IP Library Granted Patent US 8,859,385
Granted Patent B1
US 8,859,385 · App. 14/076,826 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Method of fabricating semiconductor device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,859,385
App. No.
14/076,826
Granted
Oct 14, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate in which a lower structure is formed, forming a phase-change material layer of a first state over the lower structure, transforming an upper region of the phase-change material layer of the first state into a phase-change material layer of a second state having an etch selectivity different from the phase-change material layer of the first state, removing the phase-change material layer of the second state, and forming an upper electrode over the phase-change material layer of the first state in which the phase-change material layer of the second state is removed.

Claims (18)

1. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

providing a semiconductor substrate in which a lower structure is formed;

forming a phase-change material layer of a first state over the lower structure;

transforming an upper region of the phase-change material layer of the first state into a phase-change material layer of a second state having an etch selectivity different from the phase-change material layer of the first state;

removing the phase-change material layer of the second state; and

forming an upper electrode over the phase-change material layer of the first state in which the phase-change material layer of the second state is removed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first state is a crystalline state, and the second state is an amorphous state.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first state is an amorphous state, and the second state is a crystalline state.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transforming an upper region of the phase-change material layer of the first state into the phase-change material layer of the second state includes implanting impurities into the phase-change material layer of the first state.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein a depth of the phase-change material layer of the second state is controlled by a dose of the impurities.

6. The method of claim 1 , before forming the phase-change material layer of the first state, further comprising:

forming a hole exposing a surface of the semiconductor substrate;

forming a heating electrode in a lower portion of the hole.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the forming a first phase-change material layer of a first state includes:

burying a pre-phase-change material layer over the heating electrode in the hole;

forming a capping layer over a resultant structure including the pre-phase-change material layer; and

annealing the pre-phase-change material layer to be transformed into the phase-change material layer of the first state.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pre-phase-change material layer has a structure in which a first width of a lower part of the pre-phase-change material layer in contact with the heating electrode is smaller than a second width of an upper part of the pre-phase-change material layer.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2024
From: SK HYNIX INC.
To: MIMIRIP LLC
Reel/Frame 067335/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2013
From: BAE, JOO HYUNG; CHOI, KANG SIK; SEO, JUNG WON
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 031577/0838 →