Curing of a passivation layer applied to the surface of a ferroelectric integrated circuit so as to enhance the polarization characteristics of the ferroelectric structures. A passivation layer, such as a polyimide, is applied to the surface of the ferroelectric integrated circuit after fabrication of the active devices. The passivation layer is cured by exposure to a high temperature, below the Curie temperature of the ferroelectric material, for a short duration such as on the order of ten minutes. Variable frequency microwave energy may be used to effect such curing. The cured passivation layer attains a tensile stress state, and as a result imparts a compressive stress upon the underlying ferroelectric material. Polarization may be further enhanced by polarizing the ferroelectric material prior to the cure process.

Provided is a nonvolatile memory device including a lower electrode on a substrate, an upper electrode on the lower electrode, a tunnel barrier pattern between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, and a fixed charge pattern in contact with the lower electrode and spaced apart from the tunnel barrier pattern with the lower electrode therebetween. The tunnel barrier pattern includes an anti-ferroelectric material. The lower electrode includes a first material. The upper electrode includes a second material. The first material and the second material have different work functions.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a memory device. The memory device has a first transistor having a first source/drain and a second source/drain, where the first source/drain and the second source/drain are disposed in a semiconductor substrate. A dielectric structure is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. A first memory cell is disposed in the dielectric structure and over the semiconductor substrate, where the first memory cell has a first electrode and a second electrode, where the first electrode of the first memory cell is electrically coupled to the first source/drain of the first transistor. A second memory cell is disposed in the dielectric structure and over the semiconductor substrate, where the second memory cell has a first electrode and a second electrode, where the first electrode of the second memory cell is electrically coupled to the second source/drain of the first transistor.

Provided are a memory device and a method of forming the same. The memory device includes a plurality of bit lines extending along a first direction; a plurality of word lines extending along a second direction different from the first direction; a plurality of memory pillars; and a selector. The plurality of word lines are disposed over the plurality of bit lines. The plurality of memory pillars are disposed between the plurality of bit lines and the plurality of word lines, and respectively positioned at a plurality of intersections of the plurality of bit lines and the plurality of word lines. The selector is disposed between the plurality of memory pillar and the plurality of word lines. The selector extends from a top surface of one memory pillar to cover a top surface of an adjacent memory pillar. A semiconductor device having the memory device is also provided.

A semiconductor structure and method for forming the semiconductor are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first electrode comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a sheet portion connecting the first portion to the second portion. A ferroelectric material is over the sheet portion. A second electrode is over the ferroelectric material.

A memory unit, array and operation method thereof are provided. The memory unit includes at least one P-type driver having a first end coupled to a power source, a second end and a control end coupled to a word line; a memory cell having a first end coupled to the second end of the P-type driver, and a second end coupled to a bit line.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for self-aligned etch back for vertical three dimensional (3D) memory. One example method includes depositing layers of a first dielectric material, a semiconductor material, and a second dielectric material to form a vertical stack, forming first vertical openings to form elongated vertical, pillar columns with first vertical sidewalls in the vertical stack, and forming second vertical openings through the vertical stack to expose second vertical sidewalls. Further, the example method includes removing portions of the semiconductor material to form first horizontal openings and depositing a fill in the first horizontal openings. The method can further include forming third vertical openings to expose third vertical sidewalls in the vertical stack and selectively removing the fill material to form a plurality of second horizontal openings in which to form horizontally oriented storage nodes.

Memory cells include various versions of a capacitor structure including a polarization retention member. Each polarization retention member includes an antiferroelectric layer over a ferroelectric layer. The antiferroelectric layer, among other layers, can be tailored to customize the hysteresis loop shape, and the coercive electric field required to change polarization of the memory cell. Metal electrodes, and/or dielectric or metallic interlayers may also be employed to tailor the hysteresis. The memory cells can include FeRAMs or FeFETs. The memory cells provide a lower coercive electric field requirement compared to conventional ferroelectric memory cells, enhanced reliability, and require minimum changes to integrate into current integrated circuit fabrication processes.

A memory is provided which comprises a capacitor including non-linear polar material. The capacitor may have a first terminal coupled to a node (e.g., a storage node) and a second terminal coupled to a plate-line. The capacitors can be a planar capacitor or non-planar capacitor (also known as pillar capacitor). The memory includes a transistor coupled to the node and a bit-line, wherein the transistor is controllable by a word-line, wherein the plate-line is parallel to the bit-line. The memory includes a refresh circuitry to refresh charge on the capacitor periodically or at a predetermined time. The refresh circuit can utilize one or more of the endurance mechanisms. When the plate-line is parallel to the bit-line, a specific read and write scheme may be used to reduce the disturb voltage for unselected bit-cells. A different scheme is used when the plate-line is parallel to the word-line.

Described is a low power, high-density a 1T-1C (one transistor and one capacitor) memory bit-cell, wherein the capacitor comprises a pillar structure having ferroelectric material (perovskite, improper ferroelectric, or hexagonal ferroelectric) and conductive oxides as electrodes. In various embodiments, one layer of the conductive oxide electrode wraps around the pillar capacitor, and forms the outer electrode of the pillar capacitor. The core of the pillar capacitor can take various forms.