US20050286294A1 - Resistance variable memory elements based on polarized silver-selenide network growth - Google Patents

Resistance variable memory elements based on polarized silver-selenide network growth Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20050286294A1
US20050286294A1 US11/149,225 US14922505A US2005286294A1 US 20050286294 A1 US20050286294 A1 US 20050286294A1 US 14922505 A US14922505 A US 14922505A US 2005286294 A1 US2005286294 A1 US 2005286294A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
memory element
metal
glass layer
resistance state
layer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/149,225
Inventor
Kristy Campbell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US11/149,225 priority Critical patent/US20050286294A1/en
Publication of US20050286294A1 publication Critical patent/US20050286294A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11CSTATIC STORES
    • G11C13/00Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00
    • G11C13/02Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00 using elements whose operation depends upon chemical change
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11CSTATIC STORES
    • G11C13/00Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00
    • G11C13/0002Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00 using resistive RAM [RRAM] elements
    • G11C13/0021Auxiliary circuits
    • G11C13/0069Writing or programming circuits or methods
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H10SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10NELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N70/00Solid-state devices without a potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, and specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching
    • H10N70/011Manufacture or treatment of multistable switching devices
    • H10N70/021Formation of the switching material, e.g. layer deposition
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H10SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10NELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N70/00Solid-state devices without a potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, and specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching
    • H10N70/011Manufacture or treatment of multistable switching devices
    • H10N70/021Formation of the switching material, e.g. layer deposition
    • H10N70/023Formation of the switching material, e.g. layer deposition by chemical vapor deposition, e.g. MOCVD, ALD
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H10SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10NELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N70/00Solid-state devices without a potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, and specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching
    • H10N70/011Manufacture or treatment of multistable switching devices
    • H10N70/021Formation of the switching material, e.g. layer deposition
    • H10N70/026Formation of the switching material, e.g. layer deposition by physical vapor deposition, e.g. sputtering
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H10SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10NELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N70/00Solid-state devices without a potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, and specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching
    • H10N70/011Manufacture or treatment of multistable switching devices
    • H10N70/041Modification of the switching material, e.g. post-treatment, doping
    • H10N70/046Modification of the switching material, e.g. post-treatment, doping by diffusion, e.g. photo-dissolution
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H10SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10NELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N70/00Solid-state devices without a potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, and specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching
    • H10N70/20Multistable switching devices, e.g. memristors
    • H10N70/24Multistable switching devices, e.g. memristors based on migration or redistribution of ionic species, e.g. anions, vacancies
    • H10N70/245Multistable switching devices, e.g. memristors based on migration or redistribution of ionic species, e.g. anions, vacancies the species being metal cations, e.g. programmable metallization cells
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H10SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10NELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N70/00Solid-state devices without a potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, and specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching
    • H10N70/801Constructional details of multistable switching devices
    • H10N70/821Device geometry
    • H10N70/826Device geometry adapted for essentially vertical current flow, e.g. sandwich or pillar type devices
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H10SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10NELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N70/00Solid-state devices without a potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, and specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching
    • H10N70/801Constructional details of multistable switching devices
    • H10N70/841Electrodes
    • H10N70/8416Electrodes adapted for supplying ionic species
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H10SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10NELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N70/00Solid-state devices without a potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, and specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching
    • H10N70/801Constructional details of multistable switching devices
    • H10N70/881Switching materials
    • H10N70/882Compounds of sulfur, selenium or tellurium, e.g. chalcogenides
    • H10N70/8825Selenides, e.g. GeSe
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11CSTATIC STORES
    • G11C13/00Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00
    • G11C13/0002Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00 using resistive RAM [RRAM] elements
    • G11C13/0021Auxiliary circuits
    • G11C13/0069Writing or programming circuits or methods
    • G11C2013/009Write using potential difference applied between cell electrodes
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11CSTATIC STORES
    • G11C2213/00Indexing scheme relating to G11C13/00 for features not covered by this group
    • G11C2213/10Resistive cells; Technology aspects
    • G11C2213/11Metal ion trapping, i.e. using memory material including cavities, pores or spaces in form of tunnels or channels wherein metal ions can be trapped but do not react and form an electro-deposit creating filaments or dendrites
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11CSTATIC STORES
    • G11C2213/00Indexing scheme relating to G11C13/00 for features not covered by this group
    • G11C2213/50Resistive cell structure aspects
    • G11C2213/51Structure including a barrier layer preventing or limiting migration, diffusion of ions or charges or formation of electrolytes near an electrode

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the field of random access memory (RAM) devices formed using a chalcogenide-based resistance variable memory element.
  • RAM random access memory
  • DRAM dynamic random access memory
  • SDRAM synchronized dynamic random access memory
  • SRAM static random access memory
  • a class of such devices include an insulating material formed of a chalcogenide glass disposed between two electrodes. A conductive material is incorporated into the material. The resistance of the material can be changed between high and low resistance states by application of suitable voltages across the memory element.
  • D. D. Thornburg has discussed polarization of arsenic triselenide in an electric field. For instance, the polarization of arsenic triselenide allows the memory device to switch between different memory states. See Thornburg, D. D., Memory Switching in Amorphous Arsenic Triselenide , J. N ON -C RYST .
  • Such a device can function, for example, as a semi or non-volatile resistance variable memory element having two resistance states, which in turn can define two logic states.
  • exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a resistance variable memory element and a method of forming the same in which a doped chalcogenide glass contains regions of polarizable metal-chalcogen material forming a conducting channel present within a chalcogenide glass backbone.
  • the conducting channel can receive and expel metal ions in and out of it to set a particular resistance state for the memory element in response to write and erase voltages.
  • exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a resistance variable memory element and a method of forming the same in which the resistance variable memory element comprises at least one chalcogenide glass layer and at least one metal-containing layer formed between two electrodes.
  • the chalcogenide glass layer further comprises a conducting channel formed from at least partially bonded regions of metal-chalcogen and glass. The conducting channel can receive and expel metal ions in and out of it to set a particular resistance state for the memory element in response to write and erase voltages.
  • embodiments of the invention provide a method for changing the resistance state of a resistance variable memory element.
  • a conditioning voltage is applied to produce a conducting channel within a glass network.
  • the conducting channel can receive and expel metal ions to set a particular resistance state for the memory element through subsequent programming voltages, such as write and erase voltages.
  • FIGS. 1A-1F illustrates a cross-sectional view of a resistance variable memory device fabricated in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGS. 2A-2F illustrates a cross-sectional view of a resistance variable memory device fabricated in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGS. 3A-3F illustrates a cross-sectional view of a resistance variable memory device fabricated in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGS. 4A-4F illustrates a cross-sectional view of a resistance variable memory device fabricated in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a processor-based system having one or more memory devices that contains resistance variable memory elements according to the various embodiments of the invention.
  • substrate used in the following description may include any supporting structure including but not limited to a glass, plastic, or semiconductor substrate that has an exposed substrate surface.
  • a semiconductor substrate should be understood to include silicon, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), silicon-on-sapphire (SOS), doped and undoped semiconductors, epitaxial layers of silicon supported by a base semiconductor foundation, and other semiconductor structures which may not be silicon-based.
  • SOI silicon-on-insulator
  • SOS silicon-on-sapphire
  • doped and undoped semiconductors epitaxial layers of silicon supported by a base semiconductor foundation, and other semiconductor structures which may not be silicon-based.
  • metal-chalcogen regions such as silver-selenide, formed in a chalcogenide glass layer, for example, germanium-selenide
  • a conditioning voltage can be polarized upon application of a conditioning voltage and align to form a conducting channel within the chalcogenide glass layer.
  • the conducting channel alters the resistance state of the glass from a very high resistance state, e.g. 1 G ⁇ , to a medium resistance state, e.g., 10 M ⁇ .
  • a subsequently applied write voltage having an energy lower than that of the conditioning voltage, can then program the glass to a lower resistance state, e.g. 10 k ⁇ , by causing available metal ions to move into the conducting channels where they remain after the write voltage is removed.
  • the metal ions within the conducting channel can be removed by application of a negative polarity erase voltage. Because the conducting channel is previously formed by the conditioning voltage before a write or erase operation occurs, higher speed switching of the glass between resistance states can be achieved compared to trying to form and completely decompose conductive pathways each time the glass is written or erased to a resistance state.
  • the glass layer can be used to construct memory elements.
  • memory elements are described below in which a metal-chalcogen is described as silver-selenide, and the chalcogenide glass as germanium-selenide. However, these specific materials are not considered as limiting the invention.
  • FIGS. 1 A-F; 2 A- 2 F; 3 A- 3 F; and 4 A- 4 -F respectively illustrate exemplary embodiments of a resistance variable memory element 100 , 101 , 102 and 103 , and their methods of formation and operation, in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 1A depicts a first exemplary embodiment of a resistance variable memory element 100 and its method of formation in accordance with the invention.
  • a first electrode 2 is formed over a substrate 1 .
  • the first electrode 2 may comprise a conductive material, for example, various metals such as, one or more of tungsten, tantalum, aluminum, platinum, silver, or titanium nitride, among others.
  • the first electrode 2 can comprise a conductively-doped semiconductor material.
  • the first electrode 2 should preferably not produce or expel metal ions, as discussed below.
  • FIG. 1A illustrates a first electrode 2 provided on substrate 1
  • additional layers may be provided between electrode 2 and the substrate 1 .
  • a barrier layer may be used to prevent migration of metal ions from layer 2 .
  • a semiconductor substrate 1 containing circuit layers covered with an insulating layer can be provided below first electrode 2 if desired.
  • the glass layer 4 is formed over the first conductive electrode 2 .
  • the glass layer 4 is electrically coupled to electrode 2 .
  • the glass layer 4 is preferably a chalcogenide glass layer 4 that has been doped, e.g. photodoped, with a metal ion such as silver (Ag), and is more preferably a germanium-selenide glass layer 4 having a Ge x Se 100 ⁇ x stoichiometry doped with Ag ions.
