A structure including a bottom electrode, a phase change material layer vertically aligned and an ovonic threshold switching layer vertically aligned above the phase change material layer. A structure including a bottom electrode, a phase change material layer and an ovonic threshold switching layer vertically aligned above the phase change material layer, and a first barrier layer physically separating the ovonic threshold switching layer from a top electrode. A method including forming a structure including a liner vertically aligned above a first barrier layer, the first barrier layer vertically aligned above a phase change material layer, the phase change material layer vertically aligned above a bottom electrode, forming a dielectric surrounding the structure, and forming an ovonic threshold switching layer on the first barrier layer, vertical side surfaces of the first buffer layer are vertically aligned with the first buffer layer, the phase change material layer and the bottom electrode.

A selector with a superlattice-like structure and a preparation method thereof are provided, which belong to the technical field of micro-nano electronics. The selector includes a substrate, and a first metal electrode layer, a superlattice-like layer, and a second metal electrode layer sequentially stacked on the substrate. The superlattice-like layer includes n+1 first sublayers and n second sublayers alternately stacked periodically. A material of the first sublayer is amorphous carbon, and a material of the second sublayer is a chalcogenide with gating property.

A semiconductor device may include: a first conductive line including an opening passing through the first conductive line; a second conductive line disposed over the first conductive line and spaced apart from the first conductive line; a first electrode layer buried in the opening; a selector layer disposed in the opening and surrounding side surfaces of the first electrode layer; and a variable resistance layer disposed over the selector layer and the first electrode layer.

A process of improving a profile and repairing sidewall damage for phase change memory devices. The process includes applying inert ion beam etching to trim a sidewall of a layer of phase change memory material in a phase change memory device, where the sidewall has been damaged in reactive ion etching using halogens. In the process, the inert ion beam etching is with low energy. In the process, applying the inert ion beam etching to trim the sidewall is at a predetermined low temperature. In the process, applying the inert ion beam etching to trim the sidewall is at a predetermined small angle between an inert ion beam and a surface tangent of the sidewall.

A selector device including a first metal electrode layer, a second metal electrode layer and a switching layer disposed between the first metal electrode layer and the second metal electrode layer. The switching layer is a stacked assembly of ABA, BAB, AB or BA, where A is an ion supply layer, and B is a conversion layer. The ion supply layer includes a chalcogenide metal material having a metal atomic content of more than 0% and not more than 50% with respect to the chalcogenide metal material. The conversion layer includes a chalcogenide material.

Methods, systems, and devices for efficient fabrication of memory structures are described. A multi-deck memory device may be fabricated using a sequence of fabrication steps that include depositing a first metal layer, depositing a cell layer on the first metal layer to form memory cells of the first memory deck, and depositing a second metal layer on the cell layer. The second metal layer may be deposited using a single deposition process rather than using multiple deposition processes. A second memory deck may be formed on the second metal layer such that stacked memory cells from the first and second deck share the use of the second metal layer. Using a single deposition process for the second metal layer may decrease the quantity of fabrication steps used to fabricate the multi-deck memory array and reduce or eliminate the exposure of the cell material to metal etchants.

Systems, methods, and apparatus related to spike current suppression in a memory array. In one approach, a memory device includes a memory array having a cross-point memory architecture. The memory array has access lines (e.g., word lines and/or bit lines) configured to access memory cells of the memory array. Each access line has left and right portions. A conductive layer is positioned in the access line between the left and right portions. The conductive layer is formed in a socket that has been etched or otherwise formed in the access line to provide an opening. This opening is filled by the conductive layer. The conductive layer electrically connects the left and right portions of the access line to a via. A driver is electrically connected to the via for generating a voltage on the access line for accessing one or more memory cells. To reduce electrical discharge associated with current spikes, a first resistive film is formed in the access line between the left portion and the conductive layer, and a second resistive film is formed in the access line between the right portion and the conductive layer.

Systems, methods, and apparatus related to spike current suppression in a memory array. In one approach, a memory device includes a memory array having a cross-point memory architecture. The memory array has access lines (e.g., word lines and/or bit lines) configured to access memory cells of the memory array. Each access line is split into left and right portions. Each portion is electrically connected to a single via, which a driver uses to generate a voltage on the access line. To reduce electrical discharge associated with current spikes, a first resistor is located between the left portion and the via, and a second resistor is located between the right portion and the via.

An electronic chip includes memory cells made of a phase-change material and a transistor. First and second vias extend from the transistor through an intermediate insulating layer to a same height. A first metal level including a first interconnection track in contact with the first via is located over the intermediate insulating layer. A heating element for heating the phase-change material is located on the second via, and the phase-change material is located on the heating element. A second metal level including a second interconnection track is located above the phase-change material. A third via extends from the phase-change material to the second interconnection track.

Methods, systems, and devices for composite electrode material chemistry are described. A memory device may include an access line, a storage element comprising chalcogenide, and an electrode coupled with the memory element and the access line. The electrode may be made of a composition of a first material doped with a second material. The second material may include a tantalum-carbon compound. In some cases, the second may be operable to be chemically inert with the storage element. The second material may include a thermally stable electrical resistivity and a lower resistance to signals communicated between the access line and the storage element across a range of operating temperatures of the storage element as compared with a resistance of the first material.