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: A method of fabricating a doped-PCMO thin film layer includes preparing a PCMO precursor solution having a transition metal additive therein; and spin-coating the doped-PCMO spin-coating solution onto a wafer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method to achieve grading PCMO thin film for use in RRAM memory devices since the contents of Ca, Mn and Pr in a PCMO film can have great influence on its switching property. By choosing precursors for Pr, Ca and Mn having different deposition rate behaviors with respect to deposition temperature or vaporizer temperature, PCMO thin film of grading Pr, Ca or Mn distribution can be achieved by varying that process condition during deposition. The present invention can also be broadly applied to the fabrication of any multicomponent grading thin film process by varying any of the deposition parameters after preparing multiple precursors to have different deposition rate behaviors with respect to that particular process parameter. The present invention starts with a proper selection of precursors in which the selected precursors have different deposition rates with respect to at least one deposition condition such as deposition temperature or vaporizer temperature.

Abstract: A method for forming a doped PGO ferroelectric thin film, and related doped PGO thin film structures are described. The method comprising: forming either an electrically conductive or electrically insulating substrate; forming a doped PGO film overlying the substrate; annealing; crystallizing; and, forming a single-phase c-axis doped PGO thin film overlying the substrate, having a Curie temperature of greater than 200 degrees C. Forming a doped PGO film overlying the substrate includes depositing a doped precursor in the range between 0.1N and 0.5N, with a molecular formula of Pby-xMxGe3O11, where: M is a doping element; y=4.5 to 6; and, x=0.1 to 1. The element M can be Sn, Ba, Sr, Cd, Ca, Pr, Ho, La, Sb, Zr, or Sm.

Abstract: A method of forming a microlens structure using a patternable lens material is provided. An organic-inorganic hybrid polymer comprising titanium dioxide is exposed to light using a defocused mask image and then developed to produce a lens-shaped region.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrode and a ferroelectric thin film thereon, includes preparing a substrate; depositing an electrode on the substrate, wherein the electrode is formed of a material taken from the group of materials consisting of iridium and iridium composites; and forming a single-phase, c-axis PGO ferroelectric thin film thereon, wherein the ferroelectric thin film exhibits surface smoothness and uniform thickness. An integrated circuit includes a substrate; an electrode deposited on the substrate, wherein the electrode is formed of a material taken from the group of materials consisting of iridium and iridium composites, wherein the iridium composites are taken from the group of composites consisting of IrO2, Ir—Ta—O, Ir—Ti—O, Ir—Nb—O, Ir—Al—O, Ir—Hf—O, Ir—V—O, Ir—Zr—O and Ir—O; and a single-phase, c-axis PGO ferroelectric thin film formed on the electrode, wherein the ferroelectric thin film exhibits surface smoothness and uniform thickness.

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: 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, isolated from each other by shallow trench isolation.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a PCMO thin film at low temperature for use in a RRAM device includes preparing a PCMO precursor; preparing a substrate; placing the substrate into a MOCVD chamber; introducing the PCMO precursor into the MOCVD chamber to deposit a PCMO thin film on the substrate; maintaining a MOCVD vaporizer at between about 240° C. to 280° C. and maintaining the MOCVD chamber at a temperature of between about 300° C. to 400° C.; removing the PCMO thin-film bearing substrate from the MOCVD chamber; and completing the RRAM device.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a CMR thin film for use in a semiconductor device includes preparing a CMR precursor in the form of a metal acetate based acetic acid solution; preparing a wafer; placing a wafer in a spin-coating chamber; spin-coating and heating the wafer according to the following: injecting the CMR precursor into a spin-coating chamber and onto the surface of the wafer in the spin-coating chamber; accelerating the wafer to a spin speed of between about 1500 RPM to 3000 RPM for about 30 seconds; baking the wafer at a temperature of about 180° C. for about one minute; ramping the temperature to about 230° C.; baking the wafer for about one minute at the ramped temperature; annealing the wafer at about 500° C. for about five minutes; repeating said spin-coating and heating steps at least three times; post-annealing the wafer at between about 500° C. to 600° C. for between about one to six hours in dry, clean air; and completing the semiconductor device.

