IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,530,939
Granted Patent B2
US 8,530,939 · App. 13/484,944 · Granted Sep 10, 2013

Cross-point memory structures

Inventors: Scott Sills (Boise, ID); Gurtej S. Sandhu (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,530,939
App. No.
13/484,944
Granted
Sep 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiments include cross-point memory structures. The structures may include a line of first electrode material extending along a first horizontal direction, a multi-sided container of access device materials over the first electrode material, a memory element material within the multi-sided container, and a line of second electrode material over the memory element material and extending along a second horizontal direction that is orthogonal to the first horizontal direction. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays. The methods may include forming a memory cell stack over a first electrode material, and then patterning the first electrode material and the memory cell stack into a first set of spaced lines extending along a first horizontal direction. Spaced lines of second electrode material may be formed over the first set of spaced lines, and may extend along a second horizontal direction that is orthogonal to the first horizontal direction.

Claims (25)

1. A cross-point memory structure, comprising:

a line of first electrode material extending along a first direction across a silicon-containing semiconductor substrate; the first electrode material comprising one or more of platinum, titanium nitride and tantalum nitride;

a multi-sided container of access device materials over the first electrode material, the access device materials including an electrically conductive metal-containing material and at least two insulative materials, the insulative materials being between the electrically conductive metal-containing material and the first electrode material;

memory element material within the multi-sided container; and

a line of second electrode material over the memory element material and extending along a second direction that intersects the first direction of the line of first electrode material.

2. The cross-point memory structure of claim 1 wherein the memory element material extends outwardly of the container.

3. The cross-point memory structure of claim 1 wherein the multi-sided container is a two-sided container.

4. The cross-point memory structure of claim 1 wherein the multi-sided container is a four-sided container.

5. The cross-point memory structure of claim 4 wherein the four-sided container is within a four-sided opening laterally bounded by two types of material, wherein two of the four sides of the opening are laterally bounded by one of the two types of material, and wherein another two of the four sides of the opening are laterally bounded by another of the two types of material.

6. The cross-point memory structure of claim 1 wherein:

the first electrode material has a low work function relative to the electrically conductive metal-containing material, and

the electrically conductive metal-containing material comprises one or more compositions selected from the group consisting of tantalum silicon nitride, chromium and tantalum.

7. A cross-point memory structure, comprising:

a first electrode material structure over a semiconductor substrate;

a multi-sided container of access device materials over the first electrode material structure, the access device materials including an electrically conductive metal-containing material and at least two insulative materials, the insulative materials being between the electrically conductive metal-containing material and the first electrode material;

memory element material withi the multi-sided container;

a second electrode material structure over the memory element material; and

wherein the first and second electrode material structures are composed by intersecting line structures.

8. The cross-point memory structure of claim 7 wherein the multi-sided container is a four-sided container.

9. The cross-point memory structure of claim 8 wherein the four-sided container is within a four-sided opening laterally bounded by two types of material, wherein two of the four sides of the opening are laterally bounded by one of the two types of material, and wherein another two of the four sides of the opeing are laterally bounded by another of the two types of material.

10. A cross-point memory structure, comprising:

a line of first electrode material extending along a first horizontal direction;

a multi-sided container of access device materials over the first electrode material, the access device materials including an electrically conductive metal-containing material and at least two insulative materials, the insulative materials being between the electrically conductive metal-containing material and the first electrode material;

memory element material within the multi-sided container; wherein the memory element material includes a plug portion within the multi-sided container; wherein the electrically conductive metal-containing material extends along downwardly-extending sidewalls of the plug portion as well as along a bottom of the plug portion; and

a line of second electrode material over the memory element material and extending along a second horizontal direction that is orthogonal to the first horizontal direction of the line of first electrode material.

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 (3)
Continuation 13213718 · Aug 19, 2011
Division 12389142 · Feb 19, 2009
Related Publication 20120235211A1 · Sep 20, 2012