Low temperature deposition of phase change memory materials

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 8679894
  • Patent Number
    8,679,894
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, September 12, 2012
    11 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 25, 2014
    10 years ago
Abstract
A system and method for forming a phase change memory material on a substrate, in which the substrate is contacted with precursors for a phase change memory chalcogenide alloy under conditions producing deposition of the chalcogenide alloy on the substrate, at temperature below 350° C., with the contacting being carried out via chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition. Various tellurium, germanium and germanium-tellurium precursors are described, which are useful for forming GST phase change memory films on substrates.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention


The present invention relates to low temperature deposition of phase change memory materials, by deposition techniques such as chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition, to form microelectronic device structures.


2. Description of the Related Art


Phase Change Memory (PCM) refers to a novel memory technology based on chalcogenide materials that undergo a phase change via a heater and are read out as “0” or “1” based on their electrical resistivity, which changes in correspondence to whether the phase change material in the cell is in the crystalline or amorphous phase.


The chalcogenide materials used in PCM comprise a large number of binary, ternary, and quaternary alloys of a number of metals and metalloids. Examples include GeSbTe, GeSbInTe, and many others. As contained herein, the identification of compounds such as GeSbTe and GeSbInTe without appertaining stoichiometric coefficients or values will be understood as a general representation inclusive of all forms of such compounds containing the specified elements, and inclusive of all appertaining stoichiometric coefficients and values. For example, the reference to GeSbInTe includes Ge2Sb2Te5, as well as all other stoichiometric forms of such compound GeSbInTe.


PCM devices require relatively pure chalconide material alloys, with well controlled composition. Current processes for making PCM devices utilize physical vapor deposition to deposit thin films of these chalconide materials. The thick planar structures of the current generation are well-served by PVD.


As device geometries shrink, the chalconide material must be deposited into vias in order to control the phase transition and the necessary heat transfer. Such implementation of chalconide materials can also be beneficial in improving reliability of small volume devices.


A major deficiency in the current art is the requirement of high deposition temperatures needed for conventionally employed alkyl (e.g., Me3Sb, Me2Te) or halide sources. These temperatures are typically well in excess of 300° C., and may for example be on the order of 500° C. Such high temperatures substantially exceed the thermal budget for device integration and can result in the evaporation of the chalcogenide, rendering the product PCM device deficient or even useless for its intended purpose.


The art continues to seek improvements in the art of PCM devices, including improvements in manufacturing techniques and improved precursors useful for forming memory device structures.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and processes for deposition of phase change memory material on substrates, for fabrication of a phase change memory devices.


The invention relates in one aspect to a method of forming a phase change memory material on a substrate, comprising contacting the substrate with precursors for a phase change memory chalcogenide alloy under conditions producing deposition of the chalcogenide alloy on the substrate, wherein such conditions comprise temperature below 350° C. and such contacting comprises chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.


In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of forming a germanium-antimony-tellurium phase change memory material on a substrate, comprising contacting the substrate with precursors for a phase change memory germanium-antimony-tellurium alloy under conditions producing deposition of the germanium-antimony-tellurium alloy on the substrate, wherein such conditions comprise temperature below 350° C. and such contacting comprises chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition, with the precursors comprising at least one halide precursor.


Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a system for fabricating a phase change memory device including a phase change memory material on a substrate, such system including a deposition tool adapted to receive precursors from precursor supply packages, and precursor supply packages containing precursors for forming a phase change memory chalcogenide alloy under conditions producing deposition of the chalcogenide alloy on the substrate, wherein such deposition tool is adapted for chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition operation under conditions comprising deposition temperature below 350° C.


A further aspect of the invention relates to a system for fabricating a germanium-antimony-tellurium phase change memory device including a germanium-antimony-tellurium phase change memory material on a substrate, such system comprising a deposition tool adapted to receive precursors from precursor supply packages, and precursor supply packages containing germanium, antimony and tellurium precursors for forming a germanium-antimony-tellurium phase change memory chalcogenide alloy under conditions producing deposition of the chalcogenide alloy on the substrate, wherein the deposition tool is adapted for chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition operation under conditions comprising deposition temperature below 350° C., and at least one of the precursor supply packages contains a halide precursor.


Additional aspects of the invention relate to PCM films formed in accordance with the present invention; corresponding devices; tellurium complexes, germanium complexes, germanium tellurides, and processes utilizing same for forming GST films; compositions including combinations of precursors for forming PCM films; and packaged precursors adapted for coupling to a deposition tool comprising such compositions, as hereinafter more fully described.


Other aspects, features and embodiments of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a phase change memory device comprising a phase change memory material film formed on a substrate, according to one embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a process installation including a deposition tool for depositing a phase change memory material on a substrate in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, from respective precursor supply packages of germanium precursor, antimony precursor and tellurium precursor.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF

The present invention relates to deposition of phase change memory materials to form PCM devices.


More specifically, the invention in one aspect relates to chalcogenide alloys, and to their low temperature deposition e.g., by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD), to form PCM devices. CVD and ALD methods are employed in the practice of the present invention to achieve scalability to large area wafers and for composition control. Preferred chalconide alloys include alloys including two or more of germanium, antimony and tellurium.


As used herein, the term “low temperature” means a temperature below 350° C. The temperature at which the PCM material is deposited is preferably less than 300° C., more preferably less than 250° C. and most preferably less than 225° C.


In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of forming a phase change memory material on a substrate, comprising contacting the substrate with precursors for a phase change memory chalcogenide alloy under conditions producing deposition of the chalcogenide alloy on the substrate, wherein such conditions comprise temperature below 350° C. and such contacting comprises chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.


The advantages of chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition at low deposition temperature in the fabrication of PCM devices include substantial improvement of read/re-write times in small devices, as a result of the high conformality of the deposited PCM material.


Such method may further include fabricating said phase change memory material is into a phase change memory device.


The chalcogenide metal and metal alloy precursors that are advantageously used for forming PCM films and devices include:


(i) butyl- and propyl-substituted alkyl hydrides of the formula RxMHy-x wherein: R is butyl or propyl, with R preferably being t-butyl or isopropyl; M is a metal having an oxidation state y, e.g., Ge, Sb or Te; x>1; and (y-x) may have a zero value;


(ii) butyl- and propyl-substituted alkyl halides of the formula RxMXy-x wherein: R is butyl or propyl, with R preferably being t-butyl or isopropyl; X is F, Cl, or Br; M is a metal having an oxidation state y, e.g., Ge, Sb or Te; x>1; and (y-x) may have a zero value;


(iii) digermanes of the formula Ge2(R1)6 wherein the R1 substituents are the same as or different from one another, and each R1 is independently selected from among H, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 fluoroalkyl, C6-C12 aryl, C6-C12 fluoroaryl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and C3-C8 cyclo-fluoroalkyl, with illustrative digermanes including Ge2H6, Ge2Me6, Ge2Et6, Ge2iPr6, Ge2tBu6, Ge2(SiMe3)6 and Ge2Ph6, wherein Me=methyl, Et=ethyl, iPr=isopropyl, Bu=butyl and Ph=phenyl;


(iv) digermanes of the formula Ge2(R1)4 wherein the R1 substituents are the same as or different from one another, and each R1 is independently selected from among H, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 fluoroalkyl, C6-C12 aryl, C6-C12 fluoroaryl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and C3-C8 cyclo-fluoroalkyl, with illustrative digermanes including Ge2Ph, wherein Ph=phenyl;


