Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a ferroelectric random-access memory (FeRAM) cell or some other suitable type of memory cell comprising a bottom-electrode interface structure. The memory cell further comprises a bottom electrode, a switching layer over the bottom electrode, and a top electrode over the switching layer. The bottom-electrode interface structure separates the bottom electrode and the switching layer from each other. Further, the interface structure is dielectric and is configured to block or otherwise resist metal atoms and/or impurities in the bottom electrode from diffusing to the switching layer. By blocking or otherwise resisting such diffusion, leakage current may be decreased. Further, endurance of the memory cell may be increased.

A device structure comprises a first conductive interconnect, an electrode structure on the first conductive interconnect, an etch stop layer laterally surrounding the electrode structure; a plurality of memory devices above the electrode structure, where individual ones of the plurality of memory devices comprise a dielectric layer comprising a perovskite material. The device structure further comprises a plate electrode coupled between the plurality of memory devices and the electrode structure, where the plate electrode is in direct contact with a respective lower most conductive layer of the individual ones of the plurality of memory devices. The device structure further includes an insulative hydrogen barrier layer on at least a sidewall of the individual ones of the plurality of memory devices; and a plurality of via electrodes, wherein individual ones of the plurality of via electrodes are on a respective one of the individual ones of the plurality of memory devices.

The disclosed technology generally relates to ferroelectric materials and semiconductor devices, and more particularly to semiconductor memory devices incorporating doped polar materials. In one aspect, a capacitor comprises a crystalline polar layer comprising a base polar material substitutionally doped with a dopant. The base polar material comprises one or more metal elements and one or both of oxygen or nitrogen. The dopant comprises a metal element of one of 4d series, 5d series, 4f series or 5f series that is different from the one or more metal elements, such that a ferroelectric switching voltage of the capacitor is different from that of the capacitor having the base polar material without being doped with the dopant by more than about 100 mV.

Various aspects relate to a memory cell including: a thermally insulating layer disposed over one or more metallization layers of a metallization; an embedding structure disposed over the thermally insulating layer; and a spontaneously polarizable capacitor structure disposed at least partially within the embedding structure, wherein the spontaneously polarizable capacitor structure includes a spontaneously polarizable memory element; wherein the thermally insulating layer is configured as a heat barrier to reduce a heat transfer through the embedding structure into the one or more metallization layers.

The disclosed technology generally relates to ferroelectric materials and semiconductor devices, and more particularly to semiconductor memory devices incorporating doped polar materials. In one aspect, a semiconductor device comprises a capacitor which in turn comprises a polar layer comprising a base polar material doped with a dopant. The base polar material includes one or more metal elements and one or both of oxygen or nitrogen. The dopant comprises a metal element that is different from the one or more metal elements and is present at a concentration such that a ferroelectric switching voltage of the capacitor is different from that of the capacitor having the base polar material without being doped with the dopant by more than about 100 mV. The capacitor stack additionally comprises first and second crystalline conductive oxide electrodes on opposing sides of the polar layer. The capacitor stack further comprises first and second barrier metal layers on respective ones of the first and second crystalline conductive oxide electrodes on opposing sides of the polar layer.

A capacitor is provided. The capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed to face the first electrode, a dielectric layer of a rutile phase, disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an interface layer between the first electrode and the dielectric layer, wherein the interface layer includes a first interface layer and a second interface layer, the first interface layer is adjacent to the first electrode, the second interface layer is adjacent to the dielectric layer, the first interface layer includes a conductive metal oxide having a work function in a range of about 4.8 eV to about 6.0 eV, the second interface layer includes a metal oxide having a rutile-phase crystal structure, and a thickness of the second interface layer is smaller than a thickness of the first interface layer.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a memory device including a first bottom electrode layer over a substrate. A ferroelectric switching layer is disposed over the first bottom electrode layer. A first top electrode layer is disposed over the ferroelectric switching layer. A second bottom electrode layer is disposed between the first bottom electrode layer and the ferroelectric switching layer. The second bottom electrode layer is less susceptible to oxidation than the first bottom electrode layer.

A capacitor is provided. The capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed to face the first electrode, a dielectric layer of a rutile phase, disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an interface layer between the first electrode and the dielectric layer, wherein the interface layer includes a first interface layer and a second interface layer, the first interface layer is adjacent to the first electrode, the second interface layer is adjacent to the dielectric layer, the first interface layer includes a conductive metal oxide having a work function in a range of about 4.8 eV to about 6.0 eV, the second interface layer includes a metal oxide having a rutile-phase crystal structure, and a thickness of the second interface layer is smaller than a thickness of the first interface layer.