A method of integrating a phase change switch (PCS) into a Bipolar (Bi)/Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) (BiCMOS) process, comprises providing a base structure including BiCMOS circuitry on a semiconductor substrate, and forming on the base structure a dielectric contact window layer having metal through-plugs that contact the BiCMOS circuitry. The method includes constructing the PCS on the contact window layer. The PCS includes: a phase change region, between ohmic contacts on the phase change region, to operate as a switch controlled by heat. The method further includes forming, on the contact window layer and the PCS, a stack of alternating patterned metal layers and dielectric layers that interconnect the patterned metal layers, such that the stack connects a first of the ohmic contacts to the BiCMOS circuitry and provides connections to a second of the ohmic contacts and to the resistive heater.

A phase change memory (PCM) cell includes an electrode, a heater electrically connected to the electrode, a PCM material electrically connected to the heater, a second electrode electrically connected to the PCM material, an electrical insulator surrounding the PCM material, and a shield positioned between the PCM material and the electrical insulator, the shield comprising a reactive-ion-etching-resistant material.

A memory device includes a memory cell and a first select transistor. The memory cell includes a variable resistance memory region, a first semiconductor layer being in contact with the variable resistance memory region, a first insulating layer being in contact with the first semiconductor layer, and a first voltage application electrode being in contact with the first insulating layer. The first select transistor includes a second semiconductor layer, a second insulating layer being in contact with the second semiconductor layer, and a second voltage application electrode extending in the second direction and being in contact with the second insulating layer.

A memory cell includes a bottom electrode, a first dielectric layer, a variable resistance layer, and a top electrode. The first dielectric layer laterally surrounds the bottom electrode. A top surface of the bottom electrode is located at a level height lower than that of a top surface of the first dielectric layer. The variable resistance layer is disposed on the bottom electrode and the first dielectric layer. The variable resistance layer contacts the top surface of the bottom electrode and the top surface of the first dielectric layer. The top electrode is disposed on the variable resistance layer.

A memory device and a programming method of the memory device are provided. The memory device includes a bottom electrode, a heater, a phase change layer and a top electrode. The heater is disposed on the bottom electrode, and includes heat conducting materials different from one another in terms of electrical resistivity. A first one of the heat conducting materials has a periphery wall portion and a bottom plate portion connected to and surrounded by the periphery wall portion. A second one of the heat conducting materials is disposed on the bottom plate portion of the first one of the heat conducting materials, and laterally surrounded by the periphery wall portion of the first one of the heat conducting materials. The phase change layer is disposed on the heater and in contact with the heat conducting materials. The top electrode is disposed on the phase change layer.

A method of manufacturing a memory device includes sequentially forming and then etching a preliminary selection device layer, a preliminary middle electrode layer, and a preliminary variable resistance layer on a substrate, thereby forming a selection device, a middle electrode, and a variable resistance layer. At least one of a side portion of the selection device or a side portion of the variable resistance layer is removed so that a first width of the middle electrode in a first direction parallel to a top of the substrate is greater than a second width of the variable resistance layer in the first direction or a third width of the selection device in the first direction. A capping layer is formed on at least one of a side wall of the etched side portion of the selection device or a side wall of the etched side portion of the variable resistance layer.

The present disclosure provides a memory apparatus and a method for accessing a 3D vertical memory array. The 3D vertical memory array comprises word lines organized in planes separated from each other by insulating material, bit lines perpendicular to the word line planes, memory cells coupled between a respective word line and a respective bit line. The apparatus also comprises a controller configured to select multiple word lines, select multiple bit lines, and simultaneously access multiple memory cells, with each memory cell at a crossing of a selected word line and a selected bit line. The method comprises selecting a multiple word lines, selecting multiple bit lines and simultaneously accessing multiple memory cells, with each memory cell at a crossing of a selected word line of the selected multiple word lines and a selected bit line of the selected multiple bit lines. A method of manufacturing a 3D vertical memory array is also described.

Embodiments include a resistive random access memory (RRAM) storage cell, having a resistive switching material layer and a semiconductor layer between two electrodes, where the semiconductor layer serves as an OEL. In addition, the RRAM storage cell may be coupled with a transistor to form a RRAM memory cell. The RRAM memory cell may include a semiconductor layer as a channel for the transistor, and also shared with the storage cell as an OEL for the storage cell. A shared electrode may serve as a source electrode of the transistor and an electrode of the storage cell. In some embodiments, a dielectric layer may be shared between the transistor and the storage cell, where the dielectric layer is a resistive switching material layer of the storage cell.

The present disclosure includes three dimensional memory arrays, and methods of processing the same. A number of embodiments include a plurality of conductive lines separated from one other by an insulation material, a plurality of conductive extensions arranged to extend substantially perpendicular to the plurality of conductive lines, and a storage element material formed around each respective one of the plurality of conductive extensions and having two different contacts with each respective one of the plurality of conductive lines, wherein the two different contacts with each respective one of the plurality of conductive lines are at two different ends of that respective conductive line.

A method is presented for reducing element segregation of a phase change material (PCM). The method includes forming a bottom electrode, constructing a layered stack over the bottom electrode, the layered stack including the PCM separated by one or more electrically conductive and chemically stable materials, and forming a top electrode over the layered stack. The PCM is Ge—Sb—Te (germanium-antimony-tellurium or GST) and the one or more electrically conductive and chemically stable materials are titanium nitride (TiN) segments.