(v) ring compounds including Ge as a ring constituent, e.g., five-member ring compounds;


(vi) Ge(II) compounds of the formula Ge(Cp(R2)5)2 wherein Cp is cyclopentadienyl having R2 substituents on the cyclopentadienyl ring carbon atoms, wherein the R2 substituents are the same as or different from one another, and each R2 is independently selected from among H, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 fluoroalkyl, C1-C8 alkylamino, C6-C12 aryl, C6-C12 fluoroaryl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and C3-C8 cyclo-fluoroalkyl;


(vii) Ge(II) compounds of the formula Ge(R3)2, wherein the R3 substituents are the same as or different from one another, and each R3 is independently selected from among silyl, silylalkyl and substituted silylalkyl, e.g., wherein each R3 is —CH(SiMe3)2;


(viii) Sb compounds of the formula Sb(R4)3 wherein R4 is phenyl, or substituted phenyl whose substituent(s) on the phenyl ring are independently selected from among H, C1-C8 alkyl, and C1-C8 fluoroalkyl;


(ix) Sb and Te analogs of germanium compounds (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), and (vii);


(x) Ge and Te analogs of antimony compounds (viii); and


(xi) GeI4, SbI3 and TeI2.


It will be appreciated that the component metal species may have different oxidation states in the various above-mentioned compounds.


The above listing of precursors, in reference to the digermanes, germane ring compounds and Ge(II) compounds identified above, may further include corresponding analogs wherein Ge is replaced by Sb or Te. Likewise, the above listing of precursors, in reference to the Sb compounds identified above, may further include corresponding analogs wherein Sb is replaced by Ge or Te.


Various of the above compounds, e.g., antimony compounds of group (viii), are light-sensitive in character and amenable to light/UV-activated processes for PCM deposition. Such compounds thus may be exposed to radiation for activation during the deposition, involving visible light exposure or ultraviolet light exposure.


The deposition may be carried out in a chamber of a deposition reactor, as a deposition tool that is arranged and adapted for production of PCM products. The invention contemplates the provision of doping of the deposited PCM material, with dopant species that improve the character of the deposited material for PCM applications. For example, oxygen doping may be employed, or doping with other implanted species, to provide PCM films of superior character. The invention also contemplates the in situ doping of the PCM material at the time of its formation on the substrate.


A still further aspect of the invention relates to a system for fabricating a phase change memory device including a phase change memory material on a substrate, such system including a deposition tool adapted to receive precursors from precursor supply packages, and precursor supply packages containing precursors for forming a phase change memory chalcogenide alloy under conditions producing deposition of the chalcogenide alloy on the substrate, wherein such deposition tool is adapted for chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition operation under conditions comprising deposition temperature below 350° C.


The chalcogenide metal and alloy precursors described above have been discovered to provide superior deposition when utilized in CVD and ALD processes, with lower deposition temperatures employed in the CVD or ALD process than have heretofore been achievable using physical vapor deposition techniques. Such lower temperature deposition capability in CVD and ALD processes is realized as a result of the chalcogenide metal or metal alloy compound undergoing beta hydrogen elimination reaction in the CVD and ALD deposition processes, e.g., involving iso-propyl and/or t-butyl groups. The digermane compositions benefit from the low bond energy of Ge—Ge. The Ge(II) compounds are easier to reduce than Ge(IV) compounds.


The chalcogenide metal or metal alloy precursors for the PCM material deposition may be provided in any suitable form, including solids, liquids and gases, and multiphase compositions, depending on the specific precursors involved. The precursors can be delivered to the deposition chamber, for carrying out CVD or ALD therein, by any suitable delivery techniques, dependent on their phase characteristics, required flow rate, temperature, etc. Co-reactants may be employed with the precursors to effect the CVD or ALD operation.


The precursor and co-reactant species can be supplied from material storage and dispensing packages of any suitable type, depending on the phase and the material characteristics of the precursor involved. For example, the storage and dispensing packages may include supply vessels of a type commercially available from ATMI, Inc. (Danbury, Conn., USA) under the trademarks SDS, VAC, SAGE or ProE-Vap. The storage and dispensing packages in preferred practice can comprise sub-atmospheric pressure systems providing improved safety and cost of ownership character, in relation to conventional high pressure material sources, such as the aforementioned packages available under the SDS, VAC and SAGE trademarks.


In such system and method, at least one of the precursors can be delivered for the contacting from a storage and dispensing vessel containing at least one of physical adsorbent, a gas low pressure regulator, a heat transfer structure, or an ionic liquid. The storage and dispensing vessel advantageously is adapted to contain precursor at sub-atmospheric pressure.


For example, the precursor when in a solid or liquid form can be volatilized to form a precursor vapor which then is flowed to the deposition chamber and contacted with the substrate on which the PCM device is to be fabricated. The substrate in such instance can be suitably heated, by a susceptor or other heating arrangement, whereby the contact between the precursor vapor and the substrate results in the deposition of a PCM material, e.g., in a film, on the substrate. As used in such context, the term “film” means a layer of the PCM material that is below 1 micrometer in thickness.


In the delivery operation associated with the CVD or ALD process, wherein the precursors are in a liquid state, separate bubblers or other delivery equipment can be employed for each precursor. Liquid injection of mixtures of precursors can be advantageously employed to manage disparate volatilities of the different precursors and to deliver precise volumetric flows of precursor medium having a desired composition. In the precursor delivery, the precursors may be utilized in the form of neat liquids, or precursor/solvent mixtures may be employed, in which the precursor is dissolved or suspended in a compatible solvent medium. Suitable solvents for such purpose can be identified by solubility and compatibility data for the precursor(s) of interest, or by routine solvent screening determinations, within the skill of the art, based on the disclosure herein.


The PCM material is deposited on the substrate by CVD or ALD techniques, in accordance with the invention.


When chemical vapor deposition is employed to form the PCM material layer on the substrate, continuous CVD in a thermal mode may be employed, with the CVD operation being conducted in a suitable CVD reactor chamber. The precursor vapor can be delivered in a carrier gas stream including the precursor vapor, and a carrier gas such as hydrogen, or other reducing gas, or an inert gas, or an oxidant, as may be desirable in a specific application.


When atomic layer deposition or pulsed deposition is used, a dose step involving introduction of the precursor vapor is alternated with injection into the deposition chamber of a co-reactant. The co-reactant can be of any suitable type, as effective to provide a PCM material layer of desired character on the substrate.


In one embodiment, the alternatingly introduced co-reactant is a hydrogen plasma, or other plasma co-reactant.


Alternatively, other activation techniques can be employed, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation or other light source “tuned” to the precursor to effect the deposition of the desired PCM material. Light used for such purpose can be continuous with the precursor introduction, or may be dosed separately into the deposition chamber to avoid gas-phase reactions.


The pulsed introduction of reagents into the deposition chamber in atomic layer deposition operation can include introduction of a reductive co-reactant in alternation with the introduction of the metal or metal alloy precursor. The reductive co-reactant may for example include GeH4.


The invention further contemplates use of a reductive co-reactant that is activatable by radiation exposure. Further, in ALD processes in accordance with the invention, the precursor for formation of the PCM material on the substrate is alternatingly pulsed into the deposition chamber. Thus, in instances in which the PCM material is deposited on a substrate in a pulsed introduction for contacting the substrate, it may be advantageous in some embodiments to utilize radiation to activate the PCM material and/or a co-reactant, e.g., to pulse the radiation source so that the PCM material or co-reactant are activated. Alternatively, if both PCM material and the co-reactant are radiation-activatable, then it may be desirable to maintain radiation generation and exposure throughout the deposition operation. As a still further variation, it may be desirable in some instances to pulse the radiation so that the radiation source is pulsed on when the precursor is not turned on.