  • the stoichiometric range for glass layer 4 is preferably from about Ge 18 Se 82 to about Ge 25 Se 75 , and is more preferably about Ge 25 Se 75 when metal ions, such as Ag ions, are provided in the glass layer 4 by a doping process.
  • Glass layer 4 is formed to a thickness of from about 150 ⁇ to about 600 ⁇ thick, and is preferably about 500 ⁇ thick.
  • glass layer 4 is described as a chalcogenide glass layer, other suitable glass layers may be employed as well.
  • suitable glass material compositions for the glass layer 4 can include, but are not limited to, AsSe (arsenic-selenide, such as As 3 Se 2 ), GeS (germanium-sulfide), and combinations of Ge, Ag, and Se, among others. Any one of the suitable glass materials for glass layer 4 and may further comprise small concentrations of dopants such as nitrogen nitrides, metals, and other group 13-17 elements from the periodic table.
  • the formation of the chalcogenide glass layer 4 having a stoichiometric composition such as Ge 25 Se 75 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention can be accomplished by any suitable method. For instance, by evaporation, co-sputtering germanium and selenium in the appropriate ratios, sputtering using a germanium-selenide target having the desired stoichiometry, or chemical vapor deposition with stoichiometric amounts of GeH 4 and SeH 2 gases (or various compositions of these gases), which result in a germanium-selenide film of the desired stoichiometry, are some non-limiting examples of methods which can be used to form the glass layer 4 .
  • metal ions are doped into the glass layer 4 by a photodoping process.
  • the chalcogenide glass layer 4 such as Ge 25 Se 75
  • a metal such as Ag.
  • Metal ions can be driven into the glass layer 4 by applying a metal (Ag) layer on top of the glass layer 4 and exposing the glass layer 4 and metal layer to visible radiation.
  • the metal layer can be formed over the glass layer 4 , for example, by sputtering, physical vapor deposition, or other well-known techniques in the art.
  • the metal doping of glass layer 4 causes the glass layer 4 to contain polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 and glass backbone regions 50 , as shown in FIG. 1B .
  • polarizable regions are regions which can physically align in the presence of a suitable voltage applied across a memory element.
  • the polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 are distinct regions within the glass layer 4 .
  • the glass layer 4 will phase separate into polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 and glass backbone regions 50 .
  • Maria Mitkova, et al. Dual Chemical Role of Ag as an Additive in Chalcogenide Glasses , P HYSICAL R EVIEW L ETTERS , Nov. 8, 1999, at 3848-3851. If Ag is used as the dopant metal ion and germanium selenide, e.g.
  • the polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 are Ag 2 Se regions within a germanium selenide backbone.
  • the glass backbone regions 50 are non-metal containing glass regions with a stoichiometry determined by the loss of selenium (Se) from the germanium selenide glass to the formation of Ag 2 Se.
  • a second electrode 10 is then formed over the glass layer 4 and any residual metal ions, e.g. Ag, remain in glass layer 4 to complete the formation of the resistance variable memory element 100 .
  • the second electrode 10 may comprise any conductive material, for example, various metals, such as, one or more of tungsten, tantalum, aluminum, platinum, silver, or titanium nitride among others.
  • the second electrode 10 can comprise a conductively-doped semi-conductive material, e.g., doped polysilicon.
  • electrode 10 may be directly applied to glass layer 4
  • the second electrode 10 is in contact with an intermediate metal-containing layer 5 , which is provided over glass layer 4 .
  • This intermediate metal-containing layer 5 is preferably a layer comprising Ag.
  • the doping of metal, e.g., Ag, into the glass layer 4 will produce metal ions used, e.g, Ag ions within glass layer 4
  • the presence of the metal-containing layer 5 will serve as an additional source and receptacle for metal ions during write and erase operations.
  • the metal-containing layer 5 can be Ag and is a source of metal ions, e.g., Ag, which enter glass layer 4 .
  • the metal-containing layer 5 is the receptacle of the metal ions, e.g., Ag that move out of the glass layer 4 .
  • the metal containing layer 5 is omitted and the top electrode 10 is formed of a material capable of donating and receiving metal ions.
  • top electrode 10 can be made of silver which would be in contact with glass layer 4 , and would then become a source and receptacle of metal ions during a write and erase operation. It is also possible to use an electrode 10 , which donates or receives metal ions with metal-containing layer 5 , which also donates or receives metal ions, in combination.
  • first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 can comprise the same or different materials. However, for example, if the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 comprise the same material such as tungsten or any other non-metal ion comprising metal, one side of the memory element 100 , preferably the side with the second electrode 10 , must have an excess of metal ions, e.g., Ag which, in the preferred embodiment, is metal-containing layer 5 .
  • metal ions e.g., Ag which, in the preferred embodiment, is metal-containing layer 5 .
  • electrode 2 Because the metal ions, e.g., Ag ions which enter and leave glass 4 comes from layer 5 , if provided, or layer 10 , if layer 5 is not provided, it is preferable that electrode 2 not donate any metal ions. As a result, although intervening barrier layers are not illustrated in the FIG. 1A embodiment, intervening barrier layers can be present to prevent metal ion migration from electrode 2 into glass layer 4 , or from electrode 10 into glass layer 4 . The barrier layers, if provided, should not contain mobile metal ions.
  • FIGS. 1B-1F A method of operating and manipulating the resistance state of the memory element depicted in FIG. 1A will now be described in reference to FIGS. 1B-1F .
  • FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the memory element 100 of FIG. 1A prior to application of a conditioning voltage.
  • the chalcogenide glass regions 50 and polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 have no long range order, i.e., they are randomly distributed.
  • the doped chalcogenide glass layer 4 contains regions of germanium-selenide 50 and regions of polarizable silver-selenide 30 . Free Ag ions may also be present in glass layer 4 .
  • the germanium-selenide regions 50 serve as the glass backbone for memory element 100 .
  • V 1 a conditioning voltage of suitable energy, for example, is applied from a voltage source (DC) 20 .
  • DC voltage source
  • one or more regions of silver-selenide 30 will polarize, that is, align to form a conducting channel 60 .
  • the aligned silver-selenide regions 40 form conducting channel 60 which spans the entire thickness of glass layer 4 .
  • the application of V 1 induces the alignment of the polarizable silver-selenide regions. It has been found that a conditioning voltage (V 1 ) about 200 mV under DC switching conditions and about 1.7V, 500 ns under AC conditions, is sufficient to physically align the Ag 2 Se regions 30 and form the conducting channel 60 .
  • memory element 100 After the conditioning voltage V 1 is applied, memory element 100 is in a ‘medium’ state of resistance. Prior to application of the conditioning voltage illustrated in FIG. 1B , the memory element 100 is in a ‘high’ state of resistance. As a non-limiting example, a ‘high’ state of resistance for memory element 100 can be greater than 1 G ⁇ . A ‘medium’ state of resistance, produced by the alignment of the Ag 2 Se regions 30 can be around 1 M ⁇ .
  • FIG. 1C illustrates the memory element 100 in the ‘medium’ state of resistance after applying a conditioning voltage V 1 .
  • the conditioning voltage V 1 is at a higher potential than subsequent potentials used to write, read, or erase the memory element 100 . This is due to the initial disorder of the polarizable silver-selenide regions 30 , as illustrated in FIG. 1B . Prior to application of the conditioning voltage V 1 , the structure of the memory element 100 is in the most disordered state. Thus, to bring the memory element 100 into a more structured state illustrated in FIG. 1C , a conditioning voltage V 1 which is larger than subsequently applied write, erase or read voltages is required.
  • the amplitude of V 1 necessary to induce formation of conducting channel 60 , will depend upon the pulse width, glass layer 4 composition, and thickness.
  • a 1.7V pulse having a duration of 500 ns was found to be sufficient.
  • the preestablished conducting channel 60 allows additional metal ions within the glass layer 4 , or from the metal-containing layer 5 , and/or electrode 10 , to move into and out of the conducting channel 60 upon application of a potential across the two electrodes.
  • the resistance state of the memory element 100 can be changed quickly.
  • the movement of the Ag ions in the conducting channel 60 upon application of a write voltage V 2 which has a potential less than the conditioning voltage V 1 , can lower the resistance state of the memory element 100 from the medium resistance state of e.g., 1 M ⁇ , to a lower resistance state of e.g., 10 k ⁇ .
  • the silver ions are driven out of the conducting channel 60 and back into the glass layer 4 and metal-containing layer 5 , and/or electrode 10 , increasing the resistance state of the memory element 100 back to the medium resistance state.
  • the erase voltage need only be sufficient to drive Ag ions out of the conducting channel 60 .
  • the conducting channel 60 is not dispersed and is still maintained.
  • the switching speeds and response of the memory element 100 are enhanced because the Ag ions can move into and out of the conducting channel 60 without the need to reform the channel 60 every time the memory element 100 is switched.
  • germanium-selenide regions 50 serve to isolate the polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 from each other, here, polarizable silver-selenide regions 30 .
  • the germanium-selenide regions 50 also restrict the mobility and provide isolation between the polarized silver-selenide regions 40 .
  • conducting channel 60 may be formed in glass layer 4 .
  • conditioning of the memory element 100 is conducted only once, and after the memory element 100 is conditioned, the conditioned structure 100 will operate through normal write and erase operations.
  • FIG. 1D illustrates the memory element 100 after a write operation is performed.
  • a write voltage V 2 is applied from a voltage source 20 , to ‘write’ information into the resistance variable memory element 100 .
  • the write voltage V 2 occurs at a lower potential than the conditioning voltage V 1 .
  • the conditioning pulse is 200 mV
  • memory element 100 should be written with a ‘write’ voltage V 2 of less than 200 mV.
  • the additional Ag ions enter the preestablished conductive channel 60 to further complete the conductive path and lower the resistance of the memory element 100 .
  • FIG. 1D illustrates memory element 100 in the ‘low’ state of resistance, e.g., around 10 k ⁇ .
