Abstract: A thin film transistor (TFT) structure includes a gate electrode, a gate dielectric layer on the gate electrode, a channel layer including a semiconductor material with a first polarity on the gate dielectric layer. The TFT structure also includes a multi-layer material stack on the channel layer, opposite the gate dielectric layer, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) material over the multi-layer material stack and beyond a sidewall of the channel layer. The TFT structure further includes source and drain contacts through the interlayer dielectric material, and in contact with the channel layer, where the multi-layer material stack includes a barrier layer including oxygen and a metal in contact with the channel layer, where the barrier layer has a second polarity. A sealant layer is in contact with the barrier layer, where the sealant layer and the ILD have a different composition.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe techniques for a memory device including at least two memory cells. A first memory cell includes a first storage cell and a first transistor to control access to the first storage cell. A second memory cell includes a second storage cell and a second transistor to control access to the second storage cell. A shared contact electrode is shared between the first transistor and the second transistor, the shared contact electrode being coupled to a source area or a drain area of the first transistor, coupled to a source area or a drain area of the second transistor, and further being coupled to a bit line of the memory device. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: A device is disclosed. The device includes a source contact and a drain contact, a first dielectric between the source contact and the drain contact, a channel under the source contact and the drain contact, and a gate electrode below the channel, the gate electrode in an area under the first dielectric that does not laterally extend under the source contact or the drain contact. A second dielectric is above the gate electrode and underneath the channel.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe techniques for a semiconductor device including a substrate. A first capacitor includes a first top plate and a first bottom plate above the substrate. The first top plate is coupled to a first metal electrode within an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer to access the first capacitor. A second capacitor includes a second top plate and a second bottom plate, where the second top plate is coupled to a second metal electrode within the ILD layer to access the second capacitor. The second metal electrode is disjoint from the first metal electrode. The first capacitor is accessed through the first metal electrode without accessing the second capacitor through the second metal electrode. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe techniques for a semiconductor device including a substrate. A first capacitor includes a first top plate and a first bottom plate above the substrate. The first top plate is coupled to a first metal electrode within an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer to access the first capacitor. A second capacitor includes a second top plate and a second bottom plate, where the second top plate is coupled to a second metal electrode within the ILD layer to access the second capacitor. The second metal electrode is disjoint from the first metal electrode. The first capacitor is accessed through the first metal electrode without accessing the second capacitor through the second metal electrode. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for forming multi-tier memory structures with graded characteristics across different tiers. A given memory structure includes memory cells, with a given memory cell having an access device and a storage device. The access device may include, for example, a thin film transistor (TFT) structure, and the storage device may include a capacitor. Certain geometric or material parameters of the memory structures can be altered in a graded fashion across any number of tiers to compensate for process effects that occur when fabricating a given tier, which also affect any lower tiers. This may be done to more closely match the performance of the memory arrays across each of the tiers.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for forming thin film transistor structures having a multilayer and/or concentration gradient gate dielectric. Such a gate dielectric can be used, to tune the performance and/or reliability of the transistor. According to some such embodiments, memory structures having thin film transistor (TFT) structures are arranged in a two-dimensional array within one or more interconnect layers and stacked in a vertical direction such that multiple tiers of memory structure arrays are formed within the interconnect region. Any of the given TFT structures may include a multilayer and/or graded gate dielectric that includes at least two or more different dielectric layers and/or a material concentration gradient through a thickness of the gate dielectric.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for making asymmetric contacts to improve the performance of thin film transistors (TFT) structures. The asymmetry may be with respect to the area of contact interface with the semiconductor region and/or the depth to which the contacts extend into the semiconductor region. According to some embodiments, the TFT structures are used in memory structures arranged in a two-dimensional array within one or more interconnect layers and stacked in a vertical direction such that multiple tiers of memory structure arrays are formed within the interconnect region. Any of the given TFT structures may include asymmetric contacts, such as two contacts that each have a different contact area to a semiconductor region, and/or that extend to different depths within the semiconductor region. The degree of asymmetry may be tuned during fabrication to modulate certain transistor parameters such as, for example, leakage, capacitance, gate control, channel length, or contact resistance.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for forming transistor devices with reduced parasitic capacitance, such as transistors used in a memory structure. In an example, a given memory structure includes memory cells, with a given memory cell having an access device and a storage device. The access device may include, for example, a thin film transistor (TFT), and the storage device may include a capacitor. Any of the given TFTs may include a dielectric liner extending along sidewalls of the TFT. The TFT includes a recess (e.g., a dimple) that extends laterally inwards toward a midpoint of a semiconductor region of the TFT. The dielectric liner thus also pinches or otherwise extends inward. This pinched-in dielectric liner may reduce parasitic capacitance between the contacts of the TFT and the gate electrode of the TFT. The pinched-in dielectric liner may also protect the contacts from forming too deep into the semiconductor region.

