According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, a metal containing portion, and an insulating portion. The semiconductor layer includes a first region and a second region. The second region has at least one of a region being amorphous or a region having a crystallinity lower than a crystallinity of the first region. The gate electrode is apart from the first region in a first direction. The first direction crosses a second direction connecting the first region and the second region. The metal containing portion is apart from the second region in the first direction. At least a part of the metal containing portion overlaps the gate electrode in the second direction. The insulating portion is provided between the gate electrode and the first region and between the metal containing portion and the second region.

The present invention relates to a resistive random access memory device having a nano-scale tip, memory array using the same and fabrication method thereof. Especially, the present invention provides a technique forming a bottom electrode having an upwardly protruding tapered tip structure through etching a semiconductor substrate in order that an electric field is focused on the tip of the bottom electrode across a top electrode and that a region where conductive filaments are formed is maximally minimized or localized.

A memory device may include at least one inert electrode, at least one mask element arranged over the at least one inert electrode, a switching layer arranged over the at least one mask element and the at least one inert electrode, and at least one active electrode arranged over the switching layer. Both of the at least one mask element and the switching layer may be in contact with a top surface of the at least one inert electrode. The switching layer in this memory device may thus include corners at which the conductive filaments may be confined. This memory device may be formed with a process that may utilize the at least one mask element to help reduce the chances of shorting between the inert and active electrodes.

A memory device may be provided, including a first electrode, an insulating element arranged over the first electrode, a second electrode arranged over the insulating element, a switching layer and a conductive line electrically coupled to the second electrode. Each of the first electrode, the insulating element, and the second electrode may include a first side surface and a second side surface. Centers of the first electrode, the insulating element, and the second electrode may be substantially vertically aligned. The first side surface and the second side surface of the second electrode may be substantially vertically aligned with the first side surface and the second side surface of at least one of the insulating element and the first electrode. The switching layer may be conformal to the first side surfaces and the second side surfaces of the second electrode and the insulating element.

A memory device, and a method of making the same, includes a resistive random-access memory element electrically connected to an extrinsic base region of a bipolar junction transistor, the extrinsic base region of the bipolar junction transistor consisting of an epitaxially grown material that forms the bottom electrode of the resistive random-access memory element. Additionally, a method of writing to the memory device includes applying a first voltage on a word line of the memory device to form a filament in the resistive random-access memory element. A second voltage including an opposite polarity to the first voltage can be applied to the word line to remove a portion of the filament in the resistive random-access memory element.

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to a vertical memory devices and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a first bit cell with a first top electrode; a second bit cell with a second top electrode; and a common bottom electrode for both the first bit cell and the second bit cell.

An approach to forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes two adjacent fins on a substrate. A gate stack is on each of the two adjacent fins. The semiconductor structure includes a first source/drain on a first end of each fin of the two adjacent fins and a second source/drain on a second end of each fin of the two adjacent fins. The semiconductor structure includes a switching layer on at least the first source/drain on the first end of each fin of the two adjacent fins and a top electrode on the switching layer. A metal material over the top electrode in the semiconductor structure.

A semiconductor structure may include a vertical field effect transistor, the vertical field effect transistor may include a top source drain, a bottom source drain, and an epitaxial channel and a resistive random access memory below the vertical field effect transistor. The resistive random access memory may include an epitaxial oxide layer, a top electrode, and a bottom electrode. The top electrode, which may function as the bottom source drain of the vertical field effect transistor, may be in direct contact with the epitaxial channel of the vertical field effect transistor. The epitaxial oxide layer may separate the top electrode from the bottom electrode. The top source drain may be arranged between a dielectric material and the epitaxial channel. The dielectric material may be in direct contact with a top surface of the epitaxial channel. The epitaxial oxide layer may be composed of a rare earth oxide.

A method for increasing the surface roughness of a metal layer, includes depositing on the metal layer a sacrificial layer made of a dielectric material including nitrogen; exposing a surface of the sacrificial layer to an etching plasma so as to create asperities; and etching the metal layer through the sacrificial layer, so as to transfer the asperities of the sacrificial layer into a part at least of the metal layer.

A resistive memory including a substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, a resistance changeable layer and an oxygen reservoir layer is provided. The first electrode is located on the substrate. The second electrode is located between the first electrode and the substrate. The resistance changeable layer is located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The oxygen reservoir layer is located between the first electrode and the resistance changeable layer. The oxygen reservoir layer includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The second portion is connected to one side of the first portion. The third portion is connected to the other side of the first portion. A thickness of the first portion is greater than a thickness of the second portion and a thickness of the third portion. The first portion of the oxygen reservoir layer protrudes toward the first electrode.