The specific deposition conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, flow rate, composition, etc.) for the CVD or ALD operation that is employed to form the PCM layer on the substrate can be readily determined within the skill of the art, based on the disclosure herein. CVD and ALD systems and techniques generally applicable to the present invention are more fully described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/791,299 filed Apr. 12, 2006 for “PRECURSOR COMPOSITIONS FOR ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION AND CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION OF TITANATE DIELECTRIC FILMS,” the disclosure of which hereby is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.


In another specific aspect, the invention relates to low temperature deposition of germanium-antimony-tellurium (Ge—Sb—Te, or “GST”) material on substrates by a halide precursor approach.


More specifically, the invention in such aspect relates to a method of forming a germanium-antimony-tellurium phase change memory material on a substrate, comprising contacting the substrate with precursors for a phase change memory germanium-antimony-tellurium alloy under conditions producing deposition of the germanium-antimony-tellurium alloy on the substrate, wherein such conditions comprise temperature below 350° C. and such contacting comprises chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition, with the precursors comprising at least one halide precursor.


Germanium, antimony and tellurium halides are volatile, and usefully employed for depositing GST thin films. In particular, their iodides are volatile and the corresponding metal-iodine bonds are weak. Accordingly, GeI4, SbI3 and TeI2 are preferred halide source reagents for formation of GST films by CVD or ALD, e.g., using solid precursor delivery techniques.


Alternatively, one or two of the respective (Ge, Sb, Te) metals can be supplied from an iodide or other halide precursor compound(s), and the other one(s) of the metals can be supplied from alkyl metal compound(s). By way of specific illustrative example, the precursors can include GeI4 and TeI2 as halide precursors and Sb(CH3)3 as an alkyl precursor, to form the GST layer on the substrate. In such halide/alkyl precursor scheme, the alkyl(s) function as reducing agent(s) to eliminate iodo-methane, thereby enabling the achievement of clean GST films at low temperature.


The precursor delivery and deposition conditions can be readily determined, as appropriate for a given application of forming a GST material on a substrate, by simple empirical determination, to identify suitable temperatures, pressures, flow rates and concentrations to be employed for formation of suitable GST deposits on the substrate.


Thus, the invention contemplates a system for fabricating a germanium-antimony-tellurium phase change memory device including a germanium-antimony-tellurium phase change memory material on a substrate, such system comprising a deposition tool adapted to receive precursors from precursor supply packages, and precursor supply packages containing germanium, antimony and tellurium precursors for forming a germanium-antimony-tellurium phase change memory chalcogenide alloy under conditions producing deposition of the chalcogenide alloy on the substrate, wherein the deposition tool is adapted for chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition operation under conditions comprising deposition temperature below 350° C., and at least one of the precursor supply packages contains a halide precursor.


Substrates in the general practice of the present invention can be of any suitable type, and may be doped or undoped, semiconducting, semi-insulating, or of other suitable character for the device structure of the PCM product. Useful substrates in specific applications may include silicon, sapphire, gallium arsenide, gallium nitride, silicon carbide, and the like.


Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a phase change memory device 10 comprising a phase change memory material film 14 formed on a substrate 12, according to one embodiment of the invention. The film 14 may comprise a germanium-antimony-tellurium (GST) film, and the substrate may comprise any suitable substrate compatible with such film.



FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a process installation 100 including a deposition tool 120 for depositing a phase change memory material on a substrate in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, from respective precursor supply packages 102, 104 and 106 of germanium precursor (in vessel 102 labeled “Ge)), antimony precursor (in vessel 104 labeled “Sb”) and tellurium precursor (in vessel 106 labeled “Te”). Each of the precursor supply packages includes a storage and dispensing vessel equipped with a valve head assembly including a flow control valve that may be manually or automatically operated, to dispense the appertaining precursor on demand at a desired flow rate.


As illustrated, each of the precursor supply vessels is coupled with flow circuitry for delivery of the dispensed precursor to the tool 120. Thus, the germanium precursor supply package 102 is coupled to the tool by line 110, the antimony precursor supply package 104 is coupled to the tool by line 112, and the tellurium precursors supplied package 106 is coupled to the tool by line 114. The tool can comprise a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) tool, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) tool, or other suitable tool adapted to receive the respective precursors and to form a PCM alloy film on a substrate, in the fabrication of a corresponding PCM device.


Another aspect of the invention relates to dopants in GeSbTe semiconductors, which can be formed in polycrystalline form and thereby accommodate a wider range of stoichiometries and dopants than typical semiconductors. Doping with nitrogen from levels of a few tenths of 1% to a few percent can be beneficial to properties of such materials in specific applications. Although the following discussion is directed primarily to nitrogen as the dopant species, it will be appreciated that the invention is not thus limited, and extends to the use of other dopant species.


Doping may be carried out by use of a reactant gas such as ammonia, or a vaporizable liquid such as an amine, to introduce nitrogen into the film. The reaction gas may be introduced separately, as a co-reactant, or it may be used as a carrier for the precursor(s), in which case it may also act as a stabilizing agent for the precursor. If this reactant gas reacts in the gas phase with the precursor(s), it may be necessary to pulse it alternately with the precursor(s), optionally with purge steps between pulses. Such pulsing may also be beneficial if it is desirable to have non-homogeneous layers, in order to achieve different dopant concentrations in contact with one or more electrodes for physical (sticking layer) or electrical (fermi layer adjustment) purposes.


Doping may also be affected by incorporation of nitrogen from a precursor. Process adjustments, such as conducting the deposition in certain “process windows” of reactor pressure, temperature, and/or gas flow can be employed to control the amount of N incorporated, thereby enabling adjustment of doping parameters. Specific precursors for one or more of Ge, Sb and Te materials may be employed for such purpose.


In another approach, specific co-reactants are employed to induce reaction pathways with one or more of the precursors that lead to the desired level of N incorporation. By way of example, use of NH3 as a coreactant can be employed to enable lower temperature deposition and to promote N incorporation into the GST layer, compared to using H2 as a co-reactant.


Another aspect of the invention relates to tellurium complexes with beta-diketiminate ligands, which overcome the problems that many tellurium precursors used in deposition applications are very oxygen-sensitive and light-sensitive, and have an unpleasant odor. By base stabilization with beta-diketiminate ligands, a tellurium precursor is obtained of a highly stable character with improved handling and shelf life characteristics, reduced odor, and sufficient volatility for deposition applications.


The tellurium diketiminate complexes of the invention can be used for CVD/ALD to form Te or Te-containing films. These compounds can be used in combination with Ge- and/or Sb-compounds to produce Te—Ge—, Te—Sb— or Ge—Sb—Te films in varied compositions. A general procedure to synthesize diketiminate ligands has been described in the literature, but such procedure is disadvantageous, since very bulky aryl substituents on the coordinating nitrogen atoms are required.


In contrast, we have discovered that smaller alkyl ligands as iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl or amine-substituted alkyl groups, as for example ethylene-dimethylamine, can be advantageously used to produce superior tellurium diketiminate precursors for CVD/ALD applications. Smaller substituents on the nitrogen donor atoms provide sufficient volatility to form good films at low temperature.