  • the preestablished conductive channels 60 may be affected by high temperatures as the metal ions and polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 become more mobile. Accordingly, when this occurs, it may be desirable to periodically refresh the memory elements by periodically reapplying the conditioning pulse V 1 to reset the conductive channel 60 and thereby resetting the memory element 100 to its medium resistance state.
  • a ‘read’ operation is illustrated in which a read potential V 3 , which is less than write potential V 2 , is applied to the memory element 100 .
  • Current flow through the memory element 100 is sensed by a current sensing amplifier 32 , which provides an output representing the resistance state of the memory element 100 .
  • a read voltage V 3 which is below the threshold for writing the memory element 100 , e.g., V 2 , is sufficient. Where the write voltage V 2 is about 700 mV with a pulse duration of 100 ns, the read voltage V 3 can then be a potential less than about 200 mV with a pulse width less than about 500 ns. The read voltage V 3 does not disturb other memory elements in a memory element array, which are in the pre-conditioned medium resistance ‘OFF’ state, since the read voltage V 3 is lower than the write voltage V 2 .
  • the read voltage V 3 may be applied in various manners, such as a sweep voltage, pulse voltage, or step voltage, among other methods.
  • FIG. 1F illustrates the memory element 100 when an erase voltage is applied across the electrodes 2 and 10 from voltage source 20 .
  • An erase voltage V 4 having an inverse polarity from the write voltage V 2 is applied from electrode 10 to electrode 2 to erase the memory element 100 .
  • the erase voltage V 4 may also be of a smaller absolute magnitude than the write voltage V 2 .
  • an erase voltage V 4 moves Ag ions out of the conducting channel 60 toward the electrode with the negative potential. This is electrode 10 in FIG. 1F .
  • the Ag ions will move out of the conducting channel 60 and into the metal-containing layer 5 , the glass layer 4 , and/or electrode 10 if the electrode 10 contains Ag.
  • the erase is essentially a function of removing Ag ions from conducting channel 60 .
  • the erase is complete when the resistance of the memory element 100 returns to the ‘medium’ state of resistance, i.e., around 1 M ⁇ .
  • the conducting channel 60 of FIG. 1C remains intact; thus, allowing for faster write and erase switching times.
  • the erase voltage V 4 returns the memory element 100 to the state of resistance illustrated in FIG. 1C .
  • the erase voltage V 4 should be low enough to cause a resistance shift in the memory element 100 , but not of a magnitude which would destroy the conducting channel 60 .
  • the conditioning, write, and erase pulse widths are dependent on the electric field amplitude, i.e., the applied voltage.
  • shorter pulses will require higher voltages for V 1 , V 2 , and V 4 and vice versa.
  • This is expected since the movement of Ag ions in the conducting channel 60 has an energy requirement for movement into and out of the conducting channel 60 , which in turn is dependent upon the concentration of Ag ions which enters or leaves the conducting channel 60 .
  • FIG. 2A shows another exemplary embodiment of the invention and its method of formation.
  • the FIG. 2A embodiment has a first electrode 2 formed over a substrate 1 .
  • the first electrode 2 may comprise any of the conductive materials listed above for the same electrode as in the FIG. 1A embodiment.
  • additional barrier layers may be provided between electrode 2 and substrate 1 , if required to prevent metal ion migration.
  • the barrier layers, if provided, should not contain mobile metal ions.
  • a glass layer 4 such as a chalcogenide glass layer 4 is formed over the first electrode 2 .
  • the glass layer 4 is electrically coupled to electrode 2 .
  • the glass layer 4 is preferably a chalcogenide glass layer 4 , and more preferably, a germanium-selenide glass layer 4 having a Ge x Se 100 ⁇ x stoichiometry.
  • the stoichiometric range for chalcogenide glass layer 4 as depicted in the FIG. 2A embodiment is preferably from about Ge 20 Se 80 to about Ge 43 Se 57 , and is more preferably about Ge 40 Se 60 .
  • Glass layer 4 is formed to a thickness of from about 150 ⁇ to about 500 ⁇ thick, and preferably is about 150 ⁇ thick.
  • the glass layer 4 of structure 101 is described further below as a chalcogenide glass layer 4 and more specifically, a Ge 40 Se 60 layer.
  • suitable glass or polymer layers may be employed without affecting the utility of the invention.
  • suitable glass material compositions for the glass layer 4 can include but are not limited to, SiSe (silicon-selenide), AsSe (arsenic-selenide, such as As 3 Se 2 ), GeS (germanium-sulfide), and combinations of Ge, Ag, and Se, among others.
  • Any one of the suitable glass materials may further comprise small concentrations of dopants such as nitrogen nitrides, metals, and group 1, 2, and 13-17 elements from the periodic table.
  • the formation of the glass layer 4 having a stoichiometric composition such as Ge 40 Se 60 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention can be accomplished by any suitable method. For instance, evaporation, co-sputtering germanium and selenium in the appropriate ratios, sputtering using a germanium-selenide target having the desired stoichiometry, or chemical vapor deposition with stoichiometric amounts of GeH 4 and SeH 2 gases (or various compositions of these gases), which result in a germanium-selenide film of the desired stoichiometry, are some non-limiting examples of methods which can be used to form the glass layer 4 . It should be appreciated that the glass layer 4 may comprise one or more layers of a glass material.
  • a metal-containing layer 6 preferably silver-selenide, is deposited over the chalcogenide glass layer 4 .
  • any suitable metal-containing layer 6 may be used so long as it interacts with the glass backbone such that it allows the transfer of metal ions into glass layer 4 upon application of a sufficient voltage across a memory element of which layers 4 and 6 are a part.
  • the metal-containing layer 6 may comprise silver, copper, or other transition metals.
  • Other suitable metal-containing layers 6 which may be used include glass layers doped with a metal.
  • the metal-containing layer 6 will comprise the same type of chalcogen component as is present in glass layer 4 .
  • glass layer 4 is Ge x Se 100 ⁇ x
  • metal-containing layer 6 may be Ag 2 Se.
  • the metal-containing layer 6 is formed to a thickness of from about 300 ⁇ to about 1200 ⁇ thick, and preferably is about 470 ⁇ thick.
  • metal-containing layer 6 can be formed to contain excess metal ions. That is, Ag 2+x Se, where x represents excess Ag ions.
  • a separate second metal-containing layer 7 with a sufficient thickness that gives the desired excess amount of metal ions, e.g., Ag ions to the metal-containing layer 6 may be provided over or beneath the first metal-containing layer 6 .
  • Electrode 10 is provided over the conducting metal-containing layer 6 , if metal-containing layer 7 is omitted, or is provided over metal-containing layer 7 if the latter is provided. Electrode 10 need not donate any metal ions if one or both of layers 6 and 7 provide sufficient metal ions for memory element operation.
  • the second metal-containing layer 7 is provided and serves as a source and receptacle for metal ions doing write and erase operations.
  • the top electrode 10 may be the source and receptacle of additional metal ions when the second metal-containing layer 7 is omitted, and excess metal ions are not available in layer 6 .
  • the top electrode 10 may comprise silver, which donates and receives silver ions to and from glass layer 4 .
  • the metal-containing layer 6 Some non-limiting examples of forming the metal-containing layer 6 are physical vapor deposition techniques such as evaporative deposition, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, co-evaporation, or depositing a layer of selenium above a layer of silver to form silver-selenide (Ag 2 Se) can also be used. It should be appreciated that the metal-containing layer 6 may comprise one or more layers of a metal-containing material. For purposes of a simplified description, FIGS. 2A-2F refer to the first metal-containing layer 6 as a silver-selenide layer 6 and the second metal-containing layer 7 as a silver layer 7 . In this case electrode 10 does not contribute metal ions to, or receive metal ions from glass layer 4 .
  • the second electrode 10 may comprise any of the materials described above for electrode 10 of the FIG. 1A embodiment.
  • FIG. 2A illustrates that the second electrode 10 is in contact with an upper surface of the second metal-containing layer 7 ; however, intervening layers may be provided between layers 7 and 10 , if desired.
  • the second metal-containing layer 7 can provide additional Ag ions.
  • the second electrode 10 can comprise Ag which can also provide additional Ag ions if the second metal-containing layer 7 is omitted from memory element 101 .
  • the metal containing layer 7 is omitted and the top electrode 10 , which is in contact with metal-containing layer 6 , can provide and receive metal ions, e.g., Ag ions, and can be the source and receptacle of metal ions during a write and erase operation. It is also possible to use an electrode 10 , which donates or receives metal ions with metal-containing layer 7 , which also donates or receives metal ions in combination. It should be appreciated that the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 can comprise the same or different materials.
  • the first and second metal-containing layers 6 and 7 can provide Ag ions.
  • the second electrode 10 can comprise Ag, if used, which can also provide Ag ions if the second metal-containing layer 7 is omitted from memory element 101 , and layer 6 does not have excess Ag ions. Because the metal ions, e.g., Ag ions which enter and leave glass 4 is coming from the second metal-containing layer 7 , if provided, or electrode 10 , if layer 7 is not provided and layer 6 does not have excess Ag ions., it is preferable that electrode 2 not donate any metal ions
  • intervening barrier layers are not illustrated in the FIG. 2A embodiment, intervening barrier layers can be present to prevent metal ion migration from electrode 2 into glass layer 4 , or from electrode 10 into glass layer 4 .
  • Barrier layers if provided, should not contain mobile metal ions.
  • FIGS. 2B-2F A method of operating and manipulating the resistance state of the memory element 101 depicted in FIG. 2A will now be described in reference to FIGS. 2B-2F .
  • the methods of operation described in FIGS. 2B-2F is for a memory element 101 comprising a Ge 40 Se 60 glass layer 4 that is 150 ⁇ thick, an Ag 2 Se layer 470 ⁇ thick, and a silver layer 200 ⁇ thick.
  • FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the glass layer 4 in memory element 101 of FIG. 2A prior to application of a conditioning voltage across memory element 101 .
