Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Industrial Technology Research Institute

Sheng-Huang Huang

Hung Cho Wang

Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang

Sheng-Chang Chen

Jiunyu Tsai

Kuei-Hung Shen

Ming-Che Ku

Tsun Chung Tu

Chung-Chiang Min

Hung-Cho Wang

Keng-Ming Kuo

Wen-Ting Chu

Yu-Wen Liao

Tong-Chern Ong

Kuo-Yuan Tu

Shih-Chang Liu

Alexander Kalnitsky

Yao-Wen Chang

Yuan-Tai Tseng

Chia-Hua Lin

Tsung-Hsueh Yang

Chern-Yow Hsu

Ya-Chen Kao

Chun-Jung Lin

Wen-Chun You

Chih-Huang Lai

Kuo-Feng Huang

Wen-Cheng Chen

Jun-Yao Chen

Yung-Hung Wang

Chen-Pin Hsu

Harry-hak-lay Chuang

Ming-Te Liu

Jiun-Yu Tsai

Tien-Wei Chiang

Chern-yow Hsu

Yuan-Jen Lee

Harry-Haklay Chuang

Sheng-Wen Fu

Hung-Yu Chang

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 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

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

A method for fabricating a semiconductor memory device is provided. The method includes: etching a first region of the semiconductor memory device to expose a first capping layer; forming a second capping layer on the first capping layer; etching a portion of the first capping layer and a portion of the second capping layer to form a first trench reaching a first metal line; and forming a second metal line in the first trench to contact the first metal line.

Semiconductor memory device and method for fabricating the same

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 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.

Integrated circuit device and method for fabricating the same

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a first memory cell and a second memory cell over a substrate, wherein each of the first and second memory cells comprises a bottom electrode, a resistance switching element over the bottom electrode, and a top electrode over the resistance switching element; depositing a first dielectric layer over the first and second memory cells, such that the first dielectric layer has a void between the first and second memory cells; depositing a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer; and forming a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature in the first and second dielectric layers and respectively connected with the top electrode of the first memory cell and the top electrode of the second memory cell.

Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same

Some embodiments relate to an integrated circuit including a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) cell. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and an interconnect structure disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The interconnect structure includes metal layers that are stacked over one another with dielectric layers disposed between. The metal layers include a lower metal layer and an upper metal layer disposed over the lower metal layer. A bottom electrode is disposed over and in electrical contact with the lower metal layer. A magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) is disposed over an upper surface of bottom electrode. A top electrode is disposed over an upper surface of the MTJ. A sidewall spacer surrounds an outer periphery of the top electrode. Less than an entirety of a top electrode surface is in direct electrical contact with a metal via connected to the upper metal layer.

Techniques for MRAM MTJ top electrode to via interface

A MRAM device includes a substrate, a first bottom electrode, a first MTJ stack, a first spacer, a topography-smoothing layer and a second ILD layer. The substrate includes a first ILD layer having a metal line. The first MTJ stack is over the first bottom electrode. The first spacer surrounds sidewalls of the first MTJ stack. The topography-smoothing layer extends over a top surface of the first ILD layer, along sidewalls of the first bottom electrode the first spacer. The topography-smoothing layer has a top portion over the first MTJ stack and a first side portion laterally surrounding the first spacer. The first side portion has a maximal lateral thickness greater than a maximal vertical thickness of the top portion. The second ILD layer is over the topography-smoothing layer and has a material different from a material of the topography-smoothing layer.

Magnetic random access memory device and formation method thereof

The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip in some embodiments. The integrated chip includes a memory device disposed over a lower interconnect within one or more lower inter-level dielectric (ILD) layers over a substrate. An upper ILD layer laterally surrounds the memory device. An etch stop layer is disposed along a sidewall of the memory device and over an upper surface of the one or more lower ILD layers. An upper interconnect is arranged along opposing sides of the memory device. The upper interconnect rests of 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.

Growing community of inventors

Hsinchu, Taiwan

Sheng-Huang Huang