The ligands L can be used as the lithium salt or in a free imine form to synthesize the desired Te complexes. The lithium salt of the ligand can be reacted with TeX4 (wherein X=Cl, Br, I) to generate LTeX3 by salt elimination, which can then be reacted with either a lithium or a Grignard reagent to produce LTeR3 (wherein R=alkyl, aryl, amide, silyl).


Alternatively the free imine form of the ligand L can be reacted with a tellurium organic compound such as TeMe4 to produce the desired Te species LTeMe3 by methane elimination. The diketiminate ligands provide very effective base stabilization of the reactive metal center tellurium. The invention therefore provides a new class of Te complexes that provide greater stability and shelf life, while retaining sufficient volatility to form superior Te films via CVD/ALD at low temperatures.


The tellurium complexes of the invention have the formulae (I) and (II):




embedded image



wherein R1, R2 and R3 they be the same as or different from one another, and each is independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl, C6-C10 aryl, silyl and C1-C12 alkylamine (which includes both monoalkylamine as well as dialkylamine); and




embedded image



wherein R1, R2 and R3 they be the same as or different from one another, and each is independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl, C6-C10 aryl, silyl and C1-C12 alkylamine (which includes both monoalkylamine as well as dialkylamine).


The beta-diketiminate ligands may for example be synthesized by the following procedure:




embedded image


The tellurium complexes then can be synthesized by the following reaction:




embedded image


or alternatively by the following synthesis reaction:




embedded image


or by the following synthesis reaction:




embedded image


The tellurium complexes of the invention are usefully employed as CVD/ALD precursors for deposition of tellurium-containing thin films, e.g., by liquid injection of neat precursor material, or in organic solvent or by direct evaporation.


The invention in another aspect relates to germanium complexes and their use in CVD/ALD for forming germanium-containing films, e.g., GST films, wherein the germanium complexes are selected from among:




embedded image



wherein the R groups in the second formula may be the same as or different from one another, and each is independently selected from among H, C1-C6 alkyl, C6-C10 aryl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, heteroatom groups, and other organo groups.


Another aspect of the invention relates to digermane and strained ring germanium precursors for CVD/ALD of germanium-containing thin films. Previously employed germanium precursors such as germane that have been used for forming GST (germanium-antimony-tellurium) films for phase change memory devices require very high temperature deposition conditions. This in turn makes it difficult to form a pure Ge2Sb2Te5 phase material.


The present invention overcomes this deficiency in the provision of precursors having a high vapor pressure at ambient conditions, which are useful to deposit germanium-containing films at temperatures below 300° C.


Germanium-germanium bonds are inherently weak (˜188 kJ/mole) and become less stable with electron withdrawing substituents such as chlorine or NMe2. Such bonds can readily dissociate to form R3Ge radicals under UV photolysis or thermolysis, or by chemical oxidation using peroxides, ozone, oxygen or plasma. Commercially available digermanes include hydride, methyl, phenyl, or ethyl groups that require high temperatures for decomposition and the resulting films are often contaminated with carbon residues.


We have overcome such deficiency by the provision of germanium complexes using as ligands isopropyl, isobutyl, benzyl, allyl, alkylamino, nitriles, or isonitriles to achieve complexes that enabled the deposition of pure germanium metal films at low temperatures. In addition, the invention contemplates strained-ring germanium complexes (e.g., germacyclobutane) that can undergo thermal ring opening to generate a diradical intermediate that readily dissociates to germylene fragments. The bond dissociation energy of the strained Ge—C bond (63 kcal/mol) is considerable lower than Ge—CH3 (83 kcal/mol), thereby enabling lower temperature film deposition of germanium to be achieved, than has been achievable with the aforementioned conventional germanium precursors.


The germanium complexes of the invention include those of formulae (I)-(III) below:


(I) alkyldigermanes of the formula




embedded image



wherein each R may be the same as or different from the others, and each is independently selected from among isopropyl, isobutyl, benzyl, allyl, alkylamino, nitriles, and isonitriles;


(II) alkyl(dialkylamino)germanes of the formula

x(R2R1N)R3-xGe—GeR′3-y(NR1R2)y

wherein each R may be the same as or different from the others, and each is independently selected from among isopropyl, isobutyl, benzyl, allyl, alkylamino, nitriles, and isonitriles; and


(III) strained-ring germane complexes of the formula:




embedded image



wherein each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 may be the same as or different from the others, and each is independently selected from among H, C1-C6 alkyl, C6-C10 aryl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or a heteroatom group.


The complexes (I) can be synthesized, by way of example, according to the following synthesis process:




embedded image



or by the following synthesis:




embedded image



or by a synthesis such as the following:




embedded image



or a synthesis procedure such as:




embedded image


The germanium complexes of formula (II) can be formed by the following illustrated procedure:




embedded image


Illustrative synthesis processes that can be employed for forming germanium complexes of formula (III) includes the following:




embedded image


The strained ring alkylgermanes are usefully employed as CVD/ALD precursors for forming germanium-containing thin films on substrates involving reactions such as those illustratively shown below.


Strained Ring Alkylgermanes CVD/ALD Precursors for Thin Metal Films




embedded image


Another aspect of the invention relates to a single-source precursor for germanium and tellurium, as useful in the formation of GST films. Such single-source of germanium telluride precursors may be used in combination with an antimony precursor for GST film formation, optionally with co-reactants as may be desirable to provide films of appropriate stoichiometry for a given application.


The germanium telluride complexes of the invention in one aspect include dialkylgermanetellurones. Suitable dialkylgermanetellurones can be synthesized by oxidative addition reaction of germanium (II) dialkyls with elemental tellurium powder in a solvent medium such as tetrahydrofuran (THF). In some instances so it may be desirable to conduct the reaction in the absence of light, depending on the light-sensitivity of the product germanium-tellurium complex. An illustrative synthesis procedure is set out below:




embedded image


The single-source Ge—Te precursors of the invention can be advantageously used to facilitate lower temperature deposition processes or to increase GST film growth rates in specific applications.


Germanium tellurides of the invention, in another embodiment, can be formed by the following synthesis procedure:


Germanium Telluride: ALD/CVD Precursors




embedded image


Other germanium telluride complexes can be formed by the following synthesis process:




embedded image



or by the following generalized reactions:

R3GeM+R′nEX→R3Ge-ER′n
R3GeX+R′nEM→R3GE-ER′n
R3Ge—X+NaTeR′→R3Ge—TeR′

wherein E is tellurium; M is Li, Na, or K, X is chlorine, bromine or iodine; and the R and R′ groups may be the same as or different from one another, and each is independently selected from among H, C1-C6 alkyl, C6-C10 aryl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, heteroatom groups, and other organo groups.


One Ge—Te complex of the invention is:




embedded image



wherein each of the R substituents may be the same as or different from one another, and is independently selected from among H, C1-C6 alkyl, C6-C10 aryl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, heteroatom groups, and other organo groups.


It will therefore be seen that the present invention contemplates a variety of precursors suitable for use in forming phase change memory films, e.g., GST films, and that the various precursors of the invention include precursors enabling deposition of films via CVD/ALD processes at temperatures below 300° C., as well as Ge—Te precursors affording substantial advantage in forming germanium- and tellurium-containing films.