  • the germanium-selenide glass layer 4 has no long range order, i.e., it has non-uniform distribution of Ge and Se within the glass layer 4 .
  • FIG. 2B further illustrates the presence of germanium-germanium (Ge—Ge) bonds 17 throughout the glass layer 4 .
  • Ge—Ge germanium-germanium
  • a conditioning pulse having a potential V 1 is applied across memory element 101 .
  • the conditioning pulse causes metal chalcogenide, e.g., Ag 2 Se from the layer 6 to enter into glass layer 4 , thereby breaking Ge—Ge bonds 17 in the glass layer 4 and to form conductive channel 11 within the glass 4 backbone.
  • the conditioning pulse's parameters are dependent upon the composition and thickness of the various layers comprising memory element 101 .
  • a conditioning pulse having a pulse duration from about 10 to about 500 ns and greater than about 700 mV has been found sufficient to form conductive channel 11 .
  • the amplitude of the conditioning pulse will depend on the pulse width.
  • the conducting channel 11 will form in the weakest part of the chalcogenide glass material 4 , i.e., in the areas that require the least amount of energy to form the conductive channel 11 .
  • the conditioning pulse causes the conducting channel 11 to form by re-orientation of the GeSe and Ag 2 Se regions, as shown in FIG. 2C .
  • a plurality of conducting channels 11 can be formed in the chalcogenide glass layer 4 . For purposes of a simplified description, only one conducting channel 11 is illustrated in FIGS. 2C-2F .
  • memory element 101 After application of the conditioning pulse, memory element 101 is in a ‘medium’ state of resistance. Prior to application of a conditioning pulse, and as illustrated in FIG. 2B , memory element 101 is in a ‘high’ state of resistance where the germanium-selenide regions are not oriented. For instance, a ‘high’ state of resistance which arises after the conditioning pulse is applied to memory element 101 can be about 1 G ⁇ . A ‘medium’ state of resistance can be around 1 M ⁇ .
  • the memory element 101 In the medium resistance state, the memory element 101 is still considered ‘OFF’ and remains in this conditioned state, with the Ag 2 Se regions, polarized and aligned in the direction of current flow, until the conducting channel 11 receives excess metal ions from the first metal-containing layer 6 , if excess metal ions are present, and from the second metal containing layer 7 , and/or electrode 10 during a ‘write’ operation.
  • applying a conditioning pulse across the memory element 101 breaks the weak Ge—Ge bonds 17 within the Ge 40 Se 60 glass layer 4 and allows Ag 2 Se and ions thereof to bond to germanium-selenide sites.
  • the conditioning pulse V 1 reorients the non-uniform state of the chalcogenide glass layer 4 ( FIG. 2B ) into a more organized and structured state having aligned Ag 2 Se areas as illustrated in FIG. 2C .
  • the memory element 101 of FIG. 2C is still in a medium or ‘OFF’ state of resistance.
  • One exemplary write potential V 2 is preferably a pulse from about 8 to about a 150 ns that is less than the potential of V 1 , e.g., less than 700 mV.
  • a write potential V 2 of about 400 mV has been found to be adequate with the memory element 101 .
  • the amplitude of the write potential will vary depending on the pulse width.
  • the Ag ions take the path of least resistance into glass layer 4 .
  • the path of least resistance is provided by the conducting channel 11 .
  • the Ag ions will migrate toward the negative potential, here, electrode 2 , when applied across the memory element 101 . Accordingly, the movement of the Ag ions into the conducting channel 11 renders channel 11 more conductive.
  • An exemplary erase potential V 4 is a pulse from about 8 to about 150 ns that is from about negative 400 mV ( ⁇ 400 mV) to about negative 700 mV ( ⁇ 700 mV) in amplitude. As with the write potential V 2 , the amplitude of the erase potential V 4 will depend on the pulse width.
  • a 10 ns, 1.7V conditioning pulse V was applied to cause the memory element 101 , initially at 1 G ⁇ , to move into a ‘medium’ state of resistance of approximately 1 M ⁇ .
  • a 10 ns, 700 mV write pulse V 2 was applied to the memory element 101 to move it to a low resistance state of approximately 10 k ⁇ .
  • a 10 ns, negative 550 mV erase pulse V 4 was applied to return the memory element 101 to a medium resistance state. It was also observed that applying a 10 ns, 700 mV write pulse V 3 repeatedly to the memory element 101 yielded lower and lower resistance states below 10 k ⁇ .
  • the memory element 101 could be used to set different detectable logic states in accordance with the number of applied write pulses V 3 .
  • a ‘read’ operation in which a read potential V 5 , which is less than write potential V 2 , can applied to the memory element 101 .
  • Current flow through the memory element 101 can be sensed by a current sensing amplifier, which can provide an output representing the resistance state of the memory element 101 (not pictured).
  • a read voltage V 5 which is below the threshold for writing the memory element 101 , e.g., V 1 , is sufficient. Where a 10 ns, 700 mV write pulse V 2 is used, the read voltage V 5 can then be in the range from any pulse less than about 500 ns and less than or equal to about 200 mV. The read voltage V 5 does not disturb other memory elements in a memory element array, which are in the pre-conditioned medium resistance ‘OFF’ state, since the read voltage V 5 is lower than the write voltage V 2 .
  • the read voltage Vs may be applied in various manners, such as a sweep voltage, pulse voltage, or step voltage, among other methods.
  • FIG. 3A-3F depicts a third exemplary embodiment of a resistance variable memory device 102 constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • a first electrode 2 is formed over a substrate 1 .
  • the first electrode 2 may comprise any of the conductive materials listed above as in the FIGS. 1A and 2A embodiments.
  • a first glass layer 4 is formed over the first electrode 2 .
  • the first glass layer 4 is electrically coupled to electrode 2 .
  • the first glass layer 4 can comprise the same materials as in prior embodiments and have the same stoichiometric ranges as the glass layer 4 in FIG. 2A .
  • the first glass layer 4 is described further below as a Ge 40 Se 60 chalcogenide glass layer 4 .
  • Glass layer 4 is formed to a thickness of from about 150 ⁇ to about 500 ⁇ thick, and preferably is about 150 ⁇ thick.
  • the formation of the chalcogenide glass layer 4 having a stoichiometric composition, such as Ge 40 Se 60 , can be accomplished by any of the methods described above for forming the glass layer 4 of FIG. 2A .
  • the first glass layer 4 may comprise one or more layers of a glass material.
  • a first metal-containing layer 6 preferably silver-selenide, is formed over the first chalcogenide glass layer 4 .
  • the formation of the first metal-containing layer 6 can be accomplished by any of the methods described above for forming the metal-containing layer 6 of FIG. 2A .
  • the first metal-containing layer 6 may comprise one or more layers of a metal-containing material.
  • the first metal-containing layer 6 is formed to a thickness of from about 300 ⁇ to about 1200 ⁇ thick, and preferably is about 470 ⁇ thick.
  • a second glass layer 8 is formed over the first metal-containing layer 6 .
  • the second glass layer 8 allows deposition of silver above a silver-selenide layer 6 , for instance.
  • the second glass layer 8 can be utilized as a diffusion control layer to prevent metal ions from migrating from electrode 10 into the memory element 102 .
  • the second glass layer 8 is formed to a thickness of from about 100 ⁇ to about 300 ⁇ thick, and preferably is about 150 ⁇ thick.
  • the formation and composition of the second glass layer 8 is the same as described above for the formation and composition of the glass layer 4 of FIG. 3A .
  • the second glass layer 8 is described as a chalcogenide glass layer having a stoichiometry similar to the first glass layer 4 i.e., Ge 40 Se 60 .
  • one or more layers of glass material can be provided if desired for glass layer 8 .
  • the second glass layer 8 may be formed to a thickness of from about 100 ⁇ to about 300 ⁇ thick, and preferably is about 150 ⁇ thick.
  • first glass layer 4 and the second glass layer 8 are described above as having a stoichiometry and material composition similar to each other i.e., Ge 40 Se 60 , it should be appreciated that the first glass layer 4 and the second glass layer 8 can possess different stoichiometries from each other, different thicknesses, and they can even be formed of different glasses.
  • excess metal ions need to be provided in this embodiment as well, either by excess metal ions in the first metal-containing layer 6 , by an optional second metal-containing layer 7 provided above glass layer 8 , or by upper electrode 10 .
  • the first metal-containing layer 6 can be formed containing excess metal ions.
  • the excess metal ions are not part of the first metal-containing layer 6 , i.e., added specifically or deposited with an excess metal, the metal ions need to be added as a separate second metal-containing layer 7 and/or an upper electrode 10 .
  • the second metal-containing layer 7 should have a sufficient thickness that gives the desired excess amount of metal ions to the glass layer 4 .
  • the second metal-containing layer 7 can comprise any metal ions so long as it provides metal ions to enable formation of a conducting channel in the glass layer 4 after application of a conditioning pulse.
  • the second metal-containing layer 7 may comprise silver or copper.
  • the second metal-containing layer 7 is present and serves as a source and receptacle for additional metal ions.
  • a second electrode 10 is formed over the second glass layer 8 or over the second metal containing layer 7 , if provided, as shown in FIG. 3A , to complete the formation of the memory element 102 .
  • the second electrode 10 may comprise any of the conductive materials listed above for the electrode 10 described in reference to FIGS. 1A and 2A .
  • FIG. 3A illustrates that the second electrode 10 is in contact with an upper surface of the second metal-containing layer 7 ; however, intervening layers may be provided between layers 7 and 10 , if desired.
  • the second metal-containing layer 7 can provide additional Ag ions.
  • the second electrode 10 can comprise Ag which can also provide additional Ag ions if the second metal-containing layer 7 is omitted from structure 102 .
  • first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 can comprise the same or different materials. However, for example, if the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 comprise the same material, such as tungsten or any other non-metal ion comprising metal, one side of the memory element 102 , preferably the side with the second electrode 10 , must have an excess of metal ions, Ag in the preferred embodiment, either in layer 6 or preferably as the second metal-containing layer 7 .