Abstract: PrCaMnO (PCMO) thin films with predetermined memory-resistance characteristics and associated formation processes have been provided. In one aspect the method comprises: forming a Pr3+1?xCa2+xMnO thin film composition, where 0.1<x<0.6; in response to the selection of x, varying the ratio of Mn and O ions as follows: O2?(3±20%); Mn3+((1?x)±20%); and, Mn4+(x±20%). When the PCMO thin film has a Pr3+0.70Ca2+0.30Mn3+0.78Mn4+0.22O2?2.96 composition, the ratio of Mn and O ions varies as follows: O2?(2.96); Mn3+((1?x)+8%); and, Mn4+(x?8%). In another aspect, the method creates a density in the PCMO film, responsive to the crystallographic orientation. For example, if the PCMO film has a (110) orientation, a density is created in the range of 5 to 6.76 Mn atoms per 100 ?2 in a plane perpendicular to the (110) orientation.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a Pr0.3Ca0.7MnO3 (PCMO) thin film with crystalline structure-related memory resistance properties. The method comprises: forming a PCMO thin film with a first crystalline structure; and, changing the resistance state of the PCMO film using pulse polarities responsive to the first crystalline structure. In one aspect the first crystalline structure is either amorphous or a weak-crystalline. Then, the resistance state of the PCMO film is changed in response to unipolar pulses. In another aspect, the PCMO thin film has either a polycrystalline structure. Then, the resistance state of the PCMO film changes in response to bipolar pulses.

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 method for forming a doped PGO ferroelectric thin film, and related doped PGO thin film structures are described. The method comprising: forming either an electrically conductive or electrically insulating substrate; forming a doped PGO film overlying the substrate; annealing; crystallizing; and, forming a single-phase c-axis doped PGO thin film overlying the substrate, having a Curie temperature of greater than 200 degrees C. Forming a doped PGO film overlying the substrate includes depositing a doped precursor in the range between 0.1N and 0.5N, with a molecular formula of Pby?xMxGe3O11, where: M is a doping element; y=4.5 to 6; and, x=0.1 to 1. The element M can be Sn, Ba, Sr, Cd, Ca, Pr, Ho, La, Sb, Zr, or Sm.

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, isolated from each other by shallow trench isolation.

Abstract: A method for obtaining reversible resistance switches on a PCMO thin film when integrated with a highly crystallized seed layer includes depositing, by MOCVD, a seed layer of PCMO, in highly crystalline form, thin film, having a thickness of between about 50 ? to 300 ?, depositing a second PCMO thin film layer on the seed layer, by spin coating, having a thickness of between about 500 ? to 3000 ?, to form a combined PCMO layer; increasing the resistance of the combined PCMO film in a semiconductor device by applying a negative electric pulse of between about ?4V to ?5V, having a pulse width of between about 75 nsec to 1 ?sec; and decreasing the resistance of the combined PCMO layer in a semiconductor device by applying a positive electric pulse of between about +2.5V to +4V, having a pulse width greater than 2.0 ?sec.

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 method of fabricating a ferroelectric thin film on an iridium-composite electrode in an integrated circuit device includes preparing a substrate; depositing an iridium-composite bottom electrode on the substrate; annealing the bottom electrode in a first annealing step; depositing a buffer layer on the bottom electrode, including depositing a layer of material taken from the group of materials consisting of HfO2, ZrO2, TiO2, LaOx, La—Al—O, Ti—Al—O, Hf—Al—O, Zr—Al—O, Hf—Zr—O, Zr—Ti—O, Hf—Ti—O, La—Zr—O, La—Hf—O, and La—Ti—O; annealing the buffer layer in a second annealing step; depositing a layer of Bi4Ti3O12, to a thickness of between about 20 nm to 500 nm, on the buffer layer; annealing the ferroelectric layer in a third annealing step; and completing the integrated circuit device.

Abstract: A Pr1-XCaXMnO3 (PCMO) spin-coat deposition method for eliminating voids is provided, along with a void-free PCMO film structure. The method comprises: forming a substrate, including a noble metal, with a surface; forming a feature, such as a via or trench, normal with respect to the substrate surface; spin-coating the substrate with acetic acid; spin-coating the substrate with a first, low concentration of PCMO solution; spin-coating the substrate with a second concentration of PCMO solution, having a greater concentration of PCMO than the first concentration; baking and RTA annealing (repeated one to five times); post-annealing; and, forming a PCMO film with a void-free interface between the PCMO film and the underlying substrate surface. The first concentration of PCMO solution has a PCMO concentration in the range of 0.01 to 0.1 moles (M). The second concentration of PCMO solution has a PCMO concentration in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 M.

Abstract: Resistive cross point memory devices are provided, along with methods of manufacture and use. 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.