While the invention has been described herein in reference to specific aspects, features and illustrative embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that the utility of the invention is not thus limited, but rather extends to and encompasses numerous other variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, as will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the field of the present invention, based on the disclosure herein. Correspondingly, the invention as hereinafter claimed is intended to be broadly construed and interpreted, as including all such variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, within its spirit and scope.

Claims
  • 1. A method of forming a germanium-containing film on a substrate, comprising use of a germanium complex comprising cyclic alkylamino ligand in chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.
  • 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition is carried out at temperature below 350° C.
  • 3. A method of forming a germanium-containing film on a substrate, comprising use of a digermane or strained ring germanium complex comprising ligand selected from the group consisting of isopropyl, isobutyl, benzyl, allyl, alkylamino, nitriles, and isonitriles, in chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.
  • 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition is carried out at temperature below 300° C.
  • 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the germanium complex is selected from among complexes of formulae (I)-(III): (I) alkyldigermanes of the formula
  • 6. A method of forming a germanium-containing film on a substrate, comprising use of a tellurium precursor and a germanium complex comprising ligand selected from the group consisting of isopropyl, isobutyl, benzyl, allyl, alkylamino, nitriles, and isonitriles, in chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.
  • 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition is carried out at temperature below 350° C.
  • 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising use of an antimony precursor.
  • 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the germanium complex comprises isopropyl ligand.
  • 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the germanium complex comprises isobutyl ligand.
  • 11. The method of claim 6, wherein the germanium complex comprises benzyl ligand.
  • 12. The method of claim 6, wherein the germanium complex comprises allyl ligand.
  • 13. The method of claim 6, wherein the germanium complex comprises alkylamino ligand.
  • 14. The method of claim 6, wherein the germanium complex comprises nitrile ligand.
  • 15. The method of claim 6, wherein the germanium complex comprises isonitrile ligand.
  • 16. The method of claim 6, wherein the tellurium precursor is selected from the group consisting of a tellurium complex comprising beta-diketiminate ligands coordinated therewith and Te(tBu)2 wherein tBu is t-butyl.
  • 17. A method of forming a GST film, comprising conducting a chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition process using a single source germanium tellurium precursor.
  • 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said germanium tellurium precursor comprises:
  • 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition process is conducted at temperature below 300° C.
  • 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the germanium tellurium precursor comprises a single-source germanium-telluride complex comprising a dialkylgermanetellurone.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/300,459 filed Nov. 11, 2008 (371(c) date, Dec. 22, 2008), now U.S. Pat. No. 8,288,198, issued Oct. 16, 2012, which is a U.S. national phase patent application under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2007/063832 filed Mar. 12, 2007, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/800,102 filed May 12, 2006. The disclosures of all such applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties, for all purposes.