  • intervening barrier layers are not illustrated in the FIG. 3A embodiment, intervening barrier layers can be present to prevent metal ion migration from electrode 2 into glass layer 4 , or from electrode 10 into glass layer 4 , when the excess metal ions are provided by layers 6 and/or 7 . Barrier layers, if provided, should not contain mobile metal ions.
  • FIGS. 3B-3F A method of operating and manipulating the resistance state of the memory element 102 depicted in FIG. 3A is described below in reference to FIGS. 3B-3F .
  • the methods of operation described in FIGS. 3B-3F is for a memory element 102 comprising a first Ge 40 Se 60 glass layer 4 that is 150 ⁇ thick, an Ag 2 Se layer 470 ⁇ thick, a second Ge 40 Se 60 glass layer 8 that is 150 ⁇ thick and a silver layer 200 ⁇ thick.
  • FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the glass layer 4 of memory element 102 of FIG. 3A prior to application of a conditioning pulse V 1 .
  • the glass layer 4 formed of Ge 40 Se 60 , has no long range order.
  • FIG. 3B further illustrates the presence of germanium-germanium (Ge—Ge) bonds 17 throughout the glass layer 4 .
  • Ge—Ge germanium-germanium
  • the presence of another species which can provide a more thermodynamically favorable energy will break the Ge—Ge bonds 17 and bond with the previously bonded Ge. Accordingly, the Ge—Ge bond 17 is not strong and can easily be broken.
  • a conditioning pulse V 1 when a conditioning pulse V 1 is applied across memory element 102 , excess Ag ions from the first and/or second metal-containing layers 6 , 7 and/or from electrode 10 (if ions are available), enter into glass layer 4 and break some of the Ge—Ge bonds 17 . This forms conducting channel 11 via incorporation of Ag 2 Se from the first metal-containing layer 6 and is illustrated in FIG. 3C .
  • the conditioning pulse's V 1 parameters are dependent upon composition and thickness of the layers comprising memory element 102 .
  • the methods of operating memory element 101 depicted in FIGS. 2C-2F is similar to the methods of operating memory element 102 for write, read and erase operations.
  • the methods of operating memory element 102 can proceed in a similar manner as illustrated in FIGS. 3C-3F .
  • FIG. 4A depicts a fourth exemplary embodiment of a resistance variable memory device 103 constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • a first electrode 2 is formed over a substrate 1 .
  • the first electrode 2 may comprise any of the conductive materials listed above for the electrode 2 described in the FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3 A embodiments.
  • a first glass layer 4 is formed over the first electrode 2 .
  • the first glass layer 4 is electrically coupled to electrode 2 .
  • the first glass layer 4 can comprise the same material as provided for the glass layer 4 in FIGS. 2A and 3A .
  • the first glass layer 4 is described further below as a Ge 40 Se 60 chalcogenide glass layer 4 .
  • the formation of the first chalcogenide glass layer 4 can be accomplished by any of the methods described above for forming the glass layer 4 of FIGS. 2A and 3A .
  • the first glass layer 4 may comprise one or more layers of a glass material.
  • the first glass layer 4 is formed to a thickness of from about 150 ⁇ to about 500 ⁇ thick, and preferably is about 150 ⁇ thick.
  • a first metal-containing layer 6 preferably silver-selenide, is formed over the first chalcogenide glass layer 4 .
  • the formation of the first metal-containing layer 6 can be accomplished by any of the methods described above for forming the metal-containing layer 6 of FIGS. 2A and 3A .
  • the first metal-containing layer 6 may comprise one or more layers of a metal-containing material.
  • the first metal-containing layer 6 is formed to a thickness of from about 300 ⁇ to about 1200 ⁇ thick, and preferably is about 470 ⁇ thick.
  • a second glass layer 8 is formed over the first metal-containing layer 6 .
  • the second glass layer 8 may be used as a diffusion control layer to control the migration of metal ions into the glass layer 4 .
  • the formation and composition of the second glass layer 8 is the same as described above for the formation and composition of the glass layer 4 of FIGS. 2A and 3A .
  • the second glass layer 8 is described as a chalcogenide glass layer having a stoichiometry similar to the first glass layer 4 e.g., Ge 40 Se 60 . Further, one or more layers of glass material can be provided if desired.
  • first glass layer 4 and the second glass layer 8 are described above as having a stoichiometry and material composition similar to each other, e.g., Ge 40 Se 60 , it should be appreciated that the first glass layer 4 and the second glass layer 8 can possess different stoichiometries from each other, be different thicknesses, and they can even be different glasses.
  • the second glass layer 8 may be formed to a thickness of from about 100 ⁇ to about 300 ⁇ thick and preferably is about 150 ⁇ thick.
  • a second metal-containing layer 9 preferably silver is formed over the second glass layer 8 .
  • the formation of the second metal-containing layer 9 can be accomplished by any of the methods described above for forming the metal-containing layer 6 of FIGS. 2A and 3A .
  • the second metal-containing layer 9 may comprise one or more layers of a metal-containing material.
  • the second metal-containing layer 9 is formed to a thickness of from about 100 ⁇ to about 500 ⁇ thick, and preferably is about 200 ⁇ thick.
  • excess metal ions need to be provided either by the first metal-containing layer 6 or second metal-containing layer 9 , and/or second electrode 10 .
  • the first metal-containing layer 6 can be formed containing excess metal ions.
  • the excess metal ions are not part of the first metal-containing layer 6 i.e., added specifically or deposited with an excess metal, the additional metal ions can be provided from the second metal-containing layer 9 and/or second electrode 10 .
  • the second metal-containing layer 9 should have a sufficient thickness that gives the desired excess amount of metal ions to the first metal-containing layer 6 .
  • a third metal-containing layer 7 can be provided, if desired.
  • the third metal-containing layer comprises silver.
  • the second metal-containing layer 9 can comprise any metal ions so long as it provides metal ions to the conducting channel 11 formed in the chalcogenide glass layer 4 after application of a conditioning voltage across the electrodes 2 and 10 .
  • the presence of the third metal-containing layer 7 serves as the source and receptacle for metal ions.
  • the third metal-containing layer 7 is the source of the metal ions that move into the conducting channel 11 .
  • the third metal-containing layer 7 is the receptacle of the metal ions that move out of the conducting channel 11 .
  • a second electrode 10 is next formed over the third metal-containing layer 7 , as illustrated in FIG. 4A , to complete the formation of the memory device 103 .
  • the second electrode 10 may comprise any of the conductive materials listed above for the electrode 10 as described above in the FIGS. 2A and 3A embodiments.
  • FIG. 4A illustrates that the second electrode 10 is in contact with an upper surface of the third metal-containing layer 7 ; however, intervening layers may be provided between layers 7 and 10 , if desired.
  • the third metal-containing layer 7 can provide additional Ag ions.
  • the second electrode 10 can comprise Ag which can also provide additional Ag ions if the third metal-containing layer 7 is omitted from memory element 103 .
  • the third metal containing layer 7 is omitted and the second metal-containing layer 9 , can provide and receive metal ions, e.g., Ag ions, and can be the source and receptacle of metal ions during a write and erase operation. It is also possible to use an electrode 10 , which donates or receives metal ions with the third metal-containing layer 7 or second metal-containing layer 9 , which also donates or receives metal ions in combination.
  • metal ions e.g., Ag ions
  • first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 can comprise the same or different materials. However, for example, if the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 comprise the same material such as tungsten or any other non-metal ion comprising metal, one side of the memory element 103 , preferably the side with the second electrode 10 , must have an excess of metal ions, e.g., Ag.
  • the third metal-containing layer 7 can provide Ag ions or the second metal-containing layer 9 can.
  • the second electrode 10 can comprise Ag, if used, which can also provide Ag ions if the third metal-containing layer 7 is omitted from memory element 103 , if desirable. Because the metal ions, e.g., Ag ions which enter and leave glass 4 is coming from the third metal-containing layer 7 , if provided, or layer 10 , or layer 9 , if layer 7 is not provided, it is preferable that electrode 2 not donate any metal ions
  • intervening barrier layers are not illustrated in the FIG. 4A embodiment, intervening barrier layers can be present to prevent metal ion migration from electrode 2 into glass layer 4 , or from electrode 10 into glass layer 4 .
  • Barrier layers if provided, should not contain mobile metal ions.
  • FIGS. 4B-4F A method of operating and manipulating the resistance state of the memory element depicted in FIG. 4A is described below in reference to FIGS. 4B-4F .
  • the methods of operation described in FIGS. 4B-4F is for a memory element 103 comprising a first Ge 40 Se 60 glass layer 4 that is 150 ⁇ thick, a first Ag 2 Se layer 470 ⁇ thick, a second Ge 40 Se 60 glass layer 8 that is 150 ⁇ , a second Ag 2 Se layer 200 ⁇ thick, and a silver layer 300 ⁇ thick.
  • FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the memory element 103 of FIG. 4A prior to application of a conditioning pulse.
  • the Ge 40 Se 60 glass layer 4 has no long range order.
  • FIG. 4B further illustrates the presence of germanium-germanium (Ge—Ge) bonds 17 throughout the glass layer 4 .
  • Ge—Ge germanium-germanium
  • the presence of another species which can provide a more thermodynamically favorable energy than the Ge—Ge bond energy will break the Ge—Ge bonds 17 and bond with the previously bonded Ge. Accordingly, the Ge—Ge bonds 17 are not strong and can easily be broken.
  • a conditioning pulse V is applied to memory element 103 .
  • Memory element 103 is conditioned in a similar manner as described above with regard to memory elements 101 and 102 . Conditioning the memory element 103 , is done only once and after the memory element 103 is conditioned, the conditioned memory element 103 will operate through normal write and erase operations.
  • applying a conditioning pulse from the voltage source 20 forms a conducting channel 11 via incorporation of Ag 2 Se from the metal-containing layer 6 into the glass backbone which is illustrated in FIG. 4C .
  • the Ag 2 Se becomes polarized and aligned within the glass 4 backbone to form conductive channel 11 .
