1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to memory devices, and more particularly, to Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) devices and methods of fabrication thereof.
2. Background Art
It will be understood that the device stack must be properly formed to ensure proper operation of the device 30. For example, it is highly desirable that the etchant provide proper, even etching of the materials of the electrodes 22, 26 and insulating layer 24, meanwhile leaving the exposed material of the substrate 20 substantially intact (the “selectivity” of the etchant refers to the ability to properly remove selected material while leaving other material in contact therewith substantially intact). While the MIM device 30 of
In addition the above described approach has limited scaleability, resulting in less efficient manufacturing approaches.
Therefore, what is needed is an approach which avoids the above-cited problems, providing a properly and consistently formed MIM device with improved scaleability.
A present method of fabricating a memory device comprises providing a dielectric layer, providing an opening in the dielectric layer, providing a first conductive body in the opening, providing a switching body in the opening, the first conductive body and switching body filling the opening, and providing a second conductive body over the switching body.
The present invention is better understood upon consideration of the detailed description below, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. As will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, there is shown and described embodiments of this invention simply by way of the illustration of the best mode to carry out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications and various obvious aspects, all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as said preferred mode of use, and further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Reference is now made in detail to specific embodiments of the present invention which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for practicing the invention.
With reference to
A nitride, for example SiN or SiON layer or ARC bilayer 110 is deposited over the resulting structure, to a thickness of for example 1000 angstroms. Using standard photolithographic techniques, openings 112, 114 are provided through the nitride layer 110 over the respective plugs 106, 108 so as to expose those plugs 106, 108. A conductive layer 116 is deposited on the resulting structure, on the nitride layer 110 and in the openings 112, 114 to contact the plugs 106, 108. The conductive layer 116 may for example be Ta, TaN, Ti, TiTiN, W, WN, Ni, Co, Al, Cu or any other suitable material. This deposition may be undertaken by for example PVD, ALD, CVD, PECVD or MOCVD.
Referring to
Referring to
An encapsulating dielectric layer 122, for example SiN, SiC, or a bilayer of SiN/SiON, SiC/SiN, or SiC/SiON, is deposited on the resulting structure. An oxidative pretreatment may be undertaken prior to this deposition to improve adhesion and form an insulating layer across the common surface. Using standard photolithographic techniques, openings 123, 124 are provided in the layer 122 to expose the conductive bodies 120A, 120B. A conductive metal layer 126 is deposited on the resulting structure, connected to the conductive bodies 120A, 120B by conductive Ti/TiN glue layers 128, 130. As an alternative in this and other embodiments showing and describing an encapsulating layer (layer 122 in this embodiment), this encapsulating layer can be eliminated and the metal layer subsequently provided (layer 126 in this embodiment) can be directly deposited.
The conductive body 116A (electrode), switching body 118A, and conductive body 120A (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 132. Likewise, the conductive body 116B (electrode), switching body 118B, and conductive body 120B (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 134. The present approach is a damascene process wherein elements are provided in trenches and chemical-mechanical planarization processes are undertaken thereon. As will be seen, using this approach, etching to form the MIM device is not used, avoiding the problems described above. Rather, a highly efficient and simple approach as presently described is used. Furthermore, this approach allows for improved scaleability in fabricating the structure.
The conductive body 116A (electrode), switching body 118A, and conductive body, i.e., glue layer 128 (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 132. Likewise, the conductive body 116B (electrode), switching body 118B, and conductive body, i.e., glue layer 130 (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 134. This approach provides advantages similar to those set forth above with regard to the embodiment of
An encapsulating dielectric layer 122 is deposited on the resulting structure. Using standard photolithographic techniques, openings 123, 124 are provided in the layer 122 to expose the conductive bodies 142A, 142B. A conductive metal layer 126 is deposited on the resulting structure, connected to the conductive bodies 142A, 142B by conductive Ti/TiN glue layers 128, 130.
The conductive body 116A (electrode), switching body 140A, and conductive body 142A (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 132. Likewise, the conductive body 116B (electrode), switching body 140B, and conductive body 142B (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 134.
Next, a conductive layer 160 is deposited on the resulting structure. Using standard photolithographic techniques, the conductive layer 160 is patterned as illustrated, so that conductive body 160A is on the switching body 156A, and conductive body 160B is on the switching body 156B.
An encapsulating dielectric layer 122 is deposited on the resulting structure. Using standard photolithographic techniques, openings 123, 124 are provided in the layer 122 to expose the conductive bodies 160A, 160B. A conductive metal layer 126 is deposited on the resulting structure, connected to the conductive bodies 160A, 160B by conductive Ti/TiN glue layers 128, 130.
