Systems and methods for providing a Barrier Modulated Cell (BMC) structure that may comprise a reversible resistance-switching memory element within a memory array are described. The BMC structure may include a barrier layer comprising a layer of amorphous germanium or amorphous silicon germanium paired with a conductive metal oxide, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), strontium titanate (SrTiO3), or a binary metal oxide. The BMC structure may include a conductive metal oxide in series with an amorphous layer of a low bandgap material. The low bandgap material may comprise a semiconductor material with a bandgap energy (Eg) less than 1.0 eV. The improved BMC structure may be used for providing multi-level memory elements within a three dimensional memory array.

Some embodiments include memory structures having a diode over a memory cell. The memory cell can include programmable material between a pair of electrodes, with the programmable material containing a multivalent metal oxide directly against a high-k dielectric. The diode can include a first diode electrode directly over one of the memory cell electrodes and electrically coupled with the memory cell electrode, and can include a second diode electrode laterally outward of the first diode electrode and not directly over the memory cell. Some embodiments include memory arrays comprising the memory structures, and some embodiments include methods of making the memory structures.

A method of manufacturing an electronic device including a semiconductor memory is provided. The method may include forming a material layer for forming a variable resistance element over a substrate, forming a metal layer over the material layer, forming a mask pattern over the metal layer, forming a metal layer pattern by etching the metal layer using the mask pattern as an etch barrier, performing a surface treatment on the metal layer pattern, and etching the material layer using the metal layer pattern and the metal compound layer as an etch barrier to form a variable resistance element having an external side aligned with an external side of the metal compound layer. An external part of the metal layer pattern may be transformed into a metal compound layer. The metal compound layer may have a low etch rate as an etch barrier.

A resistive memory device includes a first stacked structure and a second stacked structure. The first stacked structure includes a first bottom electrode, a first top electrode disposed on the first bottom electrode, and a first variable resistance layer disposed between the first bottom electrode and the first top electrode in a vertical direction. The second stacked structure includes a second bottom electrode, a second top electrode disposed on the second bottom electrode, and a second variable resistance layer disposed between the second bottom electrode and the second top electrode in the vertical direction. A thickness of the first variable resistance layer is less than a thickness of the second variable resistance layer for increasing the number of switchable resistance states of the resistive memory device.

A two-terminal device comprises a bottom electrode. A device element is formed upon the bottom electrode. The two-terminal device also comprises a top electrode that is formed upon the device element. The bottom electrode and the top electrode are aligned. The bottom electrode and top electrode also have a same width and depth.

A variable resistance memory device includes a substrate, a first conductive line on the substrate, the first conductive line extending in a first horizontal direction, a second conductive line extending on the first conductive line in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, and a memory cell at an intersection between the first conductive line and the second conductive line, the memory cell having a selection element layer, an intermediate electrode layer, and a variable resistance layer, and the variable resistance layer having a shape of stairs with a concave center.

A memory using mixed valence conductive oxides is disclosed. The memory includes a mixed valence conductive oxide that is less conductive in its oxygen deficient state and a mixed electronic ionic conductor that is an electrolyte to oxygen and promotes an electric filed to cause oxygen ionic motion.

The disclosure relates to a memory cell formed in a wafer comprising a semiconductor substrate covered with a first insulating layer, the insulating layer being covered with an active layer made of a semiconductor, the memory cell comprising a selection transistor having a control gate and a first conduction terminal connected to a variable-resistance element, the gate being formed on the active layer and having a lateral flank covered with a second insulating layer, the variable-resistance element being formed by a layer of variable-resistance material, deposited on a lateral flank of the active layer in a first trench formed through the active layer along the lateral flank of the gate, a trench conductor being formed in the first trench against a lateral flank of the layer of variable-resistance material.

Thin film 1S1R bitcells incorporating a barrier between selector and memory elements. Devices incorporating such bitcells and methods of forming such bitcells are also described. In embodiments, the selector and memory element is each a dielectric material, and advantageously a metal oxide. Between the selector and memory elements is a barrier, which is to reduce intermixing and/or reaction of selector material and memory material. Addition of a barrier layer having suitable material properties into the 1S1R stack may extend the operating lifetime of a bitcell incorporated the stack by resisting intermixing and/or reaction of the selector and memory thin film materials driven by thermal and/or electric field stresses experienced by a bitcell during operation. In embodiments, a barrier layer may include one or more material layers having a composition distinct from the material composition(s) of the selector and memory elements.

An apparatus is described that includes a resistive random access memory cell having a word line that is to receive a narrowed word line signal that limits an amount of time that an access transistor is on so as to limit the cell's high resistive state and/or the cell's low resistive state. Another apparatus is described that includes a resistive random access memory cell having SL and BL lines that are to receive respective signals having different voltage amplitudes to reduce source degeneration effects of the resistive random access memory cell's access transistor. Another apparatus is described that includes a resistive random access memory cell having a storage cell comprising a bottom-side OEL layer. Another apparatus is described that includes a resistive random access memory cell having a storage cell within a metal layer that resides between a pair of other metal layers where parallel SL and BL lines of the resistive random access memory cell respectively reside.