep implant prior to forming the first gate structure alleviates the need for an etching process that degrades the first gate structure. The first gate structure thus has a desired configuration and is able to be formed closer to other gate structures to enhance device density.

Abstract: A storage device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a storage element, a spacer and a barrier structure. The second electrode is opposite to the first electrode. The storage element is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The spacer is formed on a sidewall of the second electrode, and the spacer has a notch positioned on a top surface of the spacer. The barrier structure is embedded in a lateral of the spacer, and the barrier structure has a top extending upwards past a bottom of the notch. In addition, a method of manufacturing the storage device is disclosed as well.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit device. In the method, a plurality of contacts are formed over a substrate, and one or more bottom electrode layers are formed over the plurality of contacts. A first dielectric layer is formed such that a first base region of the first dielectric layer is in contact with the one or more bottom electrode layers and a second base region of the first dielectric layer is not in contact with the one or more bottom electrode layers. One or more top electrode layers are formed over the first dielectric layer. Patterning is then performed by etching through the one or more top electrode layers and by etching through the first dielectric layer to form a metal-insulator-metal structure. The patterning removes a portion of the second base region, but does not remove the first base region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuits device having an RRAM cell, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit device has a lower metal interconnect line disposed within a lower inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer and an upper metal interconnect line disposed within an upper inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer. The integrated circuit device also has a memory cell array disposed between the lower metal interconnect line and the upper metal interconnect line, including memory cells arranged in rows and columns, the memory cells respectively includes a bottom electrode and a top electrode separated by a RRAM dielectric having a variable resistance. A bottom contact structure is disposed on the lower metal interconnect line and along sidewalls of the bottom electrode, electrically coupling the lower metal interconnect line and the bottom electrode.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a mask layer over a substrate. The method includes forming a first isolation structure and a second isolation structure passing through the mask layer and penetrating into the substrate. The method includes thinning the mask layer to expose a first portion of the first isolation structure and a second portion of the second isolation structure. The method includes partially removing the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion. The method includes removing the thinned mask layer. The method includes forming a first gate over the substrate and between the first isolation structure and the second isolation structure. The method includes forming a dielectric layer over the first gate. The method includes forming a second gate over the dielectric layer and above the first gate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a MIM capacitor that includes a composite capacitor top metal (CTM) electrode and a composite capacitor bottom metal (CBM) electrode. The composite CBM electrode includes a first diffusion barrier layer overlying a first metal layer, and the composite CTM electrode includes a second diffusion barrier layer overlying a second metal layer. A dielectric layer is arranged over the composite CBM electrode, underlying the composite CTM electrode. The first and second diffusion barrier layers protect the first and second metal layers from metal that diffuses or moves from a metal line underlying the MIM capacitor to the composite CTM and CBM electrodes during manufacture. A method of manufacturing the MIM capacitor is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a decoupling capacitor device and the device thereof. The decoupling capacitor device includes a first dielectric layer portion that is deposited in a deposition process that also deposits a second dielectric layer portion for a non-volatile memory cell. Both portions are patterned using a single mask. A system-on-chip (SOC) device is also provided, the SOC include an RRAM cell and a decoupling capacitor situated in a single inter-metal dielectric layer. Also a method for forming a process-compatible decoupling capacitor is provided. The method includes patterning a top electrode layer, an insulating layer, and a bottom electrode layer to form a non-volatile memory element and a decoupling capacitor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a source/drain region in a substrate. An interlevel dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. A conducting plug is formed in the interlevel dielectric layer. The conducting plug is electrically coupled to the source/drain region. A crown oxide is formed on the interlevel dielectric layer. A deep trench is formed in the crown oxide to expose a top wall and a sidewall of the conducting plug. A spacer is formed on the sidewall of the conducting plug. A metal-insulator-metal film is formed in the deep trench.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes an Nth metal layer, a diffusion barrier layer over the Nth metal layer, a first deposition of bottom electrode material over the diffusion barrier layer, a second deposition of bottom electrode material over the first deposition of bottom electrode material, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) layer over the second deposition of bottom electrode material, a top electrode over the MTJ layer; and an (N+1)th metal layer over the top electrode; wherein the diffusion barrier layer and the first deposition of bottom electrode material are laterally in contact with a dielectric layer, the first deposition of bottom electrode material spacing the diffusion harrier layer and the second deposition of bottom electrode material apart, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. An associated electrode structure and method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate spacer along sidewalls of a gate structure, forming a source region and a drain region on opposite sides of the gate structure, wherein a sidewall of the source region is vertically aligned with a first sidewall of the gate spacer, depositing a dielectric layer over the substrate, depositing a conductive layer over the dielectric layer, patterning the dielectric layer and the conductive layer to form a field plate, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a horizontal portion extending from the second drain/source region to a second sidewall of the gate spacer and a vertical portion formed along the second sidewall of the gate spacer, forming a plurality of metal silicide layers by applying a salicide process to the conductive layer, the gate structure, the first drain/source region and the second drain/source region and forming contact plugs over the plurality of metal silicide layers.