IP Library Granted Patent US 43,025
Granted Patent E1
US 43,025 · App. 12/566,533 · Granted Dec 13, 2011

Mixed composition interface layer and method of forming

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 43,025
App. No.
12/566,533
Granted
Dec 13, 2011
Kind
E1
Abstract

An interface forming method includes forming a first layer containing a first chemical element and chemisorbing on the first layer an interface layer containing at least one monolayer of the first chemical element intermixed with a second chemical element different from the first chemical element. A second layer comprising the second chemical element can be formed on the interface layer. The first layer might not substantially contain the second chemical element, the second layer might not substantially contain the first chemical element, or both. An apparatus can include a first layer containing a first chemical element, an interface layer chemisorbed on the first layer, and a second layer containing a second element on the interface layer. The interface layer can contain at least one monolayer of the first chemical element intermixed with a second chemical element different from the first chemical element.

Claims (77)

1. A capacitor comprising:

a first capacitor plate over a semiconductive substrate, the first plate comprising a first metal selected from the group consisting of Pt and Ru;

an interface layer chemisorbed on and in contact with the first plate, the interface layer comprising at least one monolayer of the first metal intermixed with a second metal selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ti, Pb, Zr, and Ta;

a capacitor dielectric layer comprising the second metal on and in contact with the interface layer, the interface layer improving adhesion between the first plate and the dielectric layer compared to adhesion otherwise occurring with the dielectric layer formed on and in contact with the first plate in the absence of the interface layer; and

a second capacitor plate over the dielectric layer.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the dielectric layer does not substantially comprise the first metal.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the first plate consists of Pt or Ru.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the interface layer provides a composition gradient across a thickness of the interface layer from the first plate to the dielectric layer.

5. The capacitor of claim 1 wherein the interface layer does not substantially comprise material originating from the first plate or the dielectric layer.

6. The capacitor of claim 1 wherein the interface layer reduces defects between the first plate and the dielectric layer compared to defects otherwise occurring with the dielectric layer formed on and in contact with the first plate in the absence of the interface layer.

7. The article of claim 1 wherein the first plate does not substantially comprise the second metal.

8. The article of claim 7 wherein the dielectric layer does not substantially comprise the first metal.

9. The article of claim 1 wherein the dielectric layer consists of barium strontium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, or Ta 2 O 5 .

10. The article of claim 9 wherein the metal comprises Pt.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a capacitor plate with a conductive first layer comprising a first chemical element;

a capacitor dielectric with an insulative second layer comprising a second chemical element different from the first chemical element; and

an interface layer between and in contact with the first and second layers, the interface layer comprising the first and second chemical elements, not substantially comprising material originating from the first or second layers, and providing a composition gradient across a thickness of the interface layer such that a first ratio of the first chemical element to the second chemical element in the interface layer proximate the first layer is greater than a second ratio of the first chemical element to the second chemical element in the interface layer proximate the second layer.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the second layer does not substantially comprise the first chemical element.

13. The electronic device of claim 11 further comprising a semiconductor substrate, the first layer being over the substrate.

14. The capacitor of claim 11 wherein the interface layer reduces defects between the first layer and the second layer compared to defects otherwise occurring with the second layer formed on and in contact with the first layer in the absence of the interface layer.

15. The capacitor of claim 11 wherein the interface layer improves adhesion between the first layer and the second layer compared to adhesion otherwise occurring with the second layer formed on and in contact with the first layer in the absence of the interface layer.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the first layer does not substantially comprise the second chemical element.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the second layer does not substantially comprise the first chemical element.

18. An electronic device comprising:

a capacitor plate with a conductive first layer comprising a first chemical element;

a capacitor dielectric with an insulative second layer comprising a second chemical element different from the first chemical element; and

an interface layer between and in contact with the first and second layers, the interface layer comprising the first and second chemical elements, not substantially comprising material originating from the first or second layers, providing a composition gradient across a thickness of the interface layer, and comprising at least one monolayer of intermixed first and second chemical elements chemisorbed on the first layer.

19. The capacitor of claim 18 wherein the interface layer reduces defects between the first layer and the second layer compared to defects otherwise occurring with the second layer formed on and in contact with the first layer in the absence of the interface layer.

20. The capacitor of claim 18 wherein the interface layer improves adhesion between the first layer and the second layer compared to adhesion otherwise occurring with the second layer formed on and in contact with the first layer in the absence of the interface layer.

21. A capacitor comprising:

a first capacitor plate comprising a first chemical element;

a first portion of at least one monolayer chemisorbed on the first plate, the first portion comprising the first chemical element;

a second portion of the at least one monolayer chemisorbed on the first plate, the second portion comprising a second chemical element different from the first chemical element;

an interface layer comprising the first and second portions of the at least one monolayer;

a dielectric layer comprising the second chemical element on the interface layer; and

a second capacitor plate over the dielectric layer.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the dielectric layer does not substantially comprise the first chemical element.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein the first portion of the at least one monolayer is chemisorbed on first parts of the first plate and the second portion of the at least one monolayer is chemisorbed on second parts of the first plate.

