A new class of logic gates are presented that use non-linear polar material. The logic gates include multi-input majority gates. Input signals in the form of digital signals are driven to non-linear input capacitors on their respective first terminals. The second terminals of the non-linear input capacitors are coupled a summing node which provides a majority function of the inputs. The majority node is then coupled driver circuitry which can be any suitable logic gate such as a buffer, inverter, NAND gate, NOR gate, etc. In the multi-input majority or minority gates, the non-linear charge response from the non-linear input capacitors results in output voltages close to or at rail-to-rail voltage levels. Bringing the majority output close to rail-to-rail voltage eliminates the high leakage problem faced from majority gates formed using linear input capacitors.

A deep trench structure may be formed between electrodes of a capacitive device. The deep trench structure may be formed to a depth, a width, and/or an aspect ratio that increases the volume of the deep trench structure relative to a trench structure formed using a metal etch-stop layer. Thus, the deep trench structure is capable of being filled with a greater amount of dielectric material, which increases the capacitance value of the capacitive device. Moreover, the parasitic capacitance of the capacitive device may be decreased by omitting the metal etch-stop layer. Accordingly, the deep trench structure (and the omission of the metal etch-stop layer) may increase the sensitivity of the capacitive device, may increase the humidity-sensing performance of the capacitive device, and/or may increase the performance of devices and/or integrated circuits in which the capacitive device is included.

A passive component includes a substrate having insulating properties and having a surface having a recess, a bottom electrode filling at least a portion of the recess, a dielectric film provided on a surface of the bottom electrode, and a top electrode opposite to the bottom electrode with the dielectric film interposed therebetween. In a height direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, a dimension of the bottom electrode is larger than a dimension of the dielectric film.

A deep trench structure may be formed between electrodes of a capacitive device. The deep trench structure may be formed to a depth, a width, and/or an aspect ratio that increases the volume of the deep trench structure relative to a trench structure formed using a metal etch-stop layer. Thus, the deep trench structure is capable of being filled with a greater amount of dielectric material, which increases the capacitance value of the capacitive device. Moreover, the parasitic capacitance of the capacitive device may be decreased by omitting the metal etch-stop layer. Accordingly, the deep trench structure (and the omission of the metal etch-stop layer) may increase the sensitivity of the capacitive device, may increase the humidity-sensing performance of the capacitive device, and/or may increase the performance of devices and/or integrated circuits in which the capacitive device is included.

A semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, and a capacitor structure on the substrate and including a lower electrode, a capacitor dielectric layer, and an upper electrode, wherein the capacitor dielectric layer includes a lower interface layer on the lower electrode and doped with impurities of a first conductive type, an upper interface layer beneath the upper electrode and doped with impurities of a second conductive type other than the first conductive type, and a dielectric structure between the lower interface layer and the upper interface layer.

A semiconductor device includes a lower electrode; an upper electrode disposed to be spaced apart from the lower electrode; and a dielectric layer disposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, and including a first metal oxide region, a second metal oxide region, and a third metal oxide region.

According to various aspects, a memory cell is provided, the memory cell including: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a memory structure disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the memory structure forming a memory capacitor, wherein at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode includes: a first electrode layer including a first material having a first microstructure; a functional layer in direct contact with the first electrode layer; and a second electrode layer in direct contact with the functional layer, the second electrode layer including a second material having a second microstructure different from the first microstructure.

Ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) capacitors and methods of forming FRAM capacitors are provided. An FRAM capacitor may be formed between adjacent metal interconnect layers or between a silicided active layer (e.g., including MOSFET devices) and a first metal interconnect layer. The FRAM capacitor may be formed by a damascene process including forming a tub opening in a dielectric region, forming a cup-shaped bottom electrode, forming a cup-shaped ferroelectric element in an interior opening defined by the cup-shaped bottom electrode, and forming a top electrode in an interior opening defined by the cup-shaped ferroelectric element. The FRAM capacitor may form a component of an FRAM memory cell. For example, an FRAM memory cell may include one FRAM capacitor and one transistor (1T1C configuration) or two FRAM capacitors and two transistor (2T2C configuration).

Described herein are capacitor devices formed using perovskite insulators. In one example, a perovskite templating material is formed over an electrode, and a perovskite insulator layer is grown over the templating material. The templating material improves the crystal structure and electrical properties in the perovskite insulator layer. One or both electrodes may be ruthenium. In another example, a perovskite insulator layer is formed between two layers of indium tin oxide (ITO), with the ITO layers forming the capacitor electrodes.

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first electrode on a single-crystal structure. A dielectric layer is formed on the first electrode. A second electrode is formed on the dielectric layer. The forming a dielectric layer includes forming a first dielectric layer having a single-crystal perovskite structure on the first electrode, and forming a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer. An upper surface of the first dielectric layer adjacent to the second dielectric layer has a greater surface roughness than an upper surface of the second dielectric layer adjacent to the second electrode.