IP Library Granted Patent US 9,640,757
Granted Patent B2
US 9,640,757 · App. 14/437,189 · Granted May 2, 2017

Double self-aligned phase change memory device structure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,640,757
App. No.
14/437,189
Granted
May 2, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A double self-aligned phase change memory device structure, comprising spaced-apart facing phase change memory film members symmetrically arranged with respect to one another, each of the phase change memory film members at an upper portion thereof being in contact with a separate conductive element, and each of the phase change memory film members being in a range of from 5 nm to 25 nm in thickness. Also described are various methods of making such phase change memory device structure.

Claims (22)

1. A double self-aligned phase change memory device structure, comprising spaced-apart facing phase change memory film members symmetrically arranged with respect to one another, each of the phase change memory film members at an upper portion thereof being in contact with a separate conductive element, and each of the phase change memory film members being in a range of from 5 nm to 25 nm in thickness.

2. The memory device structure of claim 1 , wherein a protecting layer is disposed on facing surfaces of said phase change memory film members.

3. The memory device structure of claim 2 , wherein the protecting layer extends downwardly from an upper end of each phase change memory film member over the facing surface thereof to a lower portion of the phase change memory film member.

4. The memory device structure of claim 3 , further comprising a dielectric material between the phase change memory film members.

5. The memory device structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the phase change memory film members has a thickness in a range of from 8 nm to 20 nm.

6. The memory device structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the phase change memory film members has a thickness in a range of from 10 to 15 nm.

7. The memory device structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the phase change memory film members has a thickness in a range of from 5 to 15 nm.

8. The memory device structure of claim 1 , wherein each phase change memory film member has a height in a range of from 20 to 80 nm.

9. The memory device structure of claim 1 , wherein each phase change memory film member has a height in a range of from 30 to 75 nm.

10. The memory device structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the phase change memory film members comprises a chalcogenide.

11. The memory device structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the phase change memory film members comprises a germanium-antimony-telluride alloy.

12. The memory device structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the phase change memory film members comprises a germanium telluride alloy.

13. The memory device structure of claim 1 , wherein the phase change memory film members are arranged in a confined cell arrangement comprising a cross-spacer structure wherein the phase change memory film members are reposed on titanium nitride members.

14. The memory device structure of claim 13 , wherein a contact area of each phase change memory film member and the titanium nitride member on which it is reposed is in a range of from 50 to 150 nm 2 .

15. The memory device structure of claim 13 , wherein a contact area of each phase change memory film member and the titanium nitride member on which it is reposed is in a range of from 80 to 120 nm 2 .

16. A double self-aligned phase change memory device structure, comprising spaced-apart facing phase change memory film members symmetrically arranged with respect to one another, each of the phase change memory film members at an upper portion thereof being in contact with a separate conductive element, and each of the phase change memory film members being in a range of from 5 nm to 25 nm in thickness, wherein each phase change memory film member comprises an upper planar segment, an intermediate angular transition segment, and a lower planar segment, arranged so that the upper planar segment and lower planar segment of each phase change memory film member are generally parallel to one another and to respective upper planar and lower planar segments of the other phase change memory film member facing it, wherein spacing distance between upper planar segments of the respective phase change memory film members is greater than spacing distance between lower planar segments of the respective phase change memory film members.

17. The memory device structure of claim 16 , wherein the intermediate angular transition segment is generally planar.

18. A double self-aligned phase change memory device structure, comprising spaced-apart facing phase change memory film members symmetrically arranged with respect to one another, each of the phase change memory film members at an upper portion thereof being in contact with a separate conductive element, and each of the phase change memory film members being in a range of from 5 nm to 25 nm in thickness, wherein each phase change memory film member comprises an upper planar segment and a lower planar segment, elevationally spaced apart from one another, and arranged so that the upper planar segment and lower planar segment of each phase change memory material film member are generally parallel to one another and to respective upper planar and lower planar segments of the other phase change memory material film member facing it, wherein spacing distance between upper planar segments of the respective phase change memory material film members is greater than spacing distance between lower planar segments of the respective phase change memory film members.

19. A method of forming a double self-aligned memory device structure of claim 1 , comprising:

depositing a phase change material to form spaced-apart facing phase change memory film members symmetrically arranged with respect to one another, wherein each of the phase change memory film members is in a range of from 5 nm to 25 nm in thickness; and

forming conductive elements so that each of the phase change memory film members at an upper portion thereof is in contact with a separate conductive element.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the spaced-apart facing phase change memory film members are formed so that they are physically isolated from one another in the memory device structure.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2022
From: ENTEGRIS, INC.; ENTEGRIS GP, INC.; POCO GRAPHITE, INC.; CMC MATERIALS, INC.; INTERNATIONAL TEST SOLUTIONS, LLC; QED TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: TRUIST BANK, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 060613/0072 →
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 048811/0679 Recorded Nov 5, 2019
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 050965/0035 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2018
From: ENTEGRIS, INC.; SAES PURE GAS, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 048811/0679 →