24. The device of claim 21 wherein the at least one monolayer comprises from about 1 to about 10 monolayers.

25. The electronic device of claim 21 further comprising a semiconductor substrate, the first layer being over the substrate.

26. The capacitor of claim 21 wherein the interface layer does not substantially comprise material originating from the first plate or the dielectric layer.

27. The capacitor of claim 21 wherein the interface layer reduces defects between the first plate and the dielectric layer compared to defects otherwise occurring with the dielectric layer formed on and in contact with the first plate in the absence of the interface layer.

28. The capacitor of claim 21 wherein the interface layer improves adhesion between the first plate and the dielectric layer compared to adhesion otherwise occurring with the dielectric layer formed on and in contact with the first plate in the absence of the interface layer.

29. The device of claim 21 wherein the first plate does not substantially comprise the second chemical element.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein the dielectric layer does not substantially comprise the first chemical element.

31. An electronic device comprising:

a conductive first layer comprising a metal containing Pt and/or Ru;

an insulative second layer comprising Ta; and

an interface layer between and in contact with the first and second layers, the interface layer comprising the metal and Ta, not substantially comprising material originating from the first or second layers, and providing a composition gradient across a thickness of the interface layer such that a first ratio of the metal to Ta in the interface layer proximate the first layer is greater than a second ratio of the metal to Ta in the interface layer proximate the second layer.

32. The capacitor of claim 31 wherein the interface layer reduces defects between the first layer and the second layer compared to defects otherwise occurring with the second layer formed on and in contact with the first layer in the absence of the interface layer.

33. The capacitor of claim 31 wherein the interface layer improves adhesion between the first layer and the second layer compared to adhesion otherwise occurring with the second layer formed on and in contact with the first layer in the absence of the interface layer.

34. A capacitor comprising:

a first conductive plate over a semiconductor substrate, the first plate comprising a first metal;

an interface layer in contact with the first plate, the interface layer comprising at least one monolayer of the first metal intermixed with a second metal which is different from the first metal;

a dielectric layer comprising the second metal on and in contact with the interface layer, the interface layer being disposed between the first plate and the dielectric layer such that the interface layer adheres to both the dielectric layer and the first plate; and

a second conductive plate over the dielectric layer.

35. A capacitor comprising:

a first conductive layer comprising a first chemical element;

a first portion of at least one monolayer on the first conductive layer, the first portion comprising the first chemical element;

a second portion of the at least one monolayer on the first conductive layer, the second portion comprising a second chemical element different from the first chemical element;

an interface layer comprising the first and second portions of the at least one monolayer;

a dielectric layer comprising the second chemical element on the interface layer; and

a second conductive layer over the dielectric layer.

36. An electronic device comprising:

a conductive first layer comprising a first chemical element;

a dielectric second layer comprising a second chemical element different from the first chemical element; and

an interface layer between and in contact with the first and second layers, the interface layer comprising the first and second chemical elements, and providing a composition gradient across a thickness of the interface layer such that a first ratio of the first chemical element to the second chemical element in the interface layer proximate the first layer is greater than a second ratio of the first chemical element to the second chemical element in the interface layer proximate the second layer.

37. The capacitor of claim 34 wherein the first metal is selected from the group consisting of Ru, Ta, and Pt.

38. The capacitor of claim 34 wherein the dielectric layer comprises at least one of: barium strontium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, and tantalum oxide.

39. The capacitor of claim 34 wherein the second metal comprises at least one of: Ba, Sr, Ti, Pb, Zr, and Ta.

40. The capacitor of claim 35 wherein the first chemical element is selected from the group consisting of Ru, Ta, and Pt.

41. The capacitor of claim 35 wherein the dielectric layer comprises at least one of: barium strontium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, and tantalum oxide.

42. The capacitor of claim 35 wherein the second chemical element comprises at least one of: Ba, Sr, Ti, Pb, Zr, and Ta.

43. The electronic device of claim 36 wherein the first chemical element is selected from the group consisting of Ru, Ta, and Pt.

44. The electronic device of claim 36 wherein the dielectric second layer comprises at least one of: barium strontium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, and tantalum oxide.

45. The capacitor of claim 36 wherein the second chemical element comprises at least one of: Ba, Sr, Ti, Pb, Zr, and Ta.

Assignments (12)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 058297 FRAME: 0458. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Aug 30, 2023
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 064761/0349 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 19, 2021
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INC.
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 058297/0458 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2020
From: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 054387/0186 →
RELEASE OF U.S. PATENT AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Oct 12, 2018
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS LENDER
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 047645/0424 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED U.S. PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Aug 22, 2018
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046900/0136 →
U.S. PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Sep 9, 2014
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC., AS LENDER; ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS LENDER
Reel/Frame 033706/0367 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Sep 3, 2014
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 033678/0096 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2014
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.; CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.; CONVERSANT IP N.B. 276 INC.
Reel/Frame 033484/0344 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 13, 2014
From: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 032439/0638 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2012
From: BASCERI, CEM; SANDHU, GURTEJ S.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 027539/0172 →
U.S. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) - SHORT FORM Recorded Jan 10, 2012
From: 658276 N.B. LTD.; 658868 N.B. INC.; MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 027512/0196 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2010
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 024612/0397 →