Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Hung Cho Wang

Sheng-Huang Huang

Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang

Jiunyu Tsai

Sheng-Chang Chen

Wen-Chun You

Tsun Chung Tu

Kuei-Hung Shen

Jun-Yao Chen

Chung-Chiang Min

Wen-Ting Chu

Yu-Wen Liao

Tien-Wei Chiang

Tong-Chern Ong

Kuo-Yuan Tu

Ming-Che Ku

Chun-Heng Liao

Keng-Ming Kuo

Alexander Kalnitsky

Yao-Wen Chang

Yuan-Tai Tseng

Chia-Hua Lin

Tsung-Hsueh Yang

Yen-Yu Shih

Hsia-Wei Chen

Chen-Pin Hsu

Harry-hak-lay Chuang

Chang-Jen Hsieh

Jam-Wem Lee

Yue-Der Chih

Hung-Cheng Sung

Ming-Hsiang Song

Cheng-Hsiung Kuo

Tsung-Che Tsai

Yuan-Jen Lee

Harry-Haklay Chuang

Hung-Yu Chang

The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate. The bottom electrode has a first thickness along an outermost edge and a second thickness between the outermost edge and a lateral center of the bottom electrode. The first thickness is larger than the second thickness. A data storage structure is over the bottom electrode and a top electrode is over the data storage structure.

Memory device

A semiconductor device and methods of fabrication thereof including a substrate, a doped well formed in the substrate, a transistor formed on the substrate, a dielectric material located over the doped well and the transistor and including interconnect structures extending through the dielectric material, the interconnect structures including a first set of interconnect structures electrically coupled to an active region of the transistor and a second set of interconnect structures electrically coupled to the doped well, an active memory cell electrically coupled to the active region of the transistor via the first set of interconnect structures; and a dummy memory cell electrically coupled to the doped well via the second set of conductive interconnect structures. The dummy memory cell and the second set of conductive interconnect structures may provide a low resistance pathway for plasma charge to flow to the doped well, thereby minimizing plasma induced damage to the transistor.

Embedded memory device with reduced plasma-induced damage and methods of forming the same

Improved methods of patterning magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) for magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) and semiconductor devices formed by the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes depositing a bottom electrode layer over a semiconductor substrate; depositing an MTJ film stack over the bottom electrode layer; depositing a top electrode layer over the MTJ film stack; patterning the top electrode layer; performing a first etch process to pattern the MTJ film stack; performing a first trim process on the MTJ film stack; after performing the first trim process, depositing a first spacer layer over the MTJ film stack; and after depositing the first spacer layer, performing a second etch process to pattern the first spacer layer, the MTJ film stack, and the bottom electrode layer to form an MRAM cell.

Magnetic tunnel junction device and method of forming the same

The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip in some embodiments. The integrated chip includes an inter-level dielectric (ILD) laterally surrounding a memory device. One or more sidewall spacers are arranged along opposing sides of the memory device. The one or more sidewall spacers have a bottom surface over a bottom of the memory device. An etch stop layer is disposed on the one or more sidewall spacers and along the opposing sides of the memory device. An upper interconnect is arranged directly over the memory device, a top surface of the one or more sidewall spacers, and an upper surface of the etch stop layer. The upper surface of the etch stop layer is vertically below a top of the memory device.

Etch stop layer for memory device formation

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip including a memory cell overlying a substrate and comprising a top electrode. A sidewall spacer structure is disposed along sidewalls of the memory cell. The sidewall spacer structure comprises a first spacer layer on the memory cell, a second spacer layer around the first spacer layer, and a third spacer layer around the second spacer layer. The second spacer layer comprises a lateral segment adjacent to a vertical segment. The lateral segment abuts the top electrode and has a top surface aligned with or disposed below a top surface of the top electrode. A first conductive structure overlies the memory cell and contacts the lateral segment and the top electrode.

Method for MRAM top electrode connection

Some embodiments relate to an integrated chip having a memory cell overlying a substrate and comprising a top electrode. A top electrode via overlies the top electrode. A width of an upper surface of the top electrode via is greater than a width of an upper surface of the top electrode. A conductive via overlies the top electrode via. A width of an upper surface of the conductive via is greater than the width of the upper surface of the top electrode via.

