Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Yan-Jie Liao

Chi-Yuan Shih

Shih-Fen Huang

You-Ru Lin

Chun-Ren Cheng

Yi-Chuan Teng

Yi Heng Tsai

Kai-Fung Chang

Ching-Hui Lin

Fu-Chun Huang

Fan Hu

Yen-Wen Chen

Anderson Lin

Alexander Kalnitsky

Wen-Chuan Tai

Ivan Hua-Shu Wu

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method in which a first set of one or more voltage pulses is applied to a piezoelectric device over a first time period. During the first time period, the method determines whether a performance parameter of the piezoelectric device has a first value that deviates from a reference value by more than a predetermined value. Based on whether the first value deviates from the reference value by more than the predetermined value, the method selectively applies a second set of one or more voltage pulses to the piezoelectric device over a second time period. The second time period is after the first time period and the second set of one or more voltage pulses differs in magnitude and/or polarity from the first set of one or more voltage pulses.

Fatigue-free bipolar loop treatment to reduce imprint effect in piezoelectric device

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) device. The method may be performed by depositing a bottom electrode layer over a substrate, depositing a dielectric layer over the bottom electrode layer, depositing a top electrode layer over the dielectric layer, and depositing a first titanium getter layer over the top electrode layer. The first titanium getter layer, the top electrode layer, and the dielectric layer are patterned to expose a peripheral portion of the bottom electrode layer. A passivation layer is deposited over the substrate, the first titanium getter layer, and the peripheral portion of the bottom electrode layer.

Titanium layer as getter layer for hydrogen in a MIM device

In some embodiments, a piezoelectric device is provided. The piezoelectric device includes a semiconductor substrate. A first electrode is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. A piezoelectric structure is disposed on the first electrode. A second electrode is disposed on the piezoelectric structure. A heating element is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The heating element is configured to heat the piezoelectric structure to a recovery temperature for a period of time, where heating the piezoelectric structure to the recovery temperature for the period of time improves a degraded electrical property of the piezoelectric device.

Integrated heater (and related method) to recover degraded piezoelectric device performance

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip including a dielectric structure sandwiched between a first electrode and a bottom electrode. A passivation layer overlies the second electrode and the dielectric structure. The passivation layer comprises a horizontal surface vertically below a top surface of the passivation layer. The horizontal surface is disposed above a top surface of the dielectric structure.

Integration scheme for breakdown voltage enhancement of a piezoelectric metal-insulator-metal device

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method for recovering degraded device performance of a piezoelectric device. The method includes operating the piezoelectric device in a performance mode by applying one or more voltage pulses to the piezoelectric device, and determining that a performance parameter of the piezoelectric device has a first value that has deviated from a reference value by more than a predetermined threshold value during a first time period. During a second time period, the method further includes applying a bipolar loop to the piezoelectric device, comprising positive and negative voltage biases. During a third time period, the method further includes operating the piezoelectric device in the performance mode, wherein the performance parameter has a second value. An absolute difference between the second value and the reference value is less than an absolute difference between the first value and the reference value.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) device. The MIM device includes a substrate, and a first and second electrode stacked over the substrate. A dielectric layer is arranged between the first and second electrodes. Further, the MIM device includes a titanium getter layer that is disposed over the substrate and separated from the dielectric layer by the first electrode. The titanium getter layer has a higher getter capacity for hydrogen than the dielectric layer.

The present disclosure relates to a MIM (metal-insulator-metal) capacitor having a top electrode overlying a substrate. A passivation layer overlies the top electrode. The passivation layer has a step region that continuously contacts and extends from a top surface of the top electrode to sidewalls of the top electrode. A metal frame overlies the passivation layer. The metal frame continuously contacts and extends from a top surface of the passivation layer to upper sidewalls of the passivation layer in the step region. The metal frame has a protrusion that extends through the passivation layer and contacts the top surface of the top electrode.

Reduction of electric field enhanced moisture penetration by metal shielding

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a piezoelectric metal-insulator-metal (MIM) device including a piezoelectric structure between a top electrode and a bottom electrode. The piezoelectric layer includes a top region overlying a bottom region. Outer sidewalls of the bottom region extend past outer sidewalls of the top region. The outer sidewalls of the top region are aligned with outer sidewalls of the top electrode. The piezoelectric layer is configured to help limit delamination of the top electrode from the piezoelectric layer.

Growing community of inventors

Hsin-Chu, Taiwan

Yan-Jie Liao