In a method for using or forming a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure may include a resistive random access memory (RRAM) gate with a first electrode and a second electrode. The RRAM gate may also include a switching layer that includes a dielectric material having a switching layer k-value and a switching layer thermal conductivity. The RRAM gate may also include a complimentary switching (CS) mitigation layer with a material having a CS k-value that is lower than the switching layer k-value and a CS thermal conductivity that is higher than the switching layer thermal conductivity.

A ferroelectric component includes a first electrode, a tunnel barrier layer disposed on the first electrode to include a ferroelectric material, a tunneling control layer disposed on the tunnel barrier layer to control a tunneling width of electric charges passing through the tunnel barrier layer, and a second electrode disposed on the tunneling control layer.

A memory device enabling a reduced minimal conductance state may be provided. The device comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and phase-change material between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the phase-change material enables a plurality of conductivity states depending on the ratio between a crystalline and an amorphous phase of the phase-change material. The memory device comprises additionally a projection layer portion in a region between the first electrode and the second electrode. Thereby, an area directly covered by the phase-change material in the amorphous phase in a reset state of the memory device is larger than an area of the projection layer portion oriented to the phase-change material, such that a discontinuity in the conductance states of the memory device is created and a reduced minimal conductance state of the memory device in a reset state is enabled.

The disclosure discloses a selector and a preparation method thereof. The selector includes: a substrate 1; an alternating layer 2 provided on the substrate 1, the alternating layer 2 being alternately formed by a bottom electrode layer 21 and an insulating layer 22; the alternating layer 2 is provided with a U-shaped groove; a selective layer 3 and a dielectric layer 4 being sequentially deposited in a direction from an inner wall of the U-shaped groove to a center of the U-shaped groove; and a top electrode layer 5 is filled in a concave space defined by the dielectric layer 4. The selector and the preparation method according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure can address the technical problem of high leakage current of the selector in existing technology and provide a selector with low leakage current.

A memory apparatus includes an interconnect in a first dielectric above a substrate and a structure above the interconnect, where the structure includes a diffusion barrier material and covers the interconnect. The memory apparatus further includes a resistive random-access memory (RRAM) device coupled to the interconnect. The RRAM device includes a first electrode on a portion of the structure, a stoichiometric layer having a metal and oxygen on the first electrode, a non-stoichiometric layer including the metal and oxygen on the stoichiometric layer. A second electrode including a barrier material is on the non-stoichiometric layer. In some embodiments, the RRAM device further includes a third electrode on the second electrode. To prevent uncontrolled oxidation during a fabrication process a spacer may be directly adjacent to the RRAM device, where the spacer includes a second dielectric.

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including a plurality of memory cells. The method includes: forming a first electrode layer; forming an initial Si-containing layer over the first electrode layer; performing a radical oxidation process to covert a first portion of the initial Si-containing layer into an oxide layer including silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) and form a Si-containing layer under the oxide layer by using a second portion of the initial Si-containing layer; and incorporating a dopant into the oxide layer by an ion implantation process to form a selector pattern.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory device includes depositing a bottom metal line layer on a dielectric layer, and patterning the bottom metal line layer into a plurality of bottom metal lines spaced apart from each other. In the method, a plurality of switching element dielectric portions are formed on respective ones of the plurality of bottom metal lines, and a top metal line layer is deposited on the plurality of switching element dielectric portions. The method further includes patterning the top metal line layer into a plurality of top metal lines spaced apart from each other. The plurality of top metal lines are oriented perpendicular to the plurality of bottom metal lines.

A memory array, a semiconductor chip and a method for forming the memory array are provided. The memory array includes first signal lines, second signal lines and memory cells. The first signal lines extend along a first direction. The second signal lines extend along a second direction over the first signal lines. The memory cells are defined at intersections of the first and second signal lines, and respectively include a resistance variable layer, a switching layer, an electrode layer and a carbon containing dielectric layer. The switching layer is overlapped with the resistance variable layer. The electrode layer lies between the resistance variable layer and the switching layer. The carbon containing layer laterally surrounds a stacking structure including the resistance variable layer, the switching layer and the electrode layer.

A memory cell design is disclosed. In an embodiment, the memory cell structure includes at least one memory bit layer stacked between top and bottom electrodes. The memory bit layer provides a storage element for a corresponding memory cell. One or more additional conductive layers may be included between the memory bit layer and either, or both, of the top or bottom electrodes to provide a better ohmic contact. In any case, a dielectric liner structure is provided on sidewalls of the memory bit layer. The liner structure includes a dielectric layer, and may also include a second dielectric layer on a first dielectric layer. Either or both first dielectric layer or second dielectric layer comprises a high-k dielectric material. As will be appreciated, the dielectric liner structure effectively protects the memory bit layer from lateral erosion and contamination during the etching of subsequent layers beneath the memory bit layer.

Methods and apparatuses for a resistive random access memory (RRAM) device are disclosed. The RRAM device comprises a bottom electrode, a resistive switching layer disposed on the bottom electrode, and a top electrode disposed on the resistive switching layer. The resistive switching layer is made of a composite of a metal, Si, and O. There may be an additional tunnel barrier layer between the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The top electrode and the bottom electrode may comprise multiple sub-layers.