摘要:
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to nonvolatile memory devices, such as a ReRAM cells, and methods for manufacturing such memory devices, which includes optimized, atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes for forming metal oxide film stacks. The metal oxide film stacks contain a metal oxide coupling layer disposed on a metal oxide host layer, each layer having different grain structures/sizes. The interface disposed between the metal oxide layers facilitates oxygen vacancy movement. In many examples, the interface is a misaligned grain interface containing numerous grain boundaries extending parallel to the electrode interfaces, in contrast to the grains in the bulk film extending perpendicular to the electrode interfaces. As a result, oxygen vacancies are trapped and released during switching without significant loss of vacancies. Therefore, the metal oxide film stacks have improved switching performance and reliability during memory cell applications compared to traditional hafnium oxide based stacks of previous memory cells.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention include nonvolatile memory elements and memory devices comprising the nonvolatile memory elements. Methods for forming the nonvolatile memory elements are also disclosed. The nonvolatile memory element comprises a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a plurality of layers of an oxide disposed between the first and second electrode layers. One of the oxide layers has linear resistance and substoichiometric composition, and the other oxide layer has bistable resistance and near-stoichiometric composition. Preferably, the sum of the two oxide layer thicknesses is between about 20 Å and about 100 Å, and the oxide layer with bistable resistance has a thickness between about 25% and about 75% of the total thickness. In one embodiment, the oxide layers are formed using reactive sputtering in an atmosphere with controlled flows of argon and oxygen.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to nonvolatile memory devices and methods for manufacturing such memory devices. The methods for forming improved memory devices, such as a ReRAM cells, provide optimized, atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes for forming a metal oxide film stack which contains at least one hard metal oxide film (e.g., metal is completely oxidized or substantially oxidized) and at least one soft metal oxide film (e.g., metal is less oxidized than hard metal oxide). The soft metal oxide film is less electrically resistive than the hard metal oxide film since the soft metal oxide film is less oxidized or more metallic than the hard metal oxide film. In one example, the hard metal oxide film is formed by an ALD process utilizing ozone as the oxidizing agent while the soft metal oxide film is formed by another ALD process utilizing water vapor as the oxidizing agent.
摘要:
Provided are resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells, each having three or more resistive states and being capable of storing multiple bits of data, as well as methods of fabricating and operating such ReRAM cells. Such ReRAM cells or, more specifically, their resistive switching layer have wide range of resistive states and are capable of being very conductive (e.g., about 1 kOhm) in one state and very resistive (e.g., about 1 MOhm) in another state. In some embodiments, a resistance ratio between resistive states may be between 10 and 1,000 even up to 10,000. The resistive switching layers also allow establishing stable and distinct intermediate resistive states that may be assigned different data values. These layers may be configured to switching between their resistive states using fewer programming pulses than conventional systems by using specific materials, switching pluses, and resistive state threshold.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention include nonvolatile memory elements and memory devices comprising the nonvolatile memory elements. Methods for forming the nonvolatile memory elements are also disclosed. The nonvolatile memory element comprises a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a plurality of layers of an oxide disposed between the first and second electrode layers. One of the oxide layers has linear resistance and substoichiometric composition, and the other oxide layer has bistable resistance and near-stoichiometric composition. Preferably, the sum of the two oxide layer thicknesses is between about 20 Å and about 100 Å, and the oxide layer with bistable resistance has a thickness between about 25% and about 75% of the total thickness. In one embodiment, the oxide layers are formed using reactive sputtering in an atmosphere with controlled flows of argon and oxygen.
摘要:
A nonvolatile memory element is disclosed comprising a first electrode, a near-stoichiometric metal oxide memory layer having bistable resistance, and a second electrode in contact with the near-stoichiometric metal oxide memory layer. At least one electrode is a resistive electrode comprising a sub-stoichiometric transition metal nitride or oxynitride, and has a resistivity between 0.1 and 10Ω cm. The resistive electrode provides the functionality of an embedded current-limiting resistor and also serves as a source and sink of oxygen vacancies for setting and resetting the resistance state of the metal oxide layer. Novel fabrication methods for the second electrode are also disclosed.
摘要:
A nonvolatile memory element is disclosed comprising a first electrode, a near-stoichiometric metal oxide memory layer having bistable resistance, and a second electrode in contact with the near-stoichiometric metal oxide memory layer. At least one electrode is a resistive electrode comprising a sub-stoichiometric transition metal nitride or oxynitride, and has a resistivity between 0.1 and 10 Ωcm. The resistive electrode provides the functionality of an embedded current-limiting resistor and also serves as a source and sink of oxygen vacancies for setting and resetting the resistance state of the metal oxide layer. Novel fabrication methods for the second electrode are also disclosed.
摘要:
A nonvolatile memory element is disclosed comprising a first electrode, a near-stoichiometric metal oxide memory layer having bistable resistance, and a second electrode in contact with the near-stoichiometric metal oxide memory layer. At least one electrode is a resistive electrode comprising a sub-stoichiometric transition metal nitride or oxynitride, and has a resistivity between 0.1 and 10 Ωcm. The resistive electrode provides the functionality of an embedded current-limiting resistor and also serves as a source and sink of oxygen vacancies for setting and resetting the resistance state of the metal oxide layer. Novel fabrication methods for the second electrode are also disclosed.
摘要:
Provided are semiconductor devices, such as resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells, that include current limiting layers formed from alloys of transition metals. Some examples of such alloys include chromium containing alloys that may also include nickel, aluminum, and/or silicon. Other examples include tantalum and/or titanium containing alloys that may also include a combination of silicon and carbon or a combination of aluminum and nitrogen. These current limiting layers may have resistivities of at least about 1 Ohm-cm. This resistivity level is maintained even when the layers are subjected to strong electrical fields and/or high temperature processing. In some embodiments, the breakdown voltage of a current limiting layer is at least about 8V. The high resistivity of the layers allows scaling down the size of the semiconductor devices including these layers while maintaining their performance.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to nonvolatile memory devices and methods for manufacturing such memory devices. The methods for forming improved memory devices, such as a ReRAM cells, provide optimized, atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes for forming a metal oxide film stack which contains at least one hard metal oxide film (e.g., metal is completely oxidized or substantially oxidized) and at least one soft metal oxide film (e.g., metal is less oxidized than hard metal oxide). The soft metal oxide film is less electrically resistive than the hard metal oxide film since the soft metal oxide film is less oxidized or more metallic than the hard metal oxide film. In one example, the hard metal oxide film is formed by an ALD process utilizing ozone as the oxidizing agent while the soft metal oxide film is formed by another ALD process utilizing water vapor as the oxidizing agent.