A layered thin film device, such as a MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) device can be customized in shape by sequentially forming its successive layers over a symmetrically curved electrode. By initially shaping the electrode to have a concave or convex surface, the sequentially formed layers conform to that shape and acquire it and are subject to stresses that cause various crystal defects to migrate away from the axis of symmetry, leaving the region immediately surrounding the axis of symmetry relatively defect free. The resulting stack can then be patterned to leave only the region that is relatively defect free.

Some embodiments relate to a memory device. The memory device includes a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) cell comprising a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). The MTJ device comprises a stack of layers, comprising a bottom electrode disposed over a substrate. A seed layer disposed over the bottom electrode. A buffer layer is disposed between the bottom electrode and the seed layer. The buffer layer prevents diffusion of a diffusive species from the bottom electrode to the seed layer.

A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) on a substrate and a top electrode on the MTJ; forming a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer around the MTJ and the top electrode; forming a stop layer on the first IMD layer; forming a second IMD layer on the stop layer; performing a first etching process to remove the second IMD layer and the stop layer; performing a second etching process to remove part of the top electrode; and forming a metal interconnection to connect to the top electrode.

An ultra-fast magnetic random access memory (MRAM) comprises a three terminal composite SOT magnetic tunneling junction (CSOT-MTJ) element including a magnetic flux guide (MFG) having a very high magnetic permeability, a spin Hall channel (SHC) having a large positive spin Hall angle, an in-plane magnetic memory (MM) layer, a tunnel barrier (TB) layer, and a magnetic pinning stack (MPS) having a synthetic antiparallel coupling pinned by an antiferromagnetic material. The magnetic writing is significantly boosted by a combined effort of enhanced spin orbit torque (SOT) and Lorentz force generated by current-flowing wire (CFW) in the SHC layer and spin transfer torque (STT) by a current flowing through the MTJ stack, and further enhanced by a magnetic close loop formed at the cross section of MFG/SHC/MM tri-layer.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising a memory cell with a sidewall spacer, and/or an etch stop layer, doped to reduce charge accumulation at an interface between the sidewall spacer and the etch stop layer. The memory cell comprises a bottom electrode, a data storage element overlying the bottom electrode, and a top electrode overlying the data storage element. The sidewall spacer overlies the bottom electrode on a common sidewall formed by the data storage element and the top electrode, and the etch stop layer lines the sidewall spacer. The sidewall spacer and the etch stop layer directly contact at the interface and form an electric dipole at the interface. The doping to reduce charge accumulation reduces an electric field produced by the electric dipole, thereby reducing the effect of the electric field on the memory cell.

A method for fabricating a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device includes the steps of first forming a first magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) on a substrate, forming a first top electrode on the first MTJ, and then forming a passivation layer around the first MTJ. Preferably, the passivation layer includes a V-shape and a valley point of the V-shape is higher than a top surface of the first top electrode.

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) on a substrate; forming a first spin orbit torque (SOT) layer on the MTJ; forming a passivation layer around the MTJ; forming a second SOT layer on the first SOT layer and the passivation layer; and patterning the second SOT layer and the passivation layer.

A memory system may include a magnetic tunnel junction stack, a first high resistance tunnel barrier, and a first voltage controlled magnetic anisotropy write layer. The first voltage controlled magnetic anisotropy write layer may be adjacent the high resistance tunnel barrier, and the voltage controlled magnetic anisotropy write line may include a magnetic material in direct contact with a high resistance tunnel barrier.

A semiconductor device including a magnetic tunnel junction stack, a metallic hard mask aligned above the magnetic tunnel junction stack and an air gap surrounding the metallic hard mask. A method including forming a magnetic tunnel junction stack, forming a metallic hard mask aligned above the magnetic tunnel junction stack, conformally forming a dielectric over the metallic hard mask and the magnetic tunnel junction stack, forming barrier on vertical side surfaces of the dielectric, and removing the dielectric between the metallic hard mask and the barrier. A method including forming a magnetic tunnel junction stack, forming a metallic hard mask aligned above the magnetic tunnel junction stack, conformally forming a dielectric over the metallic hard mask and the magnetic tunnel junction stack, selectively removing a portion of the dielectric surrounding the metallic hard mark.

A spin-orbit torque type magnetoresistance effect element including a magnetoresistance effect element having a first ferromagnetic metal layer with a fixed magnetization direction, a second ferromagnetic metal layer with a varying magnetization direction, and a non-magnetic layer sandwiched between the first ferromagnetic metal layer and the second ferromagnetic metal layer; and spin-orbit torque wiring that extends in a first direction intersecting with a stacking direction of the magnetoresistance effect element and that is joined to the second ferromagnetic metal layer; wherein the magnetization of the second ferromagnetic metal layer is oriented in the stacking direction of the magnetoresistance effect element; and the second ferromagnetic metal layer has shape anisotropy, such that a length along the first direction is greater than a length along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and to the stacking direction.