US Referenced Citations (148)
Number Name Date Kind
4927670 Erbil May 1990 A
4948623 Beach et al. Aug 1990 A
4960916 Pazik Oct 1990 A
4962214 Villacorta et al. Oct 1990 A
5296716 Ovshinsky et al. Mar 1994 A
5312983 Brown et al. May 1994 A
5453494 Kirlin et al. Sep 1995 A
5596522 Ovshinsky et al. Jan 1997 A
5972743 Glassman et al. Oct 1999 A
6005127 Todd et al. Dec 1999 A
6086779 Bishop et al. Jul 2000 A
6123993 Xu et al. Sep 2000 A
6146608 Todd et al. Nov 2000 A
6269979 Dumont Aug 2001 B1
6281022 Li et al. Aug 2001 B1
6331211 Xu et al. Dec 2001 B1
6511718 Paz de Araujo et al. Jan 2003 B1
6646122 Nuhlen et al. Nov 2003 B1
6750079 Lowrey et al. Jun 2004 B2
6787186 Hintermaier Sep 2004 B1
6861559 Odom Mar 2005 B2
6869638 Baum et al. Mar 2005 B2
6872963 Kostylev et al. Mar 2005 B2
6984591 Buchanan et al. Jan 2006 B1
6998289 Hudgens et al. Feb 2006 B2
7029978 Dodge Apr 2006 B2
7087482 Yeo et al. Aug 2006 B2
7115927 Hideki et al. Oct 2006 B2
7173271 Chang Feb 2007 B2
7312165 Jursich et al. Dec 2007 B2
7371429 Lee et al. May 2008 B2
7397060 Lung Jul 2008 B2
7399666 Ahn et al. Jul 2008 B2
7402851 Hideki et al. Jul 2008 B2
7419698 Jones Sep 2008 B2
7425735 Park et al. Sep 2008 B2
7462900 Hideki et al. Dec 2008 B2
7476917 Hideki et al. Jan 2009 B2
7488967 Burr et al. Feb 2009 B2
7518007 Seo et al. Apr 2009 B2
7569417 Lee et al. Aug 2009 B2
7615401 Park et al. Nov 2009 B2
7638787 An et al. Dec 2009 B2
7666789 Choi et al. Feb 2010 B2
7667218 Yamamoto et al. Feb 2010 B2
7704787 Hideki et al. Apr 2010 B2
7727884 Bae et al. Jun 2010 B2
7728172 Lee et al. Jun 2010 B2
7737290 Gordon et al. Jun 2010 B2
7803657 Choi et al. Sep 2010 B2
7838329 Hunks et al. Nov 2010 B2
7858152 Ovshinsky et al. Dec 2010 B2
7902048 Shin et al. Mar 2011 B2
7935564 Breitwisch et al. May 2011 B2
7943502 Park et al. May 2011 B2
7943923 Gidon May 2011 B2
7960205 Xiao et al. Jun 2011 B2
8008117 Hunks et al. Aug 2011 B2
8093140 Chen et al. Jan 2012 B2
8268665 Hunks et al. Sep 2012 B2
8288198 Roeder et al. Oct 2012 B2
20020004266 Hashimoto et al. Jan 2002 A1
20020090815 Koike et al. Jul 2002 A1
20030135061 Norman et al. Jul 2003 A1
20040012009 Casagrande et al. Jan 2004 A1
20040038808 Hampden-Smith et al. Feb 2004 A1
20040197945 Woelk et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040215030 Norman Oct 2004 A1
20050002227 Hideki et al. Jan 2005 A1
20050029502 Hudgens Feb 2005 A1
20050082624 Gousev et al. Apr 2005 A1
20050208699 Furkay et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050267345 Korgel et al. Dec 2005 A1
20050283012 Xu et al. Dec 2005 A1
20050287747 Chakravarti et al. Dec 2005 A1
20060006449 Jeong et al. Jan 2006 A1
20060027451 Park et al. Feb 2006 A1
20060035462 Millward Feb 2006 A1
20060046521 Vaartstra et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060049447 Lee et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060115595 Shenai-Khatkhate et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060138393 Seo et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060141155 Gordon et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060141710 Yoon et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060172067 Ovshinsky et al. Aug 2006 A1
20060172083 Lee et al. Aug 2006 A1
20060180811 Lee et al. Aug 2006 A1
20060249369 Marangon et al. Nov 2006 A1
20070090336 Asano et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070121363 Lung May 2007 A1
20070154637 Shenai-Khatkhate et al. Jul 2007 A1
20070160760 Shin et al. Jul 2007 A1
20070246748 Breitwisch et al. Oct 2007 A1
20080003359 Gordon et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080035906 Park et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080035961 Chen et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080054244 Lee et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080078984 Park et al. Apr 2008 A1
20080118636 Shin et al. May 2008 A1
20080145702 Shin et al. Jun 2008 A1
20080210163 Carlson et al. Sep 2008 A1
20080210924 Shin Sep 2008 A1
20080254218 Lei et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080254232 Gordon et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080272355 Cho et al. Nov 2008 A1
20080286446 Kamepalli et al. Nov 2008 A1
20080290335 Lin et al. Nov 2008 A1
20090020738 Happ et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090032952 Chen et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090050869 Kim et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090074652 Dussarrat Mar 2009 A1
20090075420 Bae et al. Mar 2009 A1
20090087561 Chen et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090097305 Bae et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090101883 Lai et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090112009 Chen et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090124039 Roeder et al. May 2009 A1
20090142881 Xiao et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090162973 Gatineau et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090191330 Xiao Jul 2009 A1
20090215225 Stender et al. Aug 2009 A1
20090227066 Joseph et al. Sep 2009 A1
20090275164 Chen et al. Nov 2009 A1
20090280052 Xiao et al. Nov 2009 A1
20090291208 Gordon et al. Nov 2009 A1
20090298223 Cheek et al. Dec 2009 A1
20090299084 Okubo et al. Dec 2009 A1
20090305458 Hunks et al. Dec 2009 A1
20090321733 Gatineau et al. Dec 2009 A1
20100012917 Takaura et al. Jan 2010 A1
20100018439 Cameron et al. Jan 2010 A1
20100054029 Happ et al. Mar 2010 A1
20100055831 An et al. Mar 2010 A1
20100159637 Lee et al. Jun 2010 A1
20100190341 Park et al. Jul 2010 A1
20100270527 Sawamura Oct 2010 A1
20100317150 Hunks et al. Dec 2010 A1
20100320434 Choi et al. Dec 2010 A1
20110001107 Zheng Jan 2011 A1
20110060165 Cameron et al. Mar 2011 A1
20110065252 Nakamura Mar 2011 A1
20110111556 Chen et al. May 2011 A1
20110124182 Zheng May 2011 A1
20110180905 Zheng et al. Jul 2011 A1
20110227021 Schrott et al. Sep 2011 A1
20110260132 Zheng et al. Oct 2011 A1
20110263100 Hunks et al. Oct 2011 A1
20120108038 Chen et al. May 2012 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (48)
Number Date Country
102008026889 Feb 2009 DE
1675194 Jun 2006 EP
1806427 Jul 2007 EP
1995236 Nov 2008 EP
2067876 Jun 2009 EP
2130942 Dec 2009 EP
58-38296 Mar 1983 JP
5-311423 Nov 1993 JP
2001-67720 Mar 2001 JP
2002-211924 Jul 2002 JP
2002-220658 Aug 2002 JP
2006-511716 Apr 2006 JP
2006-124262 May 2006 JP
2006-182781 Jul 2006 JP
2008-131046 Jun 2008 JP
2008-252088 Oct 2008 JP
2009-149980 Jul 2009 JP
2011-66135 Mar 2011 JP
10-2004-0076225 Aug 2004 KR
10-2005-0048891 May 2005 KR
10-2005-0084997 Aug 2005 KR
10-0585175 May 2006 KR
10-2006-0091160 Aug 2006 KR
10-2007-0025612 Mar 2007 KR
10-2008-0052362 Jun 2008 KR
10-2008-0080273 Sep 2008 KR
10-2009-0008799 Jan 2009 KR
10-2009-0029488 Mar 2009 KR
10-2009-0036771 Apr 2009 KR
10-2009-0045132 May 2009 KR
10-2009-0054925 Jun 2009 KR
10-1067969 Sep 2011 KR
768457 Oct 1980 SU
2004046417 Jun 2004 WO
2005084231 Sep 2005 WO
2006012052 Feb 2006 WO
2007067604 Jun 2007 WO
2007070218 Jun 2007 WO
2007126690 Nov 2007 WO
2007140813 Dec 2007 WO
2008002546 Jan 2008 WO
