IP Library Granted Patent US 9,231,206
Granted Patent B2
US 9,231,206 · App. 14/026,883 · Granted Jan 5, 2016

Methods of forming a ferroelectric memory cell

Inventors: Qian Tao (Boise, ID); Matthew N. Rocklein (Boise, ID); Beth R. Cook (Meridian, ID); D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
H01L45/1608H01L27/11507H01L28/60H01L45/04H01L45/1641
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,231,206
App. No.
14/026,883
Granted
Jan 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of forming a ferroelectric memory cell. The method comprises forming an electrode material exhibiting a desired dominant crystallographic orientation. A hafnium-based material is formed over the electrode material and the hafnium-based material is crystallized to induce formation of a ferroelectric material having a desired crystallographic orientation. Additional methods are also described, as are semiconductor device structures including the ferroelectric material.

Claims (31)

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

forming an electrode material comprising titanium nitride by atomic layer deposition;

forming a hafnium-based material over the electrode material; and

crystallizing the hafnium-based material to induce formation of a ferroelectric material having a desired crystallographic orientation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming an electrode material comprising titanium nitride by atomic layer deposition comprises forming crystalline titanium nitride.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming an electrode material comprising titanium nitride by atomic layer deposition comprises forming titanium nitride in a dominant (111) crystallographic orientation.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein forming titanium nitride in a dominant (111) crystallographic orientation comprises forming the titanium nitride in the dominant (111) crystallographic orientation using an organometallic precursor.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein forming titanium nitride in a dominant (111) crystallographic orientation comprises forming the titanium nitride in the dominant (111) crystallographic orientation using titanium tetrachloride and ammonia.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein crystallizing the hafnium-based material comprises forming orthorhombic hafnium silicate over the titanium nitride in the dominant (111) crystallographic orientation.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein crystallizing the hafnium-based material comprises forming hafnium silicate in a dominant (200) crystallographic orientation over the titanium nitride in the dominant (111) crystallographic orientation.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein forming hafnium silicate over the titanium nitride in the dominant (111) crystallographic orientation comprises forming hafnium silicate in a dominant (200) crystallographic orientation over the titanium nitride in the dominant (111) crystallographic orientation.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming a hafnium-based material over the electrode material comprises forming an amorphous hafnium-based material over the electrode material.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming a hafnium-based material over the electrode material comprises forming hafnium silicate, hafnium aluminate, hafnium zirconate, strontium-doped hafnium oxide, magnesium-doped hafnium oxide, gadolinium-doped hafnium oxide, yttrium-doped hafnium oxide, or combinations thereof over the electrode material.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein crystallizing the hafnium-based material comprises annealing the hafnium-based material.

12. A method of forming a ferroelectric memory cell, comprising:

forming an electrode material comprising titanium nitride in a dominant (111) crystallographic orientation;

forming an amorphous hafnium silicate material over the electrode material;

forming another electrode material over the amorphous hafnium silicate material; and

crystallizing the amorphous hafnium silicate material to induce formation of a dominant (200) crystallographic orientation of the hafnium silicate.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein forming an electrode material comprising titanium nitride in a dominant (111) crystallographic orientation comprises forming the titanium nitride by an atomic layer deposition process.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein crystallizing the amorphous hafnium silicate material to induce formation of a dominant (200) crystallographic orientation of the hafnium silicate comprises exposing the amorphous hafnium silicate material to a temperature greater than about 800° C.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein forming another electrode material over the amorphous hafnium silicate material comprises forming titanium nitride over the amorphous hafnium silicate material.

16. A method of forming a ferroelectric memory cell, comprising:

forming a titanium nitride material comprising

forming the titanium nitride in a dominant (111) crystallographic orientation by atomic layer deposition;

forming an amorphous hafnium-based material over the titanium nitride material; and

crystallizing the amorphous hafnium-based material to induce formation of a dominant crystallographic orientation.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein forming an amorphous hafnium-based material over the titanium nitride material comprises forming hafnium silicate, hafnium aluminate, hafnium zirconate, strontium-doped hafnium oxide, magnesium-doped hafnium oxide, gadolinium-doped hafnium oxide, yttrium-doped hafnium oxide, or combinations thereof over the titanium nitride material.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein forming an amorphous hafnium-based material over the titanium nitride material comprises forming hafnium silicate comprising from about 4.4 mol % to about 5.6 mol % silicon over the titanium nitride material.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein crystallizing the amorphous hafnium-based material to induce formation of a dominant crystallographic orientation comprises forming hafnium silicate comprising a dominant (200) crystallographic orientation.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein forming a titanium nitride material comprising a dominant (111) crystallographic orientation comprises forming a greater amount of the titanium nitride material in the (111) crystallographic orientation than in another crystallographic orientation.

Assignments (8)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2013
From: TAO, QIAN; ROCKLEIN, MATTHEW N.; COOK, BETH R.; RAMASWAMY, D. V. NIRMAL
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 031206/0137 →
Continuity (1)
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