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes forming a common source region in a substrate, and forming an isolation feature over the common source region. The common source region is disposed between the substrate and the isolation feature. The common source region and the isolation feature span a plurality of active regions of the substrate. A gate, such as an erase gate, may be formed after forming the common source region. In some implementations, the common source region is formed by etching the substrate to form a saw-tooth shaped recess region (or a U-shaped recess region) and performing an ion implantation process to form a doped region in a portion of the saw-tooth shaped recess region (or the U-shaped recess region), such that the common source region has a sawtooth profile (or a U-shaped profile).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate; a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer; an via extending through the second dielectric layer; a bottom conductive layer conformably formed at a bottom and along side walls of the via; a third dielectric layer conformably formed over the bottom conductive layer; an upper conductive layer conformably formed over the third dielectric layer; and an upper contact formed over and coupled to the upper conductive layer and filling the via; wherein the upper conductive layer provide a diffusion barrier between the upper contact and the third dielectric layer. A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor and an associated manufacturing method are also disclosed.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a deep trench isolation structure. This deep trench isolation structure is formed on a semiconductor substrate having an upper semiconductor surface. A deep trench, which has a deep trench width as measured between opposing deep trench sidewalls, extends into the semiconductor substrate beneath the upper semiconductor surface. A fill material is formed in the deep trench, and a dielectric liner is disposed on a lower surface and sidewalls of the deep trench to separate the fill material from the semiconductor substrate. A shallow trench region has sidewalls that extend upwardly from the sidewalls of the deep trench to the upper semiconductor surface. The shallow trench region has a shallow trench width that is greater than the deep trench width. A dielectric material fills the shallow trench region and extends over top of the conductive material in the deep trench.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory embedded in an advanced logic circuit and a method forming the same are provided. In the nonvolatile memory, the word lines and erase gates have top surfaces lower than the top surfaces of the control gate. In addition, the word lines and the erase gates are surrounded by dielectric material before a self-aligned silicidation process is performed. Therefore, no metal silicide can be formed on the word lines and the erase gate to produce problems of short circuit and current leakage in a later chemical mechanical polishing process.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a mask layer over a substrate. The method includes forming a first isolation structure and a second isolation structure passing through the mask layer and penetrating into the substrate. The method includes thinning the mask layer to expose a first portion of the first isolation structure and a second portion of the second isolation structure. The method includes partially removing the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion. The method includes removing the thinned mask layer. The method includes forming a first gate over the substrate and between the first isolation structure and the second isolation structure. The method includes forming a dielectric layer over the first gate. The method includes forming a second gate over the dielectric layer and above the first gate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure on a substrate includes forming a patterned metal layer over the substrate; forming an insulator layer over the patterned metal layer; forming a second metal layer over the insulator layer; removing part of the insulating layer and part of the second metal layer thereby forming a substantially coplanar surface that is formed by the patterned metal layer, the insulator layer, and the second metal layer; removing a portion of the second metal layer and a portion of the patterned metal layer to form a fin from the insulator layer that protrudes beyond the first metal layer and the second metal layer; and forming an inter-metal dielectric layer over the fin.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a first III-V compound layer over the substrate, a first passivation layer on the first III-V compound layer, a source region and a drain region. The source region penetrates the first passivation layer to electrically contact the first III-V compound layer. The drain region penetrates the first passivation layer to electrically contact the first III-V compound layer. A sidewall of the first passivation layer contacting with the source region comprises a stair shape.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a memory device, which includes a floating gate formed over a channel region of a substrate, and a control gate formed over the floating gate. First and second spacers are formed along sidewalls of the control gate, and extend over outer edges of the floating gate to form a non-uniform overhang, which can induce a wide distribution of erase speeds of the memory device. To improve the erase speed distribution, an etching process is performed on the first and second spacers prior to erase gate formation. The etching process removes the overhang of the first and second spacers at an interface between a bottom region of the first and second spacers and a top region of the floating gate to form a planar surface at the interface, and improves the erase speed distribution of the memory device.