2008057616 May 2008 WO
2009034775 Mar 2009 WO
2009039187 Mar 2009 WO
2009134989 Nov 2009 WO
2010055423 May 2010 WO
2010135702 Nov 2010 WO
2011002705 Jan 2011 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (69)
Entry
Bazinet, P., et al., “Synthesis and Structural Investigation of N,N′,N″-Trialkylguanidinato-Supported Zirconium(IV) Complexes”, “Inorg. Chem.”, Sep. 4, 2003, pp. 6225-6229, vol. 42.
Berno, P., et al., “Dinitrogen Fixation Versus Metal-Metal Bond Formation in the Chemistry of Vanadium(II) Amidinates”, “J. Am. Chem. Soc.”, Aug. 1994, pp. 7417-7418, vol. 116, No. 16.
Brinckman, F., et al., “Metal-Nitrogen Bonding. Covalent Complexes of 1,3-Dimethyltriazene With Elements of Groups I,II,III,IV, and V1”, “Inorganic Chemistry”, Jul. 1965, pp. 936-942, vol. 4, No. 7.
Brown, I., et al., “The Crystal Structure of Diazoaminobenzene Copper (I)”, “Acta Crystallographica”, May 1961, pp. 480-485, vol. 14, No. 5.
Cheng, H., et al., “Wet Etching of GE2SB2TE5 Films and Switching Properties of Resultant Phase Change Memory Cells”, “Semiconductor Science and Technology”, Sep. 26, 2005, pp. 1111-1115, vol. 20, No. 11.
Chorley, R., et al. , “Subvalent Group 14 metal compounds XIV. The X-ray crystal structures of two monomeric Group 14 metal bisamides, Ge[N(SiMe3)2]2 and Sn[NC(Me)2(CH2)3CMe2]2”, “Inorganica Chimica Acta”, Aug.-Oct. 1992, pp. 203-209, vol. 198-200.
Coles, M., et al., “Cationic Aluminum Alkyl Complexes Incorporating Amidinate Ligands. Transition-Metal-Free Ethylene Polymerization Catalysts”, “J. Am. Chem. Soc.”, Aug. 1997, pp. 8125-8126, vol. 119, No. 34.
Coles, M., et al., “Synthesis and Structures of Mono- and Bis(Amidinate) Complexes of Aluminum”, “Organometallics”, Nov. 25, 1997, pp. 5183-5194, vol. 16, No. 24.
Cummins, C., et al., “Synthesis of Terminal Vanadium(V) Imido, Oxo, Sulfido, Selenido, and Tellurido Complexes by Imido Group or Chalcogen Atom Transfer to Trigonal Monopyramidal V[N3N] (N3N=[(Me3SiNCH2CH2)3N]3-)”, “Inorganic Chemistry”, Mar. 30, 1994, pp. 1448-1457, vol. 33, No. 7.
Dagorne, S., et al., “Sterically Crowded Gallium Amidinate Complexes”, “Organometallics”, Oct. 7, 1999, pp. 4619-4623, vol. 18, No. 22.
Dawson, D., et al., “Organotantalum Bis(Amidinate) Complexes: Synthesis and Characterization of Methyl, Methylidene, Benzyl, and Imido Derivatives”, “Organometallics”, Mar. 18, 1997, pp. 1111-1113, vol. 16, No. 6.
Foley, S., et al. , “Facile Formation of Rare Terminal Chalcogenido Germanium Complexes with Alkylamidinates as Supporting Ligands”, “J. Am. Chem. Soc.”, Oct. 29, 1997, pp. 10359-10363, vol. 119, No. 43.
Foley, S., et al., “Synthesis and Characterization of Iron Complexes With Monoanionic and Dianionic N,N′,N″-Trialkylguanidinate Ligands”, “Inorg. Chem.”, Jul. 12, 2002, pp. 4149-4157, vol. 41, No. 16.
Gantzel, P., et al., “Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Lithium and Potassium Triazenide Complexes”, “Inorg. Chem.”, Jun. 19, 1998, pp. 3450-3451, vol. 37, No. 14.
Green, S., et al., “Synthetic, structural and theoretical studies of amidinate and guanidinate stabilised germanium(I) dimers”, “Chem. Commun.”, Sep. 8, 2006, pp. 3978-3980.
Gumrukcu, I., et al., “Electron Spin Resonance of t-Alkyl-, Silyl-, and Germyl-aminyl Radicals and some Observations on the Amides MBr{N(SiMe3)2}3 (M=Ge, Sn, or Pb)”, “J.C.S. Chem. Comm.”, 1980, pp. 776-777.
Gupta, A., et al. , “Triorganoantimony(V) complexes with internally functionallized oximes: synthetic, spectroscopic and structural aspects of [R3Sb(Br)L], [R3Sb(OH)L] and [R3SbL2], crystal and molecular structures of [Me3Sb{ON=C(Me)C4H3O}2], [Me3Sb{ON=C(Me)C4H3S}2], 2-OC4H3C(Me)=NOH and 2-SC4H3C(Me)=NOH”, “Journal of Organometallic Chemistry”, 2002, pp. 118-126, vol. 645.
Gynane, M., et al., “Subvalent Group 4B Metal Alkyls and Amides. Part 5. The Synthesis and Physical Properties of Thermally Stable Amides of Germanium(ii), Tin(ii), and Lead(ii)”, “J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Transactions”, 1977, pp. 2004-2009.
Han, L., et al., “Extremely Facile Oxidative Addition of Silyl, Germyl, and Stannyl Tellurides and Other Chalcogenides to Platinum(0) Complexes, X-ray Structure of trans-Pt4(4-PhC6H4Te)(SiMe3)(PEt3)2”, “J. Am. Chem. Soc.”, 1997, pp. 8133-8134, vol. 119.
Harris, D., et al., “Monomeric, Volatile Bivalent Amides of Group IVB Elements, M(NR12)2 and M(NR1R2)2 (M=Ge, Sn, or Pb; R1=Me3Si, R2=Me3C)”, “J.C.S. Chem. Comm.”, 1974, pp. 895-896.
Herrmann, W., et al. , “Stable Cyclic Germanediyls (‘Cyclogermylenes’): Synthesis, Structure, Metal Complexes, and Thermolyses”, “Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl.”, 1992, pp. 1485-1488, vol. 31, No. 11.
Horii, H., et al., “A Novel Cell Technology Using N-Doped GESBTE Films for Phase Change RAM”, “Symposium on VLSI Technology Digest of Technical Papers”, Jun. 10-12, 2003, pp. 177-178.
Karsch, H., et al., “Bis(amidinate) Complexes of Silicon and Germanium”, “Eur. J. Inorg. Chemistry”, Apr. 1998, pp. 433-436, vol. 4.
Karsch, H., et al., “A New Method for the Generation of Silaheterocycles via [4+1]-Cycloaddition Reaction in the System Heterobutadien/HSiCl3/NR3”, “Z. anorg. allg. Chem.”, Feb. 1998, pp. 295-309, vol. 624, No. 2.
Kilner, M., et al., “Studies of Amidino-Complexes of Copper(I) and (II). Carboxylate Analogues”, “Polyhedron”, Jan. 1983, pp. 1379-1388, vol. 2, No. 12.
Kim, R., et al., “Structural Properties of Ge2Sb2Te5 thin films by metal organic chemical vapor deposition for phase change memory applications”, “Applied Physics Letters”, Sep. 6, 2006, pp. 1-3, vol. 89, No. 102107.
Kim, S., et al., “Electrical Properties and Crystal Structures of Nitrogen-Doped Ge2Sb2Te5 Thin Film for Phase Change Memory”, “Thin Solid Films”, Dec. 22, 2004, pp. 322-326, vol. 469-470.
Kuehl, O., “N-heterocyclic germylenes and related compounds”, “Coordination Chemistry Reviews”, 2004, pp. 411-427, vol. 248.
Lappert, M., et al., “Monomeric, Coloured Germanium(II) and Tin(II) Di-t-Butylamides, and the Crystal and Molecular Structure of Ge(NCMe2[CH2]3CMe2)2”, “J.C.S. Chem. Comm.”, 1980, pp. 621-622, vol. 13.
Lee, J., et al., “GeSbTe deposition for the PRAM application”, “Applied Surface Science”, Feb. 2007, pp. 3969-3976, vol. 253, No. 8.
Lim, B., et al., “Synthesis and Characterization of Volatile, Thermally Stable, Reactive Transition Metal Amidinates”, “Inorg. Chem.”, Oct. 25, 2003, pp. 7951-7958, vol. 42, No. 24.
Littke, A., et al., “Bulky Bis(Alkylamidinate) Complexes of Group 4. Syntheses and Characterization of M(Cync(R′)Ncy)2CL2 and Zr(Cync(Me)NCy)2Me2 (R′=Me, M=Ti, Zr, Hf; R′=tBu, M=Zr)”, “Organometallics”, Jan. 16, 1998, pp. 446-451, vol. 17, No. 3.
Lu, Z., et al., “Tetrasubstituted Guanidinate Anions and Supporting Ligands in Organoyttrium Chemistry”, “Organometallics”, Jan. 16, 2001, pp. 706-712, vol. 20, No. 4.
Macomber, D., et al., “(n5—Cyclopentadienyl)- and (n5—Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)copper Compounds Containing Phosphine, Carbonyl, and n2-Acetylenic Ligands”, “J. Am. Chem. Soc.”, 1983, pp. 5325-5329, vol. 105.
