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 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: Methods for forming semiconductor structures are provided. The method for forming the semiconductor structure includes forming a word line cell over a substrate and forming a dielectric layer over the word line cell. The method further includes forming a conductive layer over the dielectric layer and polishing the conductive layer until the dielectric layer is exposed. The method further includes forming an oxide layer on a top surface of the conductive layer and removing portions of the conductive layer not covered by the oxide layer to form a memory gate.

Abstract: A phase change memory (PCM) cell with a heating element electrically isolated from laterally surrounding regions of the PCM cell by a cavity is provided. A dielectric region is arranged between first and second conductors. A heating plug is arranged within a hole extending through the dielectric region to the first conductor. The heating plug includes a heating element running along sidewalls of the hole, and includes a sidewall structure including a cavity arranged between the heating element and the sidewalls. A phase change element is in thermal communication with the heating plug and arranged between the heating plug and the second conductor. Also provide is a method for manufacturing the PCM cell.

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: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including an Nth metal layer, a planar bottom barrier layer over and in contact with the Nth metal layer, a data storage layer over the planar bottom barrier layer, an electrode over the data storage layer, and an (N+1)th metal layer over the electrode. N is a positive integer. A manufacturing method for the semiconductor structure is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure of a split gate flash memory cell is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate including a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. The first and second source/drain regions form a channel region therebetween. The semiconductor structure further includes a select gate and a memory gate spaced between the first and second source/drain regions over the channel region. The select gate extends over the channel region and terminates at a line end having a top surface asymmetric about an axis that extends along a length of the select gate and that bisects a width of the select gate. Even more, the semiconductor structure includes a charge trapping dielectric arranged between neighboring sidewalls of the memory gate and the select gate, and arranged under the memory gate. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor structure is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes a logic region and a memory region. The memory region has an active region that includes a semiconductor device. The memory region also has a capacitor within one or more dielectric layers over the active region. The semiconductor arrangement includes a protective ring within at least one of the logic region or the memory region and that separates the logic region from the memory region. The capacitor has a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulating layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, where an electrode unit of the first electrode has a first portion and a second portion, and where the second portion is above the first portion and is wider than the first portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: a first device; a second device contacted with the first device, wherein a chamber is formed between the first device and the second device; a first hole disposed in the second device and defined between a first end with a first circumference and a second end with a second circumference; a second hole disposed in the second device and aligned to the first hole; and a sealing object for sealing the second hole. The first end links with the chamber, and the first circumference is different from the second circumference, the second hole is defined between the second end and a third end with a third circumference, and the second circumference and the third circumference are smaller than the first circumference.

Abstract: A device comprises a control gate structure and a memory gate structure over a substrate, a charge storage layer formed between the control gate structure and the memory gate structure, a first spacer along a sidewall of the memory gate structure, a second spacer along a sidewall of the control gate structure, an oxide layer over a top surface of the memory gate structure, a top spacer over the oxide layer, a first drain/source region formed in the substrate and adjacent to the memory gate structure and a second drain/source region formed in the substrate and adjacent to the control gate structure.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a control gate structure over a substrate, depositing a memory gate layer over the substrate, applying a first etching process to the memory gate layer to form a memory gate structure, wherein, after applying the first etching process, a remaining portion of the memory gate layer is an L-shaped structure, forming a first spacer along a sidewall of the memory gate structure and forming a second spacer over the memory gate structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flash memory device, and associated methods. In some embodiments, the flash memory device has a gate stack with a control gate separated from a floating gate by a control gate dielectric. An erase gate disposed on a first side of the gate stack. A word line is disposed on a second side of the gate stack that is opposite the first side. The word line has a height that monotonically increases from an outer side opposite to the gate stack to an inner side closer to the gate stack. The shape of the word line optimizes the contact resistance of the word line and allows for an overlying cap spacer formed on the word line to be well defined, which can provide more reliable read/write operations and/or better performance.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure for a split gate flash memory cell device with a hard mask having an asymmetric profile is provided. In some embodiments, a semiconductor substrate of the semiconductor structure includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. A control gate and a memory gate, of the semiconductor structure, are spaced over the semiconductor substrate between the first and second source/drain regions. A charge trapping dielectric structure of the semiconductor structure is arranged between neighboring sidewalls of the memory gate and the control gate, and arranged under the memory gate. A hard mask of the semiconductor structure is arranged over the control gate and includes an asymmetric profile. The asymmetric profile tapers in height away from the memory gate. A method for manufacturing a pair of split gate flash memory cell devices with hard masks having an asymmetric profile is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a substrate, a gate structure over a first surface of the substrate, and a source region and a drain region in the substrate adjacent to the gate structure. The semiconductor structure further comprises a channel region interposing the source and drain regions and underlying the gate structure. The semiconductor structure further comprises a first layer over a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface, and a second layer over the first layer. The semiconductor structure further comprises a sensing film over the channel region and at least a portion of the first and second layers, and a well over the sensing film and cutting off the first layer and the second layer.

Abstract: A method includes forming a selection gate and a control gate for a flash memory cell in a memory device region. The selection gate and the control gate are over a semiconductor substrate. A protection layer is formed to cover the selection gate and the control gate. Stacked layers are formed in a logic device region, wherein the stacked layers extend to overlap the selection gate and the control gate. The stacked layers are patterned to form a gate stack for a logic device in the logic device region. After the patterning, an etching step is performed to etch a residue of the stacked layers in a boundary region of the memory device region. After the etching step, the protection layer is removed from the memory device region. Source and drain regions are formed for each of the flash memory cell and the logic device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. In some embodiments, the MIM capacitor has a capacitor bottom metal (CBM) electrode arranged over a semiconductor substrate. The MIM capacitor has a high-k dielectric disposed over the CBM electrode and a capacitor top metal (CTM) electrode arranged over the high-k dielectric layer. The MIM capacitor has a dummy structure that is disposed vertically over the high-k dielectric layer and laterally apart from the CTM electrode. The dummy structure includes a conductive body having a same material as the CTM electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves forming a method of fabricating a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) device. A plurality of openings is formed in a first side of a first substrate. A dielectric layer is formed over the first side of the substrate. A plurality of segments of the dielectric layer fills the openings. The first side of the first substrate is bonded to a second substrate that contains a cavity. The bonding is performed such that the segments of the dielectric layer are disposed over the cavity. A portion of the first substrate disposed over the cavity is transformed into a plurality of movable components of a MEMS device. The movable components are in physical contact with the dielectric the layer. Thereafter, a portion of the dielectric layer is removed without using liquid chemicals.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a substrate and a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ). The MTJ includes at least a pinned layer, a barrier layer, and a free layer. The MTJ is formed over a surface of the substrate. Of the pinned layer, the barrier layer, and the free layer, the free layer is formed first and is closest to the surface. This enables a spacer to be formed over a perimeter region of the free layer prior to etching the free layer. Any damage to the free layer that results from etching or other free layer edge-defining process is kept at a distance from the tunneling junction by the spacer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure of a split gate flash memory cell is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate including a source region and a drain region. Further, the semiconductor structure includes a floating gate, a word line, and an erase gate located over the semiconductor substrate between the source and drain regions. The floating gate is arranged between the word line and the erase gate. Even more, the semiconductor structure includes a dielectric disposed between the erase and floating gates. A thickness of the dielectric between the erase and floating gates is variable and increases towards the semiconductor substrate. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor structure is also provided.

Abstract: A device includes creating an opening in a dielectric layer that is disposed over a bottom electrode layer. A top electrode layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) layer is formed in the opening over the bottom electrode layer.