IP Library Granted Patent US 8,396,335
Granted Patent B2
US 8,396,335 · App. 12/690,711 · Granted Mar 12, 2013

Solid-state memory and semiconductor device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,396,335
App. No.
12/690,711
Granted
Mar 12, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solid memory may include a recording layer including Ge, Sb and Te as major components. The recording layer may include a superlattice. The recording layer may include multi-layers each having a parent phase showing a phase transformation in solid-states, the phase transformation causing change in electrical property of the recording layer. The recording layer may include an Sb 2 Te 3 layer that includes at least one period of a first lamination of a first Te-atomic layer, a first Sb-atomic layer, a second Te-atomic layer, a second Sb-atomic layer, and a third Te-atomic layer in these order, a GeTe layer that includes at least one period of a second lamination of a fourth Te-atomic layer and a Ge-atomic layer, and an Sb layer that includes a plurality of Sb-atomic layers.

Claims (42)

1. A solid memory comprising:

a recording layer comprising Ge, Sb and Te as major components, the recording layer comprising a superlattice comprising multiple laminations, the recording layer comprising multi-layers showing a phase transformation in solid-states, the phase transformation causing change in electrical property of the recording layer,

the recording layer comprising:

an Sb 2 Te 3 layer that includes at least one period of a first lamination of a first Te-atomic layer, a first Sb-atomic layer, a second Te-atomic layer, a second Sb-atomic layer, and a third Te-atomic layer in these order;

a GeTe layer that includes at least one period of a second lamination of a fourth Te-atomic layer and a Ge-atomic layer; and

an Sb layer that includes a plurality of Sb-atomic layers.

2. The solid memory according to claim 1 , wherein the number of the plurality of Sb-atomic layers is not more than six and not less than three.

3. The solid memory according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-layers comprise laminations of the Sb 2 Te 3 layer, the GeTe layer, the Sb 2 Te 3 layer, and the Sb layer in these order.

4. The solid memory according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-layers comprise the Sb layer and alternating laminations of the Sb layer and the GeTe layer.

5. The solid memory according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of each of the Sb 2 Te 3 layer, the GeTe layer and the Sb layer is between 0.1 nm and 2 nm.

6. The solid memory according to claim 1 , wherein in the first lamination, the first Sb-atomic layer is adjacent to the first Te-atomic layer, the second Te-atomic layer is adjacent to the first Sb-atomic layer, the second Sb-atomic layer is adjacent to the second Te-atomic layer, and the third Te-atomic layer is adjacent to the second Sb-atomic layer.

7. The solid memory according to claim 1 , wherein in the second lamination, the Te-atomic layer and the Ge-atomic layer are adjacent to each other.

8. The solid memory according to claim 1 , wherein the Sb 2 Te 3 layer and the GeTe layer are adjacent to each other.

9. The solid memory according to claim 1 , wherein a total amount of Ge, Sb and Te in the recording layer is equal to or more than 50 wt.-%.

10. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode; and

a recording layer which is sandwiched between the first and the second electrode, the recording layer comprising Ge, Sb and Te as major components, the recording layer comprising a superlattice comprising multiple laminations, the recording layer comprising multi-layers showing a phase transformation in solid-states, the phase transformation causing change in electrical property of the recording layer,

the recording layer comprising:

an Sb 2 Te 3 layer that includes at least one period of a first lamination of a first Te-atomic layer, a first Sb-atomic layer, a second Te-atomic layer, a second Sb-atomic layer, and a third Te-atomic layer in these order;

a GeTe layer that includes at least one period of a second lamination of a fourth Te-atomic layer and a Ge-atomic layer; and

an Sb layer that includes a plurality of Sb-atomic layers.

11. A solid memory comprising:

a recording layer comprising Ge, Sb and Te as major components,

the recording layer comprising multi-layers showing a phase transformation in solid-states, the phase transformation causing change in electrical property of the recording layer, the multi-layers forming a superlattice comprising multiple laminations,

the recording layer comprising an Sb 2 Te 3 layer and a GeTe layer adjacent to the Sb 2 Te 3 layer.

12. The solid memory according to claim 11 , further comprising: an Sb layer,

wherein the Sb 2 Te 3 layer includes at least one period of a first lamination of a first Te-atomic layer, a first Sb-atomic layer, a second Te-atomic layer, a second Sb-atomic layer, and a third Te-atomic layer in these order,

the GeTe layer includes at least one period of a second lamination of a fourth Te-atomic layer and a Ge-atomic layer, and

the Sb layer includes a plurality of Sb-atomic layers.

13. The solid memory according to claim 12 , wherein in the first lamination, the first Sb-atomic layer is adjacent to the first Te-atomic layer, the second Te-atomic layer is adjacent to the first Sb-atomic layer, the second Sb-atomic layer is adjacent to the second Te-atomic layer, the third Te-atomic layer is adjacent to the second Sb-atomic layer.

14. The solid memory according to claim 12 , wherein in the second lamination, the Te-atomic layer and the Ge-atomic layer are adjacent to each other.

15. The solid memory according to claim 11 , further comprising: an Sb layer,

wherein the multi-layers comprise laminations of the Sb 2 Te 3 layer, the GeTe layer, the Sb 2 Te 3 layer, and the Sb layer in these order.

16. The solid memory according to claim 11 , further comprising: an Sb layer,

wherein the multi-layers comprise the Sb layer and alternating laminations of the Sb layer and the GeTe layer.

17. A semiconductor device including a solid memory, the solid memory comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode; and

a recording layer which is sandwiched between the first and second electrode, having a recording state and an erasing state,

wherein the recording layer comprises a single crystalline structure both in the recording state and in the erasing state,

wherein the recording layer comprises Ge, Sb and Te as major components.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 24, 2016
From: PS5 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: LONGITUDE SEMICONDUCTOR S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 039793/0880 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2016
From: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: PS5 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 039818/0506 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2014
From: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
To: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 032900/0568 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2013
From: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: ELPIDA MEMORY INC.
Reel/Frame 032414/0261 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2010
From: TOMINAGA, JUNJI; SHIMA, TAKAYUKI; KOLOBOV, ALEXANDER; FONS, PAUL; SIMPSON, ROBERT
To: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 024187/0882 →