Mathur, S., et al., “Germanium Nanowires and Core-Shell Nanostructures by Chemical Vapor Deposition of [Ge(C5H5)2]”, “Chem. Mater.”, May 15, 2004, pp. 2449-2456, vol. 16, No. 12.
Meller, A., et al., “Synthesis and Isolation of New Germanium(II) Compounds and of Free Germylenes”, “Chem. Ber.”, May 1985, pp. 2020-2029, vol. 118, No. 5 (English Abstract).
Milanov, A., et al., “Bis(2-butyl-N, N′-diisopropylamidinato) dichlorohafnium(IV)”, “Acta Crystallographica. Section C: Crystal Structure Communications”, Jun. 30, 2005, pp. m370-m372, vol. 61, No. 7.
Oakley, S., et al., “Structural consequences of the prohibition of hydrogen bonding in copper-guanidine systems”, “Inorg. Chem.”, Jul. 13, 2004, pp. 5168-5172, vol. 43, No. 16 (Abstract).
Oszczapowicz, J., “12. Basicity, H-bonding and complex formation (Edited by Patai, S., et al.)”, “The chemistry of amidines and imidines”, 1991, pp. 677-681, vol. 2, Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Published in: Chichester.
Raj, P., et al. , “Synthesis and characterization of the complex triorganoantimony (V) cations, R3SbL'2+ and R3Sb (L-L)2+”, “Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry”, 1992, pp. 543-557, vol. 22, No. 5 (Abstract).
Raj, P., et al. , “Synthesis and geometry of complex triorganoantimony(V) cations”, “Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic and Metal-Organic Chemistry”, 1992, pp. 1471-1494, vol. 22, No. 10 (Abstract).
Ramos, J., et al., “Ab initio study of ethylene insertion into MC bonds of alkylamidinates complexes of group IV ({R′NCRNR′}2MCH3+, M=Zr, Ti, R=H, Ph and R′=H, SiMe3)”, “Polymer”, May 11, 2001, p. 7278, vol. 42, No. 17.
Ren, H., et al., “Synthesis and structures of cyclopentadienyl N-heterocyclic carbene copper(I) complexes”, “Journal of Organometallic Chemistry”, Jun. 21, 2006, pp. 4109-4113, vol. 691.
Sadique, A., et al., “Monomeric and Dimeric Amidinate Complexes of Magnesium”, “Inorg. Chem.”, Nov. 26, 2001, pp. 6349-6355, vol. 40, No. 25.
Schoeller, W., et al., “Bonding Properties of Amidinate Compexes of the Group 14 Elements Silicon, Germanium, Tin and Lead in Their Divalent and Tetravalent Oxidation States”, “Inorg., Chem.”, Dec. 17, 1998, pp. 29-37, vol. 38, No. 1.
Shi, Y., et al., “Titanium dipyrrolylmethane derivatives: rapid intermolecular alkyne hydroamination”, “Chem. Comm.”, Mar. 7, 2003, pp. 586-587, No. 5.
Stauf, G., et al., “Low Temperature ALD of Germanium for Phase Change Memory Thin Films”, “AVS 7th International Conference on Atomic Layer Deposition—ALD 2007”, Jun. 24, 2007, pp. 1-8.
Thiede, T., et al., “Evaluation of Homoleptic Guanidinate and Amidinate Complexes of Gadolinium and Dysprosium for MOCVD of Rare-Earth Nitride Thin Films”, “Chem. Mater.”, Feb. 24, 2011, pp. 1430-1140, (Abstract), vol. 23, No. 6.
Tin, M., et al. , “Insertion Routes to Tetrasubstituted Guanidinate Complexes of Ta(V) and Nb(V)”, “Inorganic Chemistry”, Feb. 18, 1999, pp. 998-1001, vol. 38, No. 5.
Tsumuraya, T., et al., “Telluradigermiranes. A Novel Three-membered Ring System Containing Tellurium”, “J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun.”, 1990, pp. 1159-1160.
Unpublished U.S. Appl. No. 13/637,018, filed Sep. 24, 2012.
Van Vliet, P., et al., “Complexes of N,N′-substituted formamidines I. Compounds [M(RNC(H)NR′)]n (M = Cul, Agl; R = p-Tolyl; R′=Alkyl; n=2,4); and Study of the Dimer-Dimer and Dimer-Tetramer Equilibria in Solution”, “J. Organo. Chem.”, Oct. 9, 1979, pp. 89-100, vol. 179, No. 1.
Van Vliet, P., et al., “Metal-Metal Bonded Compounds. VI. Rhodium-Mercury Bonded Complexes [(Diene){RNC(Y)NR′}2RHGCL]2 Containing Interchanging Metal-Metal Bridging and Chelating Amidino Groups”, “Journal of Organometallic Chemistry”, 1980, pp. 301-310, vol. 188.
Van Vliet, P., et al., “Metal-Metal Bonded Compounds. IV. Stabilization of Metal-Metal Bonding by Bridging Asymmetric Formamidino Ligands in Complexes [(PH3P)2(CO)IRM(RNC(H) NR′)CL] (M=CU, AG; R=Alkyl; R′=P-Tolyl)”, “Journal of Organometallic Chemistry”, 1979, pp. 105-115, vol. 182.
Veprek, S., et al., “Organometallic chemical vapor deposition of germanium from a cyclic germylene, 1,3-Di-tert-butyl-1,3,2-diazagermolidin-2-ylidine”, “Chem. Mater.”, 1996, pp. 825-831, vol. 8.
Willcocks, A., et al., “Multinuclear Copper(I) Guanidinate Complexes”, “Inorganic Chemistry”, Dec. 14, 2011, pp. 246-257, vol. 51.
Zhou, Y., et al., “Synthesis and Structure of Novel Bridged Dinuclear Indium Complexes”, “Inorg. Chem.”, Mar. 13, 1996, pp. 1423-1424, vol. 35, No. 6.
Zhou, Y., et al., “Bulky Amidinate Complexes of Tin(IV). Synthesis and Structure of SN(RNC(R′)NR)2CL2 (R=Cyclohexyl, R′ = H, ME; R=SIME3, R;=TBU)”, “Inorg. Chem.”, Feb. 12, 1997, pp. 501-504, vol. 36, No. 4.
Zhou, Y., et al., “N-Substituted Guanidinate Anions As Ancillary Ligands in Organolanthanide Chemistry. Synthesis and Characterization of {Cync[N(SIME3)2]NCY}2SMCH(SIME3)2”, “Organometallics”, Sep. 4, 1998, pp. 4387-4391, vol. 17, No. 20.
Abrutis, A., et al., “Hot-Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition of Chalcogenide Materials for Phase Change Memory Applications”, “Chem. Mater.”, May 2008, pp. 3557-3559, vol. 20, No. 11.
Aeilts, S., et al., “Aluminum Alkyl Complexes Containing Guanidinate Ligands”, “Organometallics”, Jun. 24, 1998, pp. 3265-3270, vol. 17.
Aharonovich, S., et al., “N,N′-Bis-Silylated Lithium Aryl Amidinates: Synthesis, Characterization, and the Gradual Transition of Coordination Mode From Omega Toward PI Originated by Crystal Packing Interactions”, “Organometallics”, Mar. 15, 2008, pp. 1869-1877, vol. 27.
Anderson, H., “Dialkylaminogermanes and Dialkylaminosilanes”, “J. Amer. Chem. Soc.”, Mar. 20, 1952, pp. 1421-1423, vol. 74, No. 6.
Anderson, Q., et al., “Synthesis and Characterization of the First Pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl Copper(I) Complex, (Ph5Cp)Cu(PPh3)”, “Organometallics”, 1998, pp. 4917-4920, vol. 17.
Archibald, S., et al., “Synthesis and Characterization of Silver(I) Complexes With C-Alkyl Functionalized N,N′-Diphenylamidinates: Tetrameric and Trimeric Structural Motifs”, “Journal of Cluster Science”, Mar. 2000, pp. 261-283 (Abstract Only), vol. 11, No. 1.
Artaud-Gillet, M., et al., “Evaluation of copper organometallic sources for CuGaSe2 photovoltaic applications”, “Journal of Crystal Growth”, 2003, pp. 163-168, vol. 248.
Auner, N., et al., “Organosilicon Chemistry IV: From Molecules to Materials”, Mar. 2000, p. 291 (Abstract), Publisher: Wiley-Vch.
Baines, K., et al., “A Facile Digermene-to-germylgermylene Rearrangement; Bulky Germylene Insertion into the Si—H Bond”, “J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun.”, 1992, pp. 1484-1485.
Kissounko, D., et al., “Principal trends in the chemistry of amidinate complexes of main-group and transition elements”, “Russian Chemical Reviews”, May 1, 2006, pp. 351-374, vol. 75, No. 5.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20130005078 A1 Jan 2013 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60800102 May 2006 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 12300459 US
Child 13610928 US