IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,127,790
Granted Patent B2
US 11,127,790 · App. 16/532,068 · Granted Sep 21, 2021

Phase change memory structure and manufacturing method for the same

Inventor: Jau-Yi Wu (Hsinchu County, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
H01L27/2436G11C13/0004H01L45/06H01L45/126H01L45/144H01L45/148
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,127,790
App. No.
16/532,068
Granted
Sep 21, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Present disclosure provides a phase change memory structure, including a transistor region, a phase change material over the transistor region, a heater over the transistor region and in contact with the phase change material, and a dielectric layer surrounding the heater and the phase change material. The heater includes a first material having a first thermal conductivity, the first material disposed at a periphery of the heater, and a second material having a second thermal conductivity greater than the first thermal conductivity, the second material disposed at a center of the heater. Present disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing the phase change memory structure described herein.

Claims (47)

1. A phase change memory (PCM) structure, comprising:

a transistor region;

a phase change material over the transistor region;

a heater over the transistor region and in contact with the phase change material, the heater comprising:

a first material having a first thermal conductivity; and

a second material having a second thermal conductivity greater than the first thermal conductivity, the second material disposed at a center of the heater;

wherein the phase change material is in direct contact with the second material.

2. The PCM structure of claim 1 , wherein the heater is in contact with the phase change material at a first surface comprising the first material and the second material.

3. The PCM structure of claim 1 , further comprising a first metallization layer between the transistor region and the phase change material.

4. The PCM structure of claim 3 , wherein the first metallization layer comprises a bottom electrode and the heater is extending from the bottom electrode to a bottom of the phase change material.

5. The PCM structure of claim 3 , further comprising a second metallization layer over the phase change material.

6. The PCM structure of claim 5 , wherein further comprising a top electrode between the second metallization layer and the phase change material.

7. The PCM structure of claim 1 , further comprising a dielectric layer in contact with the first material of the phase change material.

8. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a transistor;

a first metallization layer over the transistor;

a phase change material over the first metallization layer;

a second metallization layer over the phase change material;

a heater between the first metallization layer and the second metallization layer and in contact with the phase change material, the heater comprising:

a first material having a first heat conductivity; and

a second material contacting the first material and having a second heat conductivity different from the first heat conductivity; and

an insulation layer contacting the first material, the second material, and the phase change material.

9. The semiconductor device of claim 8 , wherein the heater first material comprises a heat insulation shell and the second material comprises a heat conducting core, the first thermal conductivity of the heat insulation shell is smaller than the second thermal conductivity of the heat conducting core.

10. The semiconductor device of claim 9 , wherein the heater is in contact with the phase change material at a first surface comprising the heat insulation shell and the heat conducting core.

11. The semiconductor device of claim 8 , wherein a width of the heater is narrower than a width of the phase change material.

12. The semiconductor device of claim 8 , wherein the heater is spaced from a surface of the phase change material by the insulation layer.

13. The semiconductor device of claim 9 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the insulation layer is lower than the thermal conductivity of the heat conducting core.

14. The semiconductor device of claim 9 , wherein the insulation layer comprises graded oxygen derivatives of the heat insulation shell and the heat conducting core.

15. The semiconductor device of claim 9 , wherein the heat insulation shell comprises a superlattice structure.

16. A method for manufacturing a phase change memory structure, comprising:

forming a first metal layer;

forming a dielectric layer over the first metal layer, the dielectric layer patterned with a contact trench;

depositing a heat insulation layer having an effective first thermal conductivity in the contact trench;

filling the contact trench with a heat conductive material having a second thermal conductivity greater than the effective first thermal conductivity;

forming a phase change material over and in contact with the heat conductive material and the heat insulation layer; and

forming a second metal layer over the phase change material.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein forming the first metal layer comprises forming a first metallization layer.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising forming an insulation layer derived from the heat insulation layer and the heat conductive material prior to forming the phase change material.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein forming the insulation layer comprises performing an oxidation operation.

20. A method for manufacturing a phase change memory structure, comprising:

forming a first metal layer;

forming a dielectric layer over the first metal layer, the dielectric layer patterned with a contact trench;

depositing a heat insulation layer having an effective first thermal conductivity in the contact trench;

filling the contact trench with a heat conductive material having a second thermal conductivity greater than the effective first thermal conductivity;

forming a phase change material over and in contact with the heat conductive material and the heat insulation layer; and

forming a second metal layer over the phase change material,

wherein the depositing the heat insulation layer comprises forming a superlattice structure.

Continuity (2)
Continuation 15792370 · Oct 24, 2017
Related Publication 20190363136A1 · Nov 28, 2019