  • the conditioning pulse's parameters are dependent upon the thickness of the layers comprising memory element 103 .
  • the method of operating memory element 103 depicted in FIGS. 4C-4F proceeds in an analogous manner as described above with reference to FIGS. 2C-2F and 3 C- 3 F.
  • the presence of an additional metal-containing layer 7 which provides the Ag ions, can enhance the switching characteristics of the memory elements 101 , 102 and 103 . For instance, since there are more available Ag ions to move in and out of the preformed conducting channels 11 , the memory elements 101 , 102 and 103 can operate with greater speed.
  • FIGS. 1A-4F refer to the formation of only one resistance variable memory element 100 , 101 , 102 and 103 , it must be understood that the invention contemplates the formation of any number of such memory elements.
  • a plurality of resistance variable memory elements can be fabricated in a memory array and operated with memory access circuits.
  • the resistance variable memory elements 100 , 101 , 102 and 103 can be utilized in many electronic devices.
  • the methods and operation of the memory elements disclosed herein can be used in any device whenever it is desired to have a resistance variable memory element with faster switching times.
  • the resistance variable memory elements 100 , 101 , 102 and 103 of the invention may be used in memory applications as well as in creating various CMOS type circuits.

Abstract

The invention relates to a resistance variable memory element including polarizable metal-chalcogen regions within a doped chalcogenide glass. A method for physically aligning the polarizable metal-chalcogen regions to form a conducting channel is provided. The invention also relates to a resistance variable memory element including metal-chalcogen regions within a chalcogenide glass backbone. The metal-chalcogen regions and glass regions bond to form a conducting channel. In addition, a method of operating such memory elements is provided in which metal ions move in and out of the conducting channels in response to applied voltages, thereby affecting the resistance of the memory elements.

Description

    FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The invention relates to the field of random access memory (RAM) devices formed using a chalcogenide-based resistance variable memory element.
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • A well-known semiconductor memory component is a random access memory (RAM). RAM permits repeated read and write operations on memory elements. Typically, RAM memory elements are volatile, in that stored data is lost once the power source is disconnected or removed. Non-limiting examples of RAM devices which contain such memory elements include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronized dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) and static random access memory (SRAM). DRAM's and SDRAM's typically store data in capacitors which require periodic refreshing to maintain the stored data.
  • Recently, resistance variable memory elements have been investigated for suitability as semi-volatile and non-volatile random access memory elements. A class of such devices include an insulating material formed of a chalcogenide glass disposed between two electrodes. A conductive material is incorporated into the material. The resistance of the material can be changed between high and low resistance states by application of suitable voltages across the memory element. D. D. Thornburg has discussed polarization of arsenic triselenide in an electric field. For instance, the polarization of arsenic triselenide allows the memory device to switch between different memory states. See Thornburg, D. D., Memory Switching in Amorphous Arsenic Triselenide, J. NON-CRYST. SOLIDS 11 (1972), at 113-120; Thornburg, D. D. and White, R. M., Electric Field Enhanced Phase Separation and Memory Switching in Amorphous Arsenic Triselenide, J. APPL. PHYS. (1972), at 4609-4612.
  • When set in a particular resistance state, the particular resistance state of the memory element will remain intact for minutes, hours, or longer even after the voltage potentials are removed. Such a device can function, for example, as a semi or non-volatile resistance variable memory element having two resistance states, which in turn can define two logic states.
  • BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • In one aspect, exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a resistance variable memory element and a method of forming the same in which a doped chalcogenide glass contains regions of polarizable metal-chalcogen material forming a conducting channel present within a chalcogenide glass backbone. The conducting channel can receive and expel metal ions in and out of it to set a particular resistance state for the memory element in response to write and erase voltages.
  • In another aspect, exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a resistance variable memory element and a method of forming the same in which the resistance variable memory element comprises at least one chalcogenide glass layer and at least one metal-containing layer formed between two electrodes. The chalcogenide glass layer further comprises a conducting channel formed from at least partially bonded regions of metal-chalcogen and glass. The conducting channel can receive and expel metal ions in and out of it to set a particular resistance state for the memory element in response to write and erase voltages.
  • In another aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a method for changing the resistance state of a resistance variable memory element. A conditioning voltage is applied to produce a conducting channel within a glass network. The conducting channel can receive and expel metal ions to set a particular resistance state for the memory element through subsequent programming voltages, such as write and erase voltages.
  • These and other features and advantages of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, which is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIGS. 1A-1F illustrates a cross-sectional view of a resistance variable memory device fabricated in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGS. 2A-2F illustrates a cross-sectional view of a resistance variable memory device fabricated in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGS. 3A-3F illustrates a cross-sectional view of a resistance variable memory device fabricated in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGS. 4A-4F illustrates a cross-sectional view of a resistance variable memory device fabricated in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a processor-based system having one or more memory devices that contains resistance variable memory elements according to the various embodiments of the invention.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • In the following detailed description, reference is made to various specific embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are described with sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be employed, and that various structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
  • The term “substrate” used in the following description may include any supporting structure including but not limited to a glass, plastic, or semiconductor substrate that has an exposed substrate surface. A semiconductor substrate should be understood to include silicon, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), silicon-on-sapphire (SOS), doped and undoped semiconductors, epitaxial layers of silicon supported by a base semiconductor foundation, and other semiconductor structures which may not be silicon-based. When reference is made to a semiconductor substrate in the following description, previous process steps may have been utilized to form regions or junctions in and/or over the base semiconductor or foundation.
  • Applicant has discovered that metal-chalcogen regions, such as silver-selenide, formed in a chalcogenide glass layer, for example, germanium-selenide, can be polarized upon application of a conditioning voltage and align to form a conducting channel within the chalcogenide glass layer. The conducting channel alters the resistance state of the glass from a very high resistance state, e.g. 1 GΩ, to a medium resistance state, e.g., 10 MΩ. A subsequently applied write voltage, having an energy lower than that of the conditioning voltage, can then program the glass to a lower resistance state, e.g. 10 kΩ, by causing available metal ions to move into the conducting channels where they remain after the write voltage is removed. The metal ions within the conducting channel can be removed by application of a negative polarity erase voltage. Because the conducting channel is previously formed by the conditioning voltage before a write or erase operation occurs, higher speed switching of the glass between resistance states can be achieved compared to trying to form and completely decompose conductive pathways each time the glass is written or erased to a resistance state. The glass layer can be used to construct memory elements.
  • For purposes of a simplified description, memory elements are described below in which a metal-chalcogen is described as silver-selenide, and the chalcogenide glass as germanium-selenide. However, these specific materials are not considered as limiting the invention.
  • The invention will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 1A-F; 2A-2F; 3A-3F; and 4A-4-F, which respectively illustrate exemplary embodiments of a resistance variable memory element 100, 101, 102 and 103, and their methods of formation and operation, in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 1A depicts a first exemplary embodiment of a resistance variable memory element 100 and its method of formation in accordance with the invention. A first electrode 2 is formed over a substrate 1. The first electrode 2 may comprise a conductive material, for example, various metals such as, one or more of tungsten, tantalum, aluminum, platinum, silver, or titanium nitride, among others. In addition, the first electrode 2 can comprise a conductively-doped semiconductor material. The first electrode 2 should preferably not produce or expel metal ions, as discussed below.
  • Although FIG. 1A illustrates a first electrode 2 provided on substrate 1, it should be appreciated that additional layers may be provided between electrode 2 and the substrate 1. For instance, a barrier layer may be used to prevent migration of metal ions from layer 2. In addition, a semiconductor substrate 1 containing circuit layers covered with an insulating layer can be provided below first electrode 2 if desired.
  • Next, a glass layer 4 is formed over the first conductive electrode 2. The glass layer 4 is electrically coupled to electrode 2. The glass layer 4 is preferably a chalcogenide glass layer 4 that has been doped, e.g. photodoped, with a metal ion such as silver (Ag), and is more preferably a germanium-selenide glass layer 4 having a GexSe100−x stoichiometry doped with Ag ions. The stoichiometric range for glass layer 4 is preferably from about Ge18Se82 to about Ge25Se75, and is more preferably about Ge25Se75 when metal ions, such as Ag ions, are provided in the glass layer 4 by a doping process. Glass layer 4 is formed to a thickness of from about 150 Å to about 600 Å thick, and is preferably about 500 Å thick.
  • Although glass layer 4 is described as a chalcogenide glass layer, other suitable glass layers may be employed as well. For instance, suitable glass material compositions for the glass layer 4 can include, but are not limited to, AsSe (arsenic-selenide, such as As3Se2), GeS (germanium-sulfide), and combinations of Ge, Ag, and Se, among others. Any one of the suitable glass materials for glass layer 4 and may further comprise small concentrations of dopants such as nitrogen nitrides, metals, and other group 13-17 elements from the periodic table.
  • The formation of the chalcogenide glass layer 4 having a stoichiometric composition such as Ge25Se75 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention, can be accomplished by any suitable method. For instance, by evaporation, co-sputtering germanium and selenium in the appropriate ratios, sputtering using a germanium-selenide target having the desired stoichiometry, or chemical vapor deposition with stoichiometric amounts of GeH4 and SeH2 gases (or various compositions of these gases), which result in a germanium-selenide film of the desired stoichiometry, are some non-limiting examples of methods which can be used to form the glass layer 4.
  • After the chalcogenide glass layer 4 is formed, metal ions are doped into the glass layer 4 by a photodoping process. For instance, the chalcogenide glass layer 4, such as Ge25Se75, can be photodoped with a metal such as Ag. Metal ions can be driven into the glass layer 4 by applying a metal (Ag) layer on top of the glass layer 4 and exposing the glass layer 4 and metal layer to visible radiation. The metal layer can be formed over the glass layer 4, for example, by sputtering, physical vapor deposition, or other well-known techniques in the art.
