Intel Corporation

Daniel C Diana

Ebrahim Andideh

Hitesh Windlass

Peter K Moon

Makarem A Hussein

Mark R Richards

Wayne K Ford

Valery M Dubin

Ming Fang

Robert C Lindstedt

Marian E Silberstein

Richard M Steger

William C Hicks

Carolyn R Duran

Methods for improving the net remnant polarization of a polymer memory cell are disclosed. In one embodiment, the polymer material is heated above the Curie temperature of the polymer material, and the domains of the polymer material are aligned with an externally applied electric field.

Method for increasing ferroelectric characteristics of polymer memory cells

A ferroelectric polymer memory device and its method of formation are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, lower electrode memory device portions are formed using a damascene patterning process and upper electrode memory device portions are formed using a subtractive patterning process.

Ferroelectric polymer memory structure and method therefor

Embodiments of the invention provide a method for producing ferroelectric polymer devices (FPMDs) employing conditions that avoid or reduce detrimental impact on the ferroelectric polymer film. For one embodiment, a damascene patterning metallization technique is used. For one embodiment a first metal layer is deposited on a substrate to form the bottom electrode for the FPMD. The first metal layer is capped with a selectively deposited diffusion barrier. A layer of ferroelectric polymer film is then deposited on the first conductive layer. The ferroelectric polymer film is planarized. A second metal layer is deposited on the ferroelectric polymer film layer to form the top electrode of the FPMD. The second metal layer is deposited such that the ferroelectric polymer film is not substantially degraded. For various alternative embodiments the various component processes may be accomplished at temperatures far below those employed in a conventional damascene patterning metallization process.

Methods and apparatuses for producing a polymer memory device

According to one aspect of the invention, a memory array and a method of constructing a memory array are provided. An insulating layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A first metal stack is then formed on the insulating layer. The first metal stack is etched to form first metal lines. A polymeric layer is formed over the first metal lines and the insulating layer. The polymeric layer has a surface with a plurality of roughness formations. A second metal stack is formed on the polymeric layer with an interface layer, which is thicker than the heights of the roughness formations. Then the second metal stack is etched to form second metal lines. Memory cells are formed wherever a second metal line extends over a first metal line.

Ferroelectric polymer memory with a thick interface layer

Some embodiments for a method to fill interlayer vias with a suitable metal in a ferroelectric polymer memory die to reduce the step height and improve the thermal and electrical properties of the via. The method uses an electroless plating method to fill the vias, which is compatible with the ferroelectric polymer memory die processing temperature limits. The resulting process produces via fill metal plugs in the ferroelectric memory die, which allows for the deposition of a thin metal layer over the vias, while at the same time improving the electrical and thermal properties of the vias. Other embodiments are described and claimed herein.

Method and apparatus for filling interlayer vias on ferroelectric polymer substrates

Methods of depositing various metal layers adjacent to a ferroelectric polymer layer are disclosed. In one embodiment, a collimator may be used during a sputtering process to filter out charged particles from the material that may be deposited as a metal layer. In various embodiments, a metal layer may contain at least one of an intermetallic layer, an amorphous intermetallic layer, and an amorphized intermetallic layer.

Method to sputter deposit metal on a ferroelectric polymer

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention eliminate the need for a subtractive metal patterning process to pattern the electrode above a ferroelectric polymer. Instead, a selective electroless deposition process is used. A conductive polymer is used as a seed layer for the electroless plating of the metal electrode. A cost saving is provided by eliminating the chemical costs associated with conventional resist removal processing. The methods also potentially eliminate the requirement for aggressive and environmentally unsafe chemical-based photoresist removal processes.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Daniel C Diana