Abstract:
Molecular beam epitaxy (202) with growing layer thickness control (206) by feedback of mass spectrometer (204) signals based on a process model. Examples include III-V compound structures with multiple AlAs, InGaAs, and InAs layers as used in resonant tunneling diodes.
Abstract:
A method is provided for fabricating a ferroelectric capacitor structure including a method for etching and cleaning patterned ferroelectric capacitor structures in a semiconductor device. The method comprises etching portions of an upper electrode, etching ferroelectric material, and etching a lower electrode to define a patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure, and etching a portion of a lower electrode diffusion barrier structure. The method further comprises ashing the patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure using a first ashing process, where the ash comprises an oxygen/nitrogen/water-containing ash, performing a wet clean process after the first ashing process, and ashing the patterned ferroelectric capacitor structure using a second ashing process.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is presented. In one aspect, the method comprises forming conductive and ferroelectric material layers on a semiconductor substrate. The material layers are patterned to form electrodes and a ferroelectric layer of a ferroelectric capacitor, wherein a conductive noble metal-containing polymer is generated on sidewalls of the ferroelectric capacitor. The method also comprises converting the conductive noble metal-containing polymer into a non-conducting metal oxide. Converting includes forming a water-soluble metal salt from the conductive noble metal-containing polymer and reacting the water-soluble metal salt with an acqueous acidic solution to form a metal hydroxide. Converting also includes oxidizing the metal hydroxide to form the non-conducting metal oxide.
Abstract:
A ferroelectric memory device is disclosed and comprises a logic programmable capacitance reference circuit. The circuit is adapted to generate a reference voltage during a sense mode of operation, wherein the reference voltage comprises a value that is a function of one or more memory conditions. The memory device further comprises a bit line pair, wherein a first bit line of the bit line pair has a ferroelectric capacitor coupled thereto for sensing thereof, and a second bit line of the bit line pair is coupled to the reference voltage. A sense circuit is coupled to the bit line pair and is configured to detect a data state associated with the ferroelectric capacitor using a voltage associated with the first bit line and the reference voltage on the second bit line.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a transistor using silicon on lattice matched insulator. A first monocrystalline silicon layer is provided and a first layer of dielectric is epitaxially deposited over the first silicon layer substantially lattice matched with the first silicon layer and substantially monocrystalline. A first electrically conductive gate electrode is epitaxially formed over the first layer of dielectric substantially lattice matched with the first layer of dielectric. A second layer of dielectric is epitaxially deposited conformally over the first gate electrode and exposed portions of first layer of dielectric substantially lattice matched with the first silicon layer and substantially monocrystalline. A second monocrystalline silicon layer is epitaxially deposited over the second layer of dielectric and a third layer of dielectric is epitaxially deposited over the second silicon layer substantially lattice matched with the first silicon layer and substantially monocrystalline. A second electrically conductive gate electrode is epitaxially deposited and formed over the third layer of dielectric which is substantially lattice matched with the first silicon layer and the first layer of dielectric. Source and drain regions are formed in the second silicon layer.
Abstract:
A ferroelectric structure on an integrated circuit and methods of making and using the same are disclosed, which may be used, for instance, in a high-speed, non-volatile, non-destructive readout random-access memory device. Generally, the ferroelectric structure combines a thin film ferroelectric variable resistor and a substrate (e.g. silicon) transistor, using a semiconducting film which is common to both. A field effect transistor 26 integrated into substrate 30 has a gate oxide 36 and a semiconducting gate electrode 38 with electrical connections at a first end 44 and a second end 46. Overlying gate electrode 38 is a ferroelectric thin film 40 and a conductive electrode 42. The polarization of ferroelectric thin film 40 is set by applying an appropriate voltage between gate electrode 38 and conductive electrode 42. The polarization of ferroelectric thin film 40 may be subsequently determined by applying a read voltage to 42 and 44, thus causing a voltage V2 to appear at 46 which is determined by the polarization of the ferroelectric variable resistor formed by 38 and 40. Since 38 also forms the gate electrode for field effect transistor 26, the magnitude of V2 affects the magnitude of current I2. Thus I2 is effectively an amplified signal related to the ferroelectric variable resistance which may be read without perturbing the polarization of ferroelectric thin film 40.
Abstract:
A ferroelectric structure on an integrated circuit is disclosed, which may be used, for instance, in a high-speed, non-volatile, non-destructive readout random-access memory device. Generally, the ferroelectric structure combines a thin film ferroelectric variable resistor and a substrate (e.g. silicon) transistor, using a semiconducting film which is common to both. A field effect transistor 26 integrated into substrate 30 has a gate oxide 36 and a semiconducting gate electrode 38 with electrical connections at a first end 44 and a second end 46. Overlying gate electrode 38 is a ferroelectric thin film 40 and a conductive electrode 42. The polarization of ferroelectric thin film 40 is set by applying an appropriate voltage between gate electrode 38 and conductive electrode 42. The polarization of ferroelectric thin film 40 may be subsequently determined by applying a read voltage to 42 and 44, thus causing a voltage V2 to appear at 46 which is determined by the polarization of the ferroelectric variable resistor formed by 38 and 40. Since 38 also forms the gate electrode for field effect transistor 26, the magnitude of V2 affects the magnitude of current I2. Thus I2 is effectively an amplified signal related to the ferroelectric variable resistance which may be read without perturbing the polarization of ferroelectric thin film 40.
Abstract:
A method for etching a platinum surface 200. The method includes the step of forming a hardmask 202 including titanium, aluminum, and nitrogen on the platinum surface. The hardmask covers portions of the platinum surface. The method further includes removing platinum from uncovered portions of the surface with a plasma including a nitrogen-bearing species. The etch chemistry may also comprise an oxygen-bearing species.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method comprises forming conductive and ferroelectric material layers on a semiconductor substrate. The material layers are patterned to form electrodes and a ferroelectric layer of a ferroelectric capacitor, wherein a conductive residue is generated on sidewalls of the ferroelectric capacitor as a by-product of the patterning. The method also comprises removing the conductive residue using a physical plasma etch clean-up process that includes maintaining a substrate temperature that is greater than about 60° C.
Abstract:
Hardmasks and fabrication methods are presented for producing ferroelectric capacitors in a semiconductor device, wherein a hardmask comprising aluminum oxide or strontium tantalum oxide is formed above an upper capacitor electrode material, and capacitor electrode and ferroelectric layers are etched to define a ferroelectric capacitor stack.