A semiconductor device includes a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structures in an interlayer insulating layer on a substrate. A blocking layer is on the interlayer insulating layer and the plurality of MTJ structures. An upper insulating layer is on the blocking layer. An upper interconnection is on the upper insulating layer. An upper plug is connected to the upper interconnection and a corresponding one of the plurality of MTJ structures and extends into the upper insulating layer and the blocking layer. The blocking layer includes a material having a higher absorbance constant than the upper insulating layer.

A method is presented for reducing element segregation of a phase change material (PCM). The method includes forming a bottom electrode, constructing a layered stack over the bottom electrode, the layered stack including the PCM separated by one or more electrically conductive and chemically stable materials, and forming a top electrode over the layered stack. The PCM is Ge—Sb—Te (germanium-antimony-tellurium or GST) and the one or more electrically conductive and chemically stable materials are titanium nitride (TiN) segments.

Forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first conductive line on a substrate, forming a memory cell including a switching device and a data storage element on the first conductive line, and forming a second conductive line on the memory cell. Forming the switching device includes forming a first semiconductor layer, forming a first doped region by injecting a n-type impurity into the first semiconductor layer, forming a second semiconductor layer thicker than the first semiconductor layer, on the first semiconductor layer having the first doped region, forming a second doped region by injecting a p-type impurity into an upper region of the second semiconductor layer, and forming a P-N diode by performing a heat treatment process to diffuse the n-type impurity and the p-type impurity in the first doped region and the second doped region to form a P-N junction of the P-N diode in the second semiconductor layer.

A resistive element array circuit includes word lines, bit lines, resistive elements, a selector, a differential amplifier, and a ground terminal. The word lines are coupled to a power supply. The resistive elements are each disposed at an intersection of corresponding one of the word lines and corresponding one of the bit lines. The selector is configured to select one word line and one bit line. The differential amplifier includes a positive input terminal configured to be coupled to the selected one of the bit lines which is selected by the selector, a negative input terminal configured to be coupled to non-selected one of the bit lines which is not selected by the selector and to non-selected one of the word lines which is not selected by the selector, an output terminal being coupled to the negative input terminal. The ground terminal is coupled to the positive input terminal.

Some embodiments relate to a memory device. The memory device includes a first electrode overlying a substrate. A data storage layer is disposed on the first electrode. A second electrode overlies the data storage layer. A buffer layer is disposed between the data storage layer and the second electrode.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate; first conductive lines extending in a first direction; second conductive lines extending in a second direction; memory cell structures between the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines; and dummy cell structures that are electrically isolated and between the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines. The memory cell structures include a data storage material pattern including a phase change material layer; and a selector material pattern overlapping the data storage material pattern in a vertical direction. The dummy cell structures include a dummy pattern including a phase change material layer. The phase change material layer of the dummy pattern includes a crystalline phase portion and an amorphous phase portion. At a cross section of the phase change material layer of the dummy pattern, an area of the crystalline phase portion is larger than an area of the amorphous phase portion.

Technology for reading reversible resistivity cells in a memory array when using a current-force read is disclosed. The memory cells are first read using a current-force referenced read. If the current-force referenced read is successful, then results of the current-force referenced read are returned. If the current-force referenced read is unsuccessful, then a current-force self-referenced read (SRR) is performed and results of the current-force SRR are returned. The current-force referenced read provides a very fast read of the memory cells and can be successful in most cases. The current-force SRR provides a more accurate read in the event that the current-force referenced read is not successful. Moreover, the current-force referenced read may use less power than the current-force SRR. In an aspect this mixed current-force read is used for MRAM cells, which are especially challenging to read.

A semiconductor device includes first conductive lines extending in a first direction, second conductive lines extending in a second direction, memory cells disposed between the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, each memory cell disposed at an intersection of a first conductive line and a second conductive line, and a passive material between the memory cells and at least one of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines. Related semiconductor devices and electronic devices are disclosed.

Provided is a nonvolatile memory device including a lower electrode on a substrate, an upper electrode on the lower electrode, a tunnel barrier pattern between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, and a fixed charge pattern in contact with the lower electrode and spaced apart from the tunnel barrier pattern with the lower electrode therebetween. The tunnel barrier pattern includes an anti-ferroelectric material. The lower electrode includes a first material. The upper electrode includes a second material. The first material and the second material have different work functions.

A semiconductor structure comprises a memory device comprising a first electrode, at least one memory element layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the at least one memory element layer. An encapsulation layer is disposed around side surfaces of the memory device. The semiconductor structure also comprises a conductive cap layer disposed on a top surface of the encapsulation layer and around a portion of side surfaces of the encapsulation layer. A contact is disposed on the second electrode and extends around the side surfaces of the memory device.