IP Library Granted Patent US 9,257,646
Granted Patent B2
US 9,257,646 · App. 14/618,936 · Granted Feb 9, 2016

Methods of forming memory cells having regions containing one or both of carbon and boron

Inventors: Martin Schubert (Sunnyvale, CA); Shu Qin (Boise, ID); Scott E. Sills (Boise, ID); Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy (Boise, ID); Allen McTeer (Eagle, ID); Yongjun Jeff Hu (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
H01L45/1608H01L45/08H01L45/085H01L45/12H01L45/1233H01L45/1266H01L45/146H01L45/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,257,646
App. No.
14/618,936
Granted
Feb 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiments include a memory cell having a first electrode, and an intermediate material over and directly against the first electrode. The intermediate material includes stabilizing species corresponding to one or both of carbon and boron. The memory cell also has a switching material over and directly against the intermediate material, an ion reservoir material over the switching material, and a second electrode over the ion reservoir material. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells.

Claims (32)

1. A method of forming a memory cell, comprising:

forming an intermediate material over and directly against a first electrode, the intermediate material comprising stabilizing species corresponding to one or both of carbon and boron;

forming a switching material over and directly against the intermediate material;

forming an ion reservoir material over the switching material;

forming a second electrode over the ion reservoir material; and

wherein the intermediate material comprises a thickness within a range of from greater than 0 angstroms to less than or equal to about 50 angstroms.

2. A method of forming a memory cell, comprising:

forming an intermediate material over and directly against a first electrode, the intermediate material comprising stabilizing species corresponding to one or both of carbon and boron;

forming a switching material over and directly against the intermediate material;

forming an ion reservoir material over the switching material;

forming a second electrode over the ion reservoir material; and

wherein the intermediate material comprise a bottom surface directly against the first electrode, and an upper surface above the bottom surface; and wherein the upper surface comprises a total concentration of said stabilizing species of from about 15 atomic percent to about 100 atomic percent.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the upper surface comprises a total concentration of said stabilizing species of from about 90 atomic percent to about 100 atomic percent.

4. A method of forming a memory cell, comprising:

forming an intermediate material over and directly against a first electrode, the intermediate material comprising stabilizing species corresponding to one or both of carbon and boron;

forming a switching material over and directly against the intermediate material;

forming an ion reservoir material over the switching material;

forming a second electrode over the ion reservoir material; and

wherein the intermediate material is formed utilizing plasma doping of the stabilizing species.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the intermediate material comprises a gradient of stabilizing species concentration, with said concentration being lowest at a bottom surface of the intermediate material directly adjacent the first electrode and being highest at an upper surface of the intermediate material.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the upper surface of the intermediate material comprises a total concentration of said stabilizing species of from about 15 atomic percent to about 100 atomic percent.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the upper surface of the intermediate material comprises a total concentration of said stabilizing species of from about 90 atomic percent to about 100 atomic percent.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the intermediate material comprises carbon.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the intermediate material comprises boron.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the intermediate material comprises carbon and boron.

11. A method of forming a memory cell, comprising:

forming an intermediate material over and directly against a first electrode, the intermediate material comprising carbon and boron as stabilizing species;

forming a switching material over and directly against the intermediate material;

forming an ion reservoir material over the switching material;

forming a second electrode over the ion reservoir material;

wherein the intermediate material comprises a gradient of stabilizing species concentration, with said concentration being lowest at a bottom surface of the intermediate material directly adjacent the first electrode and being highest at an upper surface of the intermediate material; and

wherein the upper surface of the intermediate material comprises a total concentration of said stabilizing species of from about 15 atomic percent to about 100 atomic percent.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
Continuity (2)
Division 14070407 · Nov 1, 2013
Related Publication 20150179936A1 · Jun 25, 2015