The conductive body 116A (electrode), switching body 156A, and conductive body 160A (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 132. Likewise, the conductive body 116B (electrode), switching body 156B, and conductive body 160B (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 134.
An encapsulating dielectric layer 122 is deposited on the resulting structure. Using standard photolithographic techniques, openings 123, 124 are provided in the layer 122 to expose the conductive bodies 156A, 156B. A conductive metal layer 126 is deposited on the resulting structure, connected to the conductive bodies 156A, 156B by conductive Ti/TiN glue layers 128, 130.
The conductive body 116A (electrode), switching body 156A, and conductive body, i.e. glue layer 128, (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 132. Likewise, the conductive body 116B (electrode), switching body 156B, and conductive body, i.e. glue layer 130 (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 134.
A conductive layer 214 is deposited on the resulting structure, on the nitride layer 110 and in the remaining openings 216, 218 to contact the plugs 106, 108 (
Next, a conductive layer 230 is deposited on the resulting structure. Using standard photolithographic techniques, the conductive layer 230 is patterned to form conductive bodies 230A, 230B, conductive body 230A on and in contact with switching body 220A, and conductive body 230B on and in contact with switching body 220B (
With reference to
The conductive body 214A (electrode), switching body 220A, and conductive body 230A (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 132. Likewise, the conductive body 214B (electrode), switching body 220B, and conductive body 230B (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 134.
A conductive layer 254 is deposited on the resulting structure, and in the remaining openings 256, 258 (
Next, a conductive layer 262 is deposited on the resulting structure. Then, a conductive layer 264, for example TiN, TaN, TiTiN, or WN, is deposited on the conductive layer 262. Using standard photolithographic techniques, the conductive layer 262 and conductive layer 264 are patterned to form conductive bodies 266, 268, conductive body 266 on and in contact with switching body 260A, and conductive body 268 on and in contact with switching body 260B (
An encapsulating dielectric layer 122 is deposited on the resulting structure. Using standard photolithographic techniques, openings 123, 124 are provided in the layer 122 to expose the conductive bodies 266, 268. A conductive metal layer 126 is deposited on the resulting structure, connected to the conductive bodies 266, 268 by conductive Ti/TiN glue layers 128, 130 (
The conductive body 254A (electrode), switching body 260A, and conductive body 266 (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 132. Likewise, the conductive body 254B (electrode), switching body 260B, and conductive body 268 (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 134.
An encapsulating dielectric layer 122 is deposited on the resulting structure. Using standard photolithographic techniques, openings 123, 124 are provided in the layer 122 to expose the conductive bodies 266, 268. A conductive metal layer 126 is deposited on the resulting structure, connected to the conductive bodies 266, 268 by conductive Ti/TiN glue layers 128, 130 (
The conductive body 254A (electrode), switching body 276A, and conductive body 266 (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 132. Likewise, the conductive body 254B (electrode), switching body 276B, and conductive body 268 (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 134.
An encapsulating dielectric layer 122 is deposited on the resulting structure. Using standard photolithographic techniques, openings 123, 124 are provided in the layer 122 and layer 296 to expose the conductive bodies 292, 294. A conductive metal layer 126 is provided over the resulting structure, connected to the conductive bodies 292, 294 by conductive Ti/TiN glue layers 128, 130 (
The conductive body 214A (electrode), switching body 286A, and conductive body 292 (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 132. Likewise, the conductive body 214B (electrode), switching body 286B, and conductive body 294 (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 132.
The conductive body 214A (electrode), switching body 286A, and conductive body, i.e. glue layer 128 (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 132. Likewise, the conductive body 214B (electrode), switching body 286B, and conductive body, i.e., glue layer 130 (electrode) form a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) memory device 134.
The present approach provides various damascene processes for forming metal-insulator-medal memory devices. The various methods are straightforward and efficient in properly forming such devices. In particular, the problems set forth with regard to etching of materials to form devices is avoided. In addition, the present approaches provide for a high degree of scalability of devices.
The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Other modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings.
The embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill of the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
This application is a Divisional Application of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/521,204, filed on Sep. 14, 2006, titled “DAMASCENE METAL-INSULATOR-METAL (MIM) DEVICE WITH IMPROVED SCALEABILITY,” by Pangrle, et al, which is herein incorporated by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11521204 | Sep 2006 | US |
Child | 13529284 | US |