IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,980,109
Granted Patent B2
US 11,980,109 · App. 17/051,268 · Granted May 7, 2024

Selection element-integrated phase-change memory and method for producing same

Inventors: Yun Heub Song (Seoul, KR); Jae Kyeong Jeong (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H10N70/231H10B63/20H10B63/84H10N70/8413H10N70/8836
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,980,109
App. No.
17/051,268
Granted
May 7, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a selection element which does not need an intermediate electrode and thus has improved integration, a phase-change memory device having the selection element, and a phase-change memory implemented so that the phase-change memory device has a highly integrated three-dimensional architecture.

Claims (25)

1. A selection element-integrated phase-change element used in a phase-change memory device, the selection element-integrated phase-change element comprising:

a phase-change material layer of P type having a crystal state changing due to heat supplied from a first electrode and a second electrode included in the phase-change memory device; and

a metal oxide layer of N type contacting the phase-change material layer,

wherein the selection element-integrated phase-change element is formed in a PN diode structure to selectively switch, to the phase-change material layer, heat supplied from the first electrode and the second electrode.

2. The selection element-integrated phase-change element of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide layer is formed of an oxide semiconductor material including at least one cation of Zn, In, or Ga.

3. The selection element-integrated phase-change element of claim 2 , wherein the metal oxide layer is formed of a ZnO x -based material.

4. The selection element-integrated phase-change element of claim 3 , wherein the ZnO x -based material includes at least one of AZO, ZTO, IZO, ITO, IGZO, or Ag—ZnO.

5. The selection element-integrated phase-change element of claim 1 , wherein the phase-change material layer is formed of a compound, in which a transition metal is included in a phase-change material, to have a reverse phase-change characteristic in which the phase-change material layer has high resistance when a crystal state thereof is crystalline and has low resistance when the crystal state thereof is amorphous.

6. The selection element-integrated phase-change element of claim 5 , wherein a composition ratio in which the transition metal is included in the phase-change material is adjusted to maximize a resistance ratio of the phase-change material layer between when the crystal state thereof is crystalline and when the crystal state thereof is amorphous.

7. The selection element-integrated phase-change element of claim 5 , wherein the phase-change material includes at least one of Ge, Sb, or Te, and

the transition metal includes at least one of Cr, Ti, Ni, Zn, Cu, or Mo.

8. A method of producing a selection element-integrated phase-change element used in a phase-change memory device, the method comprising:

forming a phase-change material layer of P type having a crystal state changing due to heat supplied from a first electrode and a second electrode included in the phase-change memory device; and

forming a metal oxide layer of N type so that the metal oxide layer contacts the phase-change material layer,

wherein the selection element-integrated phase-change element is formed in a PN diode structure to selectively switch, to the phase-change material layer, heat supplied from the first electrode and the second electrode.

9. A phase-change memory device comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode;

a phase-change material layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; and

a semiconductor material layer arranged between one of the first electrode or the second electrode and the phase-change material layer and operating as a selection element for the phase-change material layer by using Schottky diode characteristics of a contact interface with the one electrode.

10. The phase-change memory device of claim 9 , wherein the one electrode and the semiconductor material layer form a PN diode structure to selectively switch, to the phase-change material layer, heat supplied from the first electrode and the second electrode.

11. The phase-change memory device of claim 10 , wherein the one electrode and the semiconductor material layer have a PN diode structure as the one electrode is formed P type and the semiconductor material layer is formed N type.

12. The phase-change memory device of claim 10 , wherein the semiconductor material layer is formed of an N-type oxide semiconductor material including at least one cation of Zn, In, or Ga.

13. The phase-change memory device of claim 12 , wherein the semiconductor material layer is formed of a ZnO x -based material.

14. The phase-change memory device of claim 13 , wherein the ZnO x -based material includes at least one of AZO, ZTO, IZO, ITO, IGZO, or Ag—ZnO.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2020
From: SONG, YUN HEUB; JEONG, JAE KYEONG
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054330/0476 →
Priority Claims (3)
KR 10-2018-0059057 · May 24, 2018 · national
KR 10-2018-0061256 · May 29, 2018 · national
KR 10-2018-0164317 · Dec 18, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210376233A1 · Dec 2, 2021