An resistive random-access memory (RRAM) device including an first crystalline semiconductor layer disposed adjacent to a crystalline semiconductor substrate, a crystal lattice edge-dislocation segment disposed at an interface of the first crystalline semiconductor layer and crystalline semiconductor substrate, the lattice edge-dislocation segment including first and second segment ends, a first ion-source electrode disposed upon the electrically isolating spacer, adjacent to the crystalline substrate and first crystalline semiconductor layer, and further disposed in contact with the first segment end of the lattice edge-dislocation segment, and a second electrode disposed upon the electrically isolating spacer, adjacent to the crystalline substrate and first crystalline semiconductor layer, and further disposed in contact with the second segment end of the lattice edge-dislocation segment.

A semiconductor device includes a diffusion barrier structure, a bottom electrode, a top electrode, a switching layer and a capping layer. The bottom electrode is over the diffusion barrier structure. The top electrode is over the bottom electrode. The switching layer is between the bottom electrode and the top electrode, and configured to store data. The capping layer is between the switching layer and the top electrode. The diffusion barrier structure includes a multiple-layer structure. A thermal conductivity of the diffusion barrier structure is greater than approximately 20 W/mK.

A projected memory device includes a carbon-based projection component. The device includes two electrodes, a memory segment, and a projection component. The projection component and the memory segment form a dual element that connects the two electrodes. The projection component extends parallel to and in contact with the memory segment. The memory segment includes a resistive memory material, while the projection component includes a thin film of non-insulating material that essentially comprises carbon. In a particular implementation, the non-insulating material and the projection component essentially comprises amorphous carbon. Using carbon and, in particular, amorphous carbon, as a main component of the projection component, allows unprecedented flexibility to be achieved when tuning the electrical resistance of the projection component.

An IC structure comprises a substrate, a first dielectric structure, a second dielectric structure, a first via structure, and a memory cell structure. The substrate comprises a memory region and a logic region. The first dielectric structure is over the memory region. The second dielectric structure laterally extends from the first dielectric structure to over the logic region. The second dielectric structure has a thickness less than a thickness of the first dielectric structure. The first via structure extends through the first dielectric structure. A top segment of the first via structure is higher than a top surface of the first dielectric structure. The first memory cell structure is over the first via structure.

A phase change memory (PCM) cell includes a first electrode comprised of a first electrically conductive material, a second electrode comprised of a second electrically conductive material, and a phase change section positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. The phase change section includes a first phase change material having a first resistance drift coefficient, and a second phase change material having a second resistance drift coefficient that is greater than the first resistance drift coefficient. An axis of the PCM cell extends between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second phase change material is offset from the first phase change material in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis.

Electrical switching technologies employ the otherwise undesirable line defect in crystalline materials to form conductive filaments. A switching cell includes a crystalline layer disposed between an active electrode and another electrode. The crystalline layer has at least one channel, such as a line defect, extending from one surface of the crystalline layer to the other surface. Upon application of a voltage on the two electrodes, the active electrode provides metal ions that can migrate from the active electrode to the other electrode along the line defect, thereby forming a conductive filament. The switching cell can precisely locate the conductive filament within the line defect and increase the device-to-device switching uniformity.

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.

The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor devices and more particularly to memory or storage devices based on resistive switching, and to methods of making and using such devices. In one aspect, a resistive switching memory device includes a first electrode and a second electrode having interposed therebetween a first inner region and a second inner region, where the first and second inner regions contacting each other. The first inner region includes one or more metal oxide layers and the second inner region consists of a plurality of layers, where each of the layers of the second inner region is an insulating, a semi-insulating or a semiconducting layer. The second inner region comprises one or more layers having a stoichiometric or off-stoichiometric composition of a material selected from the group consisting of SiGe.sub.x, SiN.sub.x, AlO.sub.x, MgO.sub.x, AlN.sub.x, SiN.sub.x, HfO.sub.x, HfSiO.sub.x, ZrO.sub.x, ZrSiO.sub.x, GdAlO.sub.x, DyScO.sub.x, TaO.sub.x and combinations thereof. The second inner region comprises one or more silicon-containing layers, such that one of the one or more silicon-containing layers contacts the first inner region.

A phase change memory structure including a bottom electrode; a top electrode; a first phase change material between the bottom electrode and the top electrode; a first dielectric surrounding the first phase change material; a second dielectric surrounding the top electrode, the second dielectric having selective adhesion to a metal as compared to the first phase change material; a first metal feature contacting the bottom electrode; and a second metal feature contacting the top electrode.

A memory device according to one embodiment includes a resistance change film, an insulating film provided on the resistance change film, a first wiring provided on the insulating film and being not in contact with the resistance change film, and a high resistance film having a higher resistivity than the first wiring. The high resistance film is provided on a side surface of a stacked body including the insulating film and the first wiring, and the high resistance film is electrically connected between the first wiring and the resistance change film.