Abstract: Techniques for forming thin film transistors (TFTs) having multilayer contact structures. An example integrated circuit includes a gate electrode, a gate dielectric on the gate electrode, a semiconductor region on the gate dielectric, and a conductive contact that contacts at least a portion of the semiconductor region. In some other cases, the conductive contact comprises a multilayer structure having at least a first material layer on the at least a portion of the semiconductor region, at least a second material layer on the first material layer, and a conductive fill material over the first and second material layers. In some other cases, the conductive contact comprises a multilayer structure having (1) a graded material layer on the at least a portion of the semiconductor region and (2) a conductive fill material over the graded material layer, wherein the graded material layer comprises a concentration gradient of a given element.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for forming thin film transistor structures having a laterally recessed gate electrode. The gate electrode may be recessed such that it does not extend under one or both conductive contacts of the transistor. Recessing the lateral dimensions of the gate electrode can reduce gate leakage current and parasitic capacitance. According to an example, a given memory structure generally includes memory cells, with each memory cell having an access device and a storage device. According to some such embodiments, the memory cells are arranged in a two-dimensional array within one or more interconnect layers and stacked in a vertical direction such that multiple tiers of memory cell arrays are formed within the interconnect region. Any of the given TFT structures may include a gate electrode that is laterally recessed such that one or more of the contacts are not directly over the gate electrode.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first layer, and a second layer above the first layer. A third layer is between a first section of the first layer and a first section of the second layer. A fourth layer is laterally adjacent to the third layer, the fourth layer between a second section of the first layer and a second section of the second layer. In an example, a first dielectric material of the third layer is different (e.g., one or both of compositionally different and structurally different) from a second dielectric material of the fourth layer. In an example, the third and fourth layers are etch stop layers. In some cases, the third and fourth layers are coplanar with each other with respect to their top surfaces, or their bottom surfaces, or both their top and bottom surfaces.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first layer comprising dielectric material. One or both of an interconnect feature and a device are within the dielectric material of the first layer. The integrated circuit further includes a second layer above the first layer, where the second layer includes dielectric material. A third layer is between the first layer and the second layer. In an example, the third layer can be, for example, an etch stop layer or a liner layer or barrier layer. In an example, an impurity is within the first layer and the third layer. In an example, the impurity has a detectable implant depth profile such that a first distribution of the impurity is within the first layer and a second distribution of the impurity is within the third layer.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for forming backend memory structures with airgaps in an interconnect region above semiconductor devices. The airgaps may be provided between conductive features, such as wordlines, to reduce parasitic capacitance. An interconnect region above a plurality of semiconductor devices includes any number of interconnect layers. A first interconnect layer includes first conductive layers (e.g., wordlines) extending in a first direction with airgaps between adjacent first conductive layers. A second interconnect layer over the first interconnect layer includes at least portions of memory cells over corresponding first conductive layers. A third interconnect layer over the second interconnect layer includes a second conductive layer (e.g., bitline) extending in a second direction over one or more of the at least portions of memory cells.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a first memory cell and a second memory cell. The first memory cell includes (i) a first transistor and (ii) a first capacitor coupled to the first transistor, where an upper electrode of the first capacitor is coupled to a first conductive structure. The second memory cell is above the first memory cell. The second memory cell includes (i) a second transistor and (ii) a second capacitor coupled to the second transistor. An upper electrode of the second capacitor is coupled to a second conductive structure. In an example, an interconnect feature includes a continuous and monolithic body of conductive material. In an example, the continuous and monolithic body extends through the second conductive structure, and further extends through the first conductive structure. In an example, the first and second memory cells are dynamic random access memory (DRAM) memory cells.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first conductive structure, a second conductive structure, and a first spacer and a second spacer each comprising a first dielectric material. The integrated circuit further includes a layer comprising a second dielectric material that is compositionally different from the first dielectric material. The integrated circuit further includes a first interconnect feature above and at least partially landed on the first conductive structure. In an example, the first interconnect feature is laterally between the first spacer and the second spacer. The integrated circuit further includes a second interconnect feature above and at least partially landed on the second conductive structure. In an example, the second interconnect feature is laterally between the second spacer and the layer comprising the second dielectric material.

Abstract: Described herein are embedded dynamic random-access memory (eDRAM) memory cells and arrays, as well as corresponding methods and devices. An exemplary eDRAM memory array implements a memory cell that uses a thin-film transistor (TFT) as a selector transistor. One source/drain (S/D) electrode of the TFT is coupled to a capacitor for storing a memory state of the cell, while the other S/D electrode is coupled to a bitline. The bitline may be a shallow bitline in that a thickness of the bitline may be smaller than a thickness of one or more metal interconnects provided in the same metal layer as the bitline but used for providing electrical connectivity for components outside of the memory array. Such a bitline may be formed in a separate process than said one or more metal interconnects. In an embodiment, the memory cells may be formed in a back end of line process.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe techniques for a semiconductor device including a substrate, a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer above the substrate, and a second ILD layer above the first ILD layer. A first capacitor and a second capacitor are formed within the first ILD layer and the second ILD layer. A first top plate of the first capacitor and a second top plate of the second capacitor are formed at a boundary between the first ILD layer and the second ILD layer. The first capacitor and the second capacitor are separated by a dielectric area in the first ILD layer. The dielectric area includes a first dielectric area that is coplanar with the first top plate or the second top plate, and a second dielectric area above the first dielectric area and to separate the first top plate and the second top plate. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe techniques for a semiconductor device including a capacitor and a transistor above the capacitor. A contact electrode may be shared between the capacitor and the transistor. The capacitor includes a first plate above a substrate, and the shared contact electrode above the first plate and separated from the first plate by a capacitor dielectric layer, where the shared contact electrode acts as a second plate for the capacitor. The transistor includes a gate electrode above the substrate and above the capacitor; a channel layer separated from the gate electrode by a gate dielectric layer, and in contact with the shared contact electrode; and a source electrode above the channel layer, separated from the gate electrode by the gate dielectric layer, and in contact with the channel layer. The shared contact electrode acts as a drain electrode of the transistor. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Described herein are two transistor (2T) memory cells that use TFTs as access and gain transistors. When one or both transistors of a 2T memory cell are implemented as TFTs, these transistors may be provided in different layers above a substrate, enabling a stacked architecture. An example 2T memory cell includes an access TFT provided in a first layer over a substrate, and a gain TFT provided in a second layer over the substrate, the first layer being between the substrate and the second layer (i.e., the gain TFT is stacked in a layer above the access TFT). Stacked TFT based 2T memory cells allow increasing density of memory cells in a memory array having a given footprint area, or, conversely, reducing the footprint area of the memory array with a given memory cell density.