  • The metal doping of glass layer 4 causes the glass layer 4 to contain polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 and glass backbone regions 50, as shown in FIG. 1B. In this context, polarizable regions are regions which can physically align in the presence of a suitable voltage applied across a memory element.
  • It should be appreciated that the polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 are distinct regions within the glass layer 4. When glass layer 4 is doped with a metal ion, the glass layer 4 will phase separate into polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 and glass backbone regions 50. See Maria Mitkova, et al., Dual Chemical Role of Ag as an Additive in Chalcogenide Glasses, PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, Nov. 8, 1999, at 3848-3851. If Ag is used as the dopant metal ion and germanium selenide, e.g. Ge25Se75, is used for glass layer 4, the polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 are Ag2Se regions within a germanium selenide backbone. In essence, the glass backbone regions 50 are non-metal containing glass regions with a stoichiometry determined by the loss of selenium (Se) from the germanium selenide glass to the formation of Ag2Se.
  • Referring back to FIG. 1A, a second electrode 10 is then formed over the glass layer 4 and any residual metal ions, e.g. Ag, remain in glass layer 4 to complete the formation of the resistance variable memory element 100. The second electrode 10 may comprise any conductive material, for example, various metals, such as, one or more of tungsten, tantalum, aluminum, platinum, silver, or titanium nitride among others. In addition, the second electrode 10 can comprise a conductively-doped semi-conductive material, e.g., doped polysilicon.
  • Although electrode 10 may be directly applied to glass layer 4, in a preferred embodiment, the second electrode 10 is in contact with an intermediate metal-containing layer 5, which is provided over glass layer 4. This intermediate metal-containing layer 5 is preferably a layer comprising Ag.
  • Although the doping of metal, e.g., Ag, into the glass layer 4 will produce metal ions used, e.g, Ag ions within glass layer 4, the presence of the metal-containing layer 5 will serve as an additional source and receptacle for metal ions during write and erase operations. For example, for a germanium selenide glass layer 4 backbone containing polarizable Ag2Se metal-chalcogen regions 30, during a ‘write’ process, the metal-containing layer 5 can be Ag and is a source of metal ions, e.g., Ag, which enter glass layer 4. During an ‘erase’ process, the metal-containing layer 5 is the receptacle of the metal ions, e.g., Ag that move out of the glass layer 4.
  • In another exemplary embodiment, the metal containing layer 5 is omitted and the top electrode 10 is formed of a material capable of donating and receiving metal ions. For example, top electrode 10 can be made of silver which would be in contact with glass layer 4, and would then become a source and receptacle of metal ions during a write and erase operation. It is also possible to use an electrode 10, which donates or receives metal ions with metal-containing layer 5, which also donates or receives metal ions, in combination.
  • It should be appreciated that the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 can comprise the same or different materials. However, for example, if the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 comprise the same material such as tungsten or any other non-metal ion comprising metal, one side of the memory element 100, preferably the side with the second electrode 10, must have an excess of metal ions, e.g., Ag which, in the preferred embodiment, is metal-containing layer 5.
  • Because the metal ions, e.g., Ag ions which enter and leave glass 4 comes from layer 5, if provided, or layer 10, if layer 5 is not provided, it is preferable that electrode 2 not donate any metal ions. As a result, although intervening barrier layers are not illustrated in the FIG. 1A embodiment, intervening barrier layers can be present to prevent metal ion migration from electrode 2 into glass layer 4, or from electrode 10 into glass layer 4. The barrier layers, if provided, should not contain mobile metal ions.
  • A method of operating and manipulating the resistance state of the memory element depicted in FIG. 1A will now be described in reference to FIGS. 1B-1F.
  • Reference is now made to FIG. 1B which is a cross-sectional view of the memory element 100 of FIG. 1A prior to application of a conditioning voltage. As FIG. 1B illustrates, the chalcogenide glass regions 50 and polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 have no long range order, i.e., they are randomly distributed. For a germanium selenide glass layer 4 and Ag ion configuration, the doped chalcogenide glass layer 4, contains regions of germanium-selenide 50 and regions of polarizable silver-selenide 30. Free Ag ions may also be present in glass layer 4. The germanium-selenide regions 50 serve as the glass backbone for memory element 100.
  • Referring now to FIG. 1C, when a conditioning voltage (V1) of suitable energy, for example, is applied from a voltage source (DC) 20, one or more regions of silver-selenide 30 will polarize, that is, align to form a conducting channel 60. The aligned silver-selenide regions 40 form conducting channel 60 which spans the entire thickness of glass layer 4. The application of V1 induces the alignment of the polarizable silver-selenide regions. It has been found that a conditioning voltage (V1) about 200 mV under DC switching conditions and about 1.7V, 500 ns under AC conditions, is sufficient to physically align the Ag2Se regions 30 and form the conducting channel 60.
  • After the conditioning voltage V1 is applied, memory element 100 is in a ‘medium’ state of resistance. Prior to application of the conditioning voltage illustrated in FIG. 1B, the memory element 100 is in a ‘high’ state of resistance. As a non-limiting example, a ‘high’ state of resistance for memory element 100 can be greater than 1 GΩ. A ‘medium’ state of resistance, produced by the alignment of the Ag2Se regions 30 can be around 1 MΩ. FIG. 1C illustrates the memory element 100 in the ‘medium’ state of resistance after applying a conditioning voltage V1.
  • The conditioning voltage V1 is at a higher potential than subsequent potentials used to write, read, or erase the memory element 100. This is due to the initial disorder of the polarizable silver-selenide regions 30, as illustrated in FIG. 1B. Prior to application of the conditioning voltage V1, the structure of the memory element 100 is in the most disordered state. Thus, to bring the memory element 100 into a more structured state illustrated in FIG. 1C, a conditioning voltage V1 which is larger than subsequently applied write, erase or read voltages is required.
  • Any suitable number, including all of the polarizable regions of silver-selenide 30, can be polarized to form conducting channel 60 which extends throughout the thickness of glass layer 4. The amplitude of V1, necessary to induce formation of conducting channel 60, will depend upon the pulse width, glass layer 4 composition, and thickness. With an exemplary embodiment of Ag2Se formed within a glass with an initially Ge2Se75 stoichiometry before addition of Ag, having a thickness of 500 Å, and a metal-containing layer 5 of Ag having a thickness of 200 Å, a 1.7V pulse having a duration of 500 ns was found to be sufficient.
  • The preestablished conducting channel 60 allows additional metal ions within the glass layer 4, or from the metal-containing layer 5, and/or electrode 10, to move into and out of the conducting channel 60 upon application of a potential across the two electrodes. Thus, the resistance state of the memory element 100 can be changed quickly. In other words, the movement of the Ag ions in the conducting channel 60 upon application of a write voltage V2, which has a potential less than the conditioning voltage V1, can lower the resistance state of the memory element 100 from the medium resistance state of e.g., 1 MΩ, to a lower resistance state of e.g., 10 kΩ. When an erase voltage of inverse polarity to the write voltage is applied, the silver ions are driven out of the conducting channel 60 and back into the glass layer 4 and metal-containing layer 5, and/or electrode 10, increasing the resistance state of the memory element 100 back to the medium resistance state. The erase voltage need only be sufficient to drive Ag ions out of the conducting channel 60. The conducting channel 60 is not dispersed and is still maintained.
  • Because the conducting channel 60 always remains intact, the switching speeds and response of the memory element 100 are enhanced because the Ag ions can move into and out of the conducting channel 60 without the need to reform the channel 60 every time the memory element 100 is switched.
  • It should be appreciated that the presence of the glass regions 50, here, germanium-selenide regions 50, serve to isolate the polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 from each other, here, polarizable silver-selenide regions 30. The germanium-selenide regions 50 also restrict the mobility and provide isolation between the polarized silver-selenide regions 40. As a result, once memory element 100 is written to a low resistance state, enhanced data retention arises due to the polarized silver-selenide regions 40 being held more rigidly in the glass backbone 50.
  • It should also be appreciated that although only one conducting channel 60 is illustrated in FIGS. 1C-1F, one or more conducting channels 60 may be formed in glass layer 4. Moreover, conditioning of the memory element 100 is conducted only once, and after the memory element 100 is conditioned, the conditioned structure 100 will operate through normal write and erase operations.
  • FIG. 1D illustrates the memory element 100 after a write operation is performed. A write voltage V2 is applied from a voltage source 20, to ‘write’ information into the resistance variable memory element 100. The write voltage V2, occurs at a lower potential than the conditioning voltage V1. For example, if the conditioning pulse is 200 mV, memory element 100 should be written with a ‘write’ voltage V2 of less than 200 mV. As shown in FIG. 1D, the additional Ag ions enter the preestablished conductive channel 60 to further complete the conductive path and lower the resistance of the memory element 100. With this exemplary embodiment of Ag2Se formed within a glass with an initially Ge25Se75 stoichiometry before addition of Ag, having a thickness of 500 Å, and a metal-containing layer 5 of Ag of thickness 200 Å, a write voltage of about 700 mV with a pulse width of about 100 ns was found to be sufficient.
  • Applying the write voltage V2 causes Ag ions to move into the conducting channel 60 from the side with the positive potential, here electrode 10. The Ag ions are supplied from any free Ag ions within glass layer 4, and the metal-containing layer 5, and/or electrode 10. FIG. 1D illustrates memory element 100 in the ‘low’ state of resistance, e.g., around 10 kΩ.
  • It should be appreciated that the preestablished conductive channels 60 may be affected by high temperatures as the metal ions and polarizable metal-chalcogen regions 30 become more mobile. Accordingly, when this occurs, it may be desirable to periodically refresh the memory elements by periodically reapplying the conditioning pulse V1 to reset the conductive channel 60 and thereby resetting the memory element 100 to its medium resistance state.
  • Referring now to FIG. 1E, a ‘read’ operation is illustrated in which a read potential V3, which is less than write potential V2, is applied to the memory element 100. Current flow through the memory element 100 is sensed by a current sensing amplifier 32, which provides an output representing the resistance state of the memory element 100.