Techniques for MRAM MTJ top electrode connection

The present disclosure relates to a magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cell having an extended upper electrode, and a method of formation the same. In some embodiments, the MRAM cell has a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) arranged over a conductive lower electrode. Two protection layers sequentially surround a sidewall of the MTJ. The two protection layers have etch selectivity over one another.

Magnetic tunnel junction structures with protection outer layers

The present disclosure relates to a magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cell having an extended upper electrode, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the MRAM cell has a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) arranged over a conductive lower electrode. A conductive upper electrode is arranged over the magnetic tunnel junction. Below the conductive lower electrode is a first conductive via structure in a first dielectric layer. Below the conductive via structure is a discrete conductive jumper structure in a second dielectric layer. A dielectric body of a third dielectric material that is different from the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material extends vertical from the first dielectric layer at least partially into the second dielectric layer.

Magnetic tunnel junction structures and related methods

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including a memory region, a logic region adjacent to the memory region, a first magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) cell and a second MTJ cell over the memory region, and a carbon-based layer over the memory region, wherein the carbon-based layer includes a recess between the first MTJ cell and the second MTJ cell.

Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method of the same

An MRAM memory cell includes a substrate and a transistor. The transistor includes: first and second source regions; a drain region between the first and second source regions; a first channel region between the drain region and the first source region; a second channel region between the drain region and the second source region; a first gate structure over the first channel region; and a second gate structure over the second channel region. A magnetic tunnel junction is overlying the transistor. The drain region is coupled to the magnetic tunnel junction. A first metal layer is overlying the transistor, and a second metal layer is overlying the first metal layer. The second and first metal layers couple a common source line signal to the first and second source regions of the MRAM memory cell and to those of a neighboring MRAM memory cell.

MRAM memory cell layout for minimizing bitcell area

The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a memory device surrounded by a dielectric structure disposed over a substrate. The memory device includes a data storage structure disposed between a bottom electrode and a top electrode. A bottom electrode via couples the bottom electrode to a lower interconnect. A top electrode via couples the top electrode to an upper interconnect. A bottommost surface of the top electrode via is directly over the top electrode and has a first width that is smaller than a second width of a bottommost surface of the bottom electrode via.

Memory cell with top electrode via

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip comprising a memory cell. The memory cell is disposed within a dielectric structure that overlies a substrate. The memory cell comprises a data storage structure disposed between a bottom electrode and a top electrode. An upper conductive structure is disposed in the dielectric structure and on the top electrode. The upper conductive structure comprises a protrusion disposed below an upper surface of the top electrode. A sidewall spacer structure is disposed around the memory cell. The sidewall spacer structure comprises a first sidewall spacer layer around the data storage structure and a second sidewall spacer layer abutting the first sidewall spacer layer. The protrusion contacts the second sidewall spacer layer.

Sidewall spacer structure for memory cell

An integrated circuit die includes a magnetic tunnel junction as a storage element of a MRAM cell. The integrated circuit die includes a top electrode positioned on the magnetic tunnel junction. The integrated circuit die includes a first sidewall spacer laterally surrounding the top electrode. The first sidewall spacer acts as a mask for patterning the magnetic tunnel junction. The integrated circuit die includes a second sidewalls spacer positioned on a lateral surface of the magnetic tunnel junction.

Embedded MRAM fabrication process for ion beam etching with protection by top electrode spacer

An integrated circuit device includes a substrate, a memory cell, a magnetic shielding element, an interlayer dielectric layer, and a metallization pattern. The memory cell is over the substrate. The memory cell includes a bottom electrode, a resistance switching element over the bottom electrode, a top electrode over the resistance switching element. The magnetic shielding element is around the memory cell. The interlayer dielectric layer surrounds the memory cell and the magnetic shielding element. The metallization pattern is in the interlayer dielectric layer and connected to the top electrode.

Growing community of inventors

Taipei, Taiwan

Hung Cho Wang