A nonvolatile memory device includes a resistance switching layer, a gate on the resistance switching layer, a gate oxide layer between the resistance switching layer and the gate, and a source and a drain, spaced apart from each other, on the resistance switching layer. A resistance value of the resistance switching layer is changed based on an illumination of light irradiated onto the resistance switching layer and is maintained as a changed resistance value.

A method of manufacturing a switching element includes forming a first electrode layer over a substrate, forming a switching structure on the first electrode layer, and forming a second electrode layer on the switching structure. The switching structure includes a plurality of unit switching layers that includes a first unit switching layer and a second unit switching layer. Forming the first unit switching layer includes forming a first unit insulation layer, and injecting first dopants into the first unit insulation layer by performing a first ion implantation process. Forming the second unit switching layer includes forming a second unit insulation layer, and injecting second dopants into the second unit insulation layer by performing a second implantation process.

A material belonging to the family of centrosymmetric Mott insulators is used as an active material in a resistively switched memory for storing data. The material is placed between two electrical electrodes, by virtue of which an electric field of a preset value is applied in order to form, by way of an electron avalanche effect, an elementary information cell that has at least two logic states.

A memory cell includes: a first contact feature partially embedded in a first dielectric layer; a barrier layer, lining the first contact feature, that comprises a first portion disposed between the first contact feature and first dielectric layer, and a second portion disposed above the first dielectric layer; a resistive material layer disposed above the first contact feature, the resistive material layer coupled to the first contact feature through the second portion of the barrier layer; and a second contact feature embedded in a second dielectric layer above the first dielectric layer.

Semiconductor memory devices, resistive memory devices, memory cell structures, and methods of forming a resistive memory cell are provided. One example method of a resistive memory cell can include a number of dielectric regions formed between two electrodes, and a barrier dielectric region formed between each of the dielectric regions. The barrier dielectric region serves to reduce an oxygen diffusion rate associated with the dielectric regions.

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 field effective to cause oxygen ionic motion.

A semiconductor device includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode over the bottom electrode, a switching layer between the bottom electrode and the top electrode, wherein the switching layer is configured to store data, a capping layer in contact with the switching layer, wherein the capping layer is configured to extract active metal ions from the switching layer, an ion reservoir region formed in the capping layer, a diffusion barrier layer between the bottom electrode and the switching layer, wherein the diffusion barrier layer includes palladium (Pd), cobalt (Co), or a combination thereof and is configured to obstruct diffusion of the active metal ions between the switching layer and the bottom electrode, and the diffusion layer has a concaved top surface, and a passivation layer covering a portion of the top electrode, and wherein the passivation layer directly contacts a top surface of the switching layer.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a bottom electrode disposed over one or more interconnects and a diffusion barrier layer on the bottom electrode. The diffusion barrier layer has an inner upper surface that is arranged laterally between and vertically below an outer upper surface of the diffusion barrier film. The outer upper surface wraps around the inner upper surface in a top-view of the diffusion barrier layer. A data storage structure is separated from the bottom electrode by the diffusion barrier layer. A top electrode is arranged over the data storage structure.

An electronic device includes a semiconductor memory including material layers each including one or more low-resistance areas and one or more high-resistance areas, insulating layers stacked alternately with the material layers and including protrusions extending more than the material layers, conductive pillars passing through the insulating layers and the low-resistance areas, conductive layers located between the protrusions, and variable resistance layers interposed between the low-resistance areas and the conductive layers.

A structure including a bottom electrode, a phase change material layer, the phase change material layer includes a similar lattice constant as a lattice constant of the substrate, a top electrode on and vertically aligned with the phase change material layer, a dielectric material horizontally isolating the bottom electrode from the top electrode and the phase change material layer. A structure including a phase change material layer selected from amorphous silicon, amorphous germanium and amorphous silicon germanium, a top electrode on the phase change material layer, a bottom electrode, a dielectric material isolating the bottom electrode from the top electrode and the phase change material layer. Forming a bottom electrode, forming a phase change material layer adjacent to the bottom electrode, forming a top electrode above the phase change material, forming a dielectric material horizontally isolating the bottom electrode from the top electrode and the phase change material layer.