Switching oxide engineering technologies relating to low current RRAM-based crossbar array circuits are disclosed. An apparatus, in some implementations, includes: a substrate; a bottom electrode formed on the substrate; a switching oxide stack formed on the bottom electrode. The switching oxide stack includes one or more base oxide layers and one or more discontinuous oxide layers alternately stacked; An apparatus further includes a top electrode formed on the switching oxide stack. The base oxide layer includes TaO.sub.x, HfO.sub.x, TiO.sub.x, ZrO.sub.x, or a combination thereof. The discontinuous oxide layer includes Al.sub.2O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, Si.sub.3N.sub.4, Y.sub.2O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2O.sub.3, Sm.sub.2O.sub.3, CeO.sub.2, Er.sub.2O.sub.3, or the combination thereof.

A memory device includes: a first conductor extending in parallel with a first axis; a first selector material comprising a first portion that extends along a first sidewall of the first conductor; a second selector material comprising a first portion that extends along the first sidewall of the first conductor; a first variable resistive material comprising a portion that extends along the first sidewall of the first conductor; and a second conductor extending in parallel with a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the first portion of the first selector material, the first portion of the second selector material, and the portion of the first variable resistive material are arranged along a first direction in parallel with a third axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis and second axis.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes for forming Group VA element containing thin films, such as Sb, Sb—Te, Ge—Sb and Ge—Sb—Te thin films are provided, along with related compositions and structures. Sb precursors of the formula Sb(SiR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3).sub.3 are preferably used, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are alkyl groups. As, Bi and P precursors are also described. Methods are also provided for synthesizing these Sb precursors. Methods are also provided for using the Sb thin films in phase change memory devices.

Methods for manufacturing memory resistor devices and memory resistor devices manufactured according to such methods. A method includes depositing a first layer of dielectric material onto a substrate comprising a first electrode; bombarding the deposited first layer with an ion beam to create one or more defects in the first layer; depositing a second electrode such that the deposited first layer is between the first electrode and the second electrode; electroforming the first layer by applying an electroforming voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.

A superlattice phase-change thin film with a low density change, a phase-change memory and a preparation method. The superlattice phase-change thin film includes first phase-change layers (7) and second phase-change layers (8) that are alternately stacked to form a periodic structure; during crystallization, the first phase-change layer (7) has a conventional positive density change, and the second phase-change layer (8) has an abnormal negative density change, therefore, the abnormal density reduction and volume increase of the second phase-change layer (8) during crystallization can be used to offset the volume reduction of the first phase-change layer (7) during crystallization.

A memory includes: a first electrode comprising a top boundary and a sidewall; a resistive material layer, disposed above the first electrode, that comprises at least a first portion and a second portion coupled to a first end of the first portion, wherein the resistive material layer presents a variable resistance value; and a second electrode disposed above the resistive material layer.

A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate a substrate, a first electrode structure on the substrate, the first electrode structure including first insulating patterns and first electrode patterns, the first insulating patterns alternately stacked with the first electrode patterns, a second electrode pattern on a sidewall of the first electrode structure, and a data storage film on a sidewall of the second electrode pattern. The data storage film has a variable resistance.

An electronic device includes a base element, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer disposed to be spaced apart from each other on the base element, a channel layer disposed between the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer on the base element that accommodates metal ions, a metal ion conduction layer disposed on the channel layer, and a gate electrode layer disposed on the metal ion conduction layer. The channel layer includes a plurality of unit films and channel spaces between the plurality of unit films. The plurality of unit films are arranged to be parallel to a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the base element.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including the following steps. A plurality of first vias are formed in a first dielectric layer in a memory cell region and a peripheral region. A surface treatment is performed on the plurality of first vias to form a plurality of sacrificial layers. The plurality of sacrificial layers are removed to form a plurality of recesses. A plurality of protective layers are formed in the plurality of recesses. A memory device is formed on the first dielectric layer in the memory cell region. A second dielectric layer is formed on the memory device and on the first dielectric layer. A plurality of second vias is formed in the second dielectric layer in the memory cell region and the peripheral region to electrically connect the memory device in the memory cell region and the first vias in the peripheral region, respectively.

An approach to provide a semiconductor structure for a phase change memory cell with a first liner material surrounding a sidewall of a hole in a dielectric material where the hole in the dielectric is on a bottom electrode in the dielectric material. The semiconductor structure includes a layer of a second liner material on the first liner material, where the second liner material has an improved contact resistance to a phase change material. The semiconductor structure includes the phase change material abutting the layer of the second liner material on the first liner material. The phase change material fills the hole in the dielectric material. The second liner material that is between the phase change material and the first liner material provides a lower contact resistivity with the phase change material in the crystalline phase than the first liner material.