  • A read voltage V3, which is below the threshold for writing the memory element 100, e.g., V2, is sufficient. Where the write voltage V2 is about 700 mV with a pulse duration of 100 ns, the read voltage V3 can then be a potential less than about 200 mV with a pulse width less than about 500 ns. The read voltage V3 does not disturb other memory elements in a memory element array, which are in the pre-conditioned medium resistance ‘OFF’ state, since the read voltage V3 is lower than the write voltage V2. The read voltage V3 may be applied in various manners, such as a sweep voltage, pulse voltage, or step voltage, among other methods.
  • FIG. 1F illustrates the memory element 100 when an erase voltage is applied across the electrodes 2 and 10 from voltage source 20. An erase voltage V4 having an inverse polarity from the write voltage V2 is applied from electrode 10 to electrode 2 to erase the memory element 100. The erase voltage V4 may also be of a smaller absolute magnitude than the write voltage V2.
  • The application of an erase voltage V4 moves Ag ions out of the conducting channel 60 toward the electrode with the negative potential. This is electrode 10 in FIG. 1F. The Ag ions will move out of the conducting channel 60 and into the metal-containing layer 5, the glass layer 4, and/or electrode 10 if the electrode 10 contains Ag. Stated in another way, the erase is essentially a function of removing Ag ions from conducting channel 60. As a result, the erase is complete when the resistance of the memory element 100 returns to the ‘medium’ state of resistance, i.e., around 1 MΩ.
  • It is important to note that after an erase operation, the conducting channel 60 of FIG. 1C remains intact; thus, allowing for faster write and erase switching times. In other words, the erase voltage V4 returns the memory element 100 to the state of resistance illustrated in FIG. 1C. Thus, the erase voltage V4 should be low enough to cause a resistance shift in the memory element 100, but not of a magnitude which would destroy the conducting channel 60.
  • It should be appreciated that the conditioning, write, and erase pulse widths are dependent on the electric field amplitude, i.e., the applied voltage. Thus, shorter pulses will require higher voltages for V1, V2, and V4 and vice versa. This is expected since the movement of Ag ions in the conducting channel 60 has an energy requirement for movement into and out of the conducting channel 60, which in turn is dependent upon the concentration of Ag ions which enters or leaves the conducting channel 60.
  • Reference is now made to FIG. 2A which shows another exemplary embodiment of the invention and its method of formation.
  • The FIG. 2A embodiment has a first electrode 2 formed over a substrate 1. The first electrode 2 may comprise any of the conductive materials listed above for the same electrode as in the FIG. 1A embodiment. Similar to the FIG. 1A embodiment, additional barrier layers may be provided between electrode 2 and substrate 1, if required to prevent metal ion migration. The barrier layers, if provided, should not contain mobile metal ions.
  • Next, a glass layer 4 such as a chalcogenide glass layer 4 is formed over the first electrode 2. The glass layer 4 is electrically coupled to electrode 2. The glass layer 4 is preferably a chalcogenide glass layer 4, and more preferably, a germanium-selenide glass layer 4 having a GexSe100−x stoichiometry. The stoichiometric range for chalcogenide glass layer 4 as depicted in the FIG. 2A embodiment is preferably from about Ge20Se80 to about Ge43Se57, and is more preferably about Ge40Se60. Glass layer 4 is formed to a thickness of from about 150 Å to about 500 Å thick, and preferably is about 150 Å thick.
  • For purposes of a simplified description, the glass layer 4 of structure 101 is described further below as a chalcogenide glass layer 4 and more specifically, a Ge40Se60 layer. However, other suitable glass or polymer layers may be employed without affecting the utility of the invention. For instance, suitable glass material compositions for the glass layer 4 can include but are not limited to, SiSe (silicon-selenide), AsSe (arsenic-selenide, such as As3Se2), GeS (germanium-sulfide), and combinations of Ge, Ag, and Se, among others. Any one of the suitable glass materials may further comprise small concentrations of dopants such as nitrogen nitrides, metals, and group 1, 2, and 13-17 elements from the periodic table.
  • The formation of the glass layer 4 having a stoichiometric composition such as Ge40Se60 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention, can be accomplished by any suitable method. For instance, evaporation, co-sputtering germanium and selenium in the appropriate ratios, sputtering using a germanium-selenide target having the desired stoichiometry, or chemical vapor deposition with stoichiometric amounts of GeH4 and SeH2 gases (or various compositions of these gases), which result in a germanium-selenide film of the desired stoichiometry, are some non-limiting examples of methods which can be used to form the glass layer 4. It should be appreciated that the glass layer 4 may comprise one or more layers of a glass material.
  • Still referring to FIG. 2A, a metal-containing layer 6, preferably silver-selenide, is deposited over the chalcogenide glass layer 4. However, any suitable metal-containing layer 6 may be used so long as it interacts with the glass backbone such that it allows the transfer of metal ions into glass layer 4 upon application of a sufficient voltage across a memory element of which layers 4 and 6 are a part. For instance, besides silver-selenide, the metal-containing layer 6 may comprise silver, copper, or other transition metals. Other suitable metal-containing layers 6 which may be used include glass layers doped with a metal.
  • Preferably, the metal-containing layer 6 will comprise the same type of chalcogen component as is present in glass layer 4. For example, if glass layer 4 is GexSe100−x, metal-containing layer 6 may be Ag2Se. The metal-containing layer 6 is formed to a thickness of from about 300 Å to about 1200 Å thick, and preferably is about 470 Å thick.
  • It should be appreciated that excess metal ions need to be provided either by metal-containing layer 6 itself, or through some other means for donation to glass layer 4. For instance, metal-containing layer 6 can be formed to contain excess metal ions. That is, Ag2+xSe, where x represents excess Ag ions. Alternatively, if the excess metal ions are not part of the metal-containing layer 6, a separate second metal-containing layer 7 with a sufficient thickness that gives the desired excess amount of metal ions, e.g., Ag ions to the metal-containing layer 6 may be provided over or beneath the first metal-containing layer 6.
  • An electrode 10 is provided over the conducting metal-containing layer 6, if metal-containing layer 7 is omitted, or is provided over metal-containing layer 7 if the latter is provided. Electrode 10 need not donate any metal ions if one or both of layers 6 and 7 provide sufficient metal ions for memory element operation.
  • In an exemplary embodiment, the second metal-containing layer 7 is provided and serves as a source and receptacle for metal ions doing write and erase operations. In another exemplary embodiment, the top electrode 10 may be the source and receptacle of additional metal ions when the second metal-containing layer 7 is omitted, and excess metal ions are not available in layer 6. In this case, the top electrode 10 may comprise silver, which donates and receives silver ions to and from glass layer 4.
  • Some non-limiting examples of forming the metal-containing layer 6 are physical vapor deposition techniques such as evaporative deposition, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, co-evaporation, or depositing a layer of selenium above a layer of silver to form silver-selenide (Ag2Se) can also be used. It should be appreciated that the metal-containing layer 6 may comprise one or more layers of a metal-containing material. For purposes of a simplified description, FIGS. 2A-2F refer to the first metal-containing layer 6 as a silver-selenide layer 6 and the second metal-containing layer 7 as a silver layer 7. In this case electrode 10 does not contribute metal ions to, or receive metal ions from glass layer 4.
  • The second electrode 10 may comprise any of the materials described above for electrode 10 of the FIG. 1A embodiment. FIG. 2A illustrates that the second electrode 10 is in contact with an upper surface of the second metal-containing layer 7; however, intervening layers may be provided between layers 7 and 10, if desired. As described above, the second metal-containing layer 7 can provide additional Ag ions. In addition, the second electrode 10 can comprise Ag which can also provide additional Ag ions if the second metal-containing layer 7 is omitted from memory element 101.
  • In another exemplary embodiment, the metal containing layer 7 is omitted and the top electrode 10, which is in contact with metal-containing layer 6, can provide and receive metal ions, e.g., Ag ions, and can be the source and receptacle of metal ions during a write and erase operation. It is also possible to use an electrode 10, which donates or receives metal ions with metal-containing layer 7, which also donates or receives metal ions in combination. It should be appreciated that the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 can comprise the same or different materials.
  • As described above, the first and second metal-containing layers 6 and 7 can provide Ag ions. In addition, the second electrode 10 can comprise Ag, if used, which can also provide Ag ions if the second metal-containing layer 7 is omitted from memory element 101, and layer 6 does not have excess Ag ions. Because the metal ions, e.g., Ag ions which enter and leave glass 4 is coming from the second metal-containing layer 7, if provided, or electrode 10, if layer 7 is not provided and layer 6 does not have excess Ag ions., it is preferable that electrode 2 not donate any metal ions
  • As a result, although intervening barrier layers are not illustrated in the FIG. 2A embodiment, intervening barrier layers can be present to prevent metal ion migration from electrode 2 into glass layer 4, or from electrode 10 into glass layer 4. Barrier layers, if provided, should not contain mobile metal ions.
  • A method of operating and manipulating the resistance state of the memory element 101 depicted in FIG. 2A will now be described in reference to FIGS. 2B-2F. For exemplary purposes, the methods of operation described in FIGS. 2B-2F is for a memory element 101 comprising a Ge40Se60 glass layer 4 that is 150 Å thick, an Ag2Se layer 470 Å thick, and a silver layer 200 Å thick.
  • Reference is now made to FIG. 2B which is a cross-sectional view of the glass layer 4 in memory element 101 of FIG. 2A prior to application of a conditioning voltage across memory element 101. As FIG. 2B illustrates, the germanium-selenide glass layer 4 has no long range order, i.e., it has non-uniform distribution of Ge and Se within the glass layer 4. FIG. 2B further illustrates the presence of germanium-germanium (Ge—Ge) bonds 17 throughout the glass layer 4. The presence of another species which can provide a more thermodynamically favorable energy than the Ge—Ge bond energy will ultimately break the Ge—Ge bonds 17 and bond with the previously bonded Ge.
  • Referring now to FIG. 2C, a conditioning pulse having a potential V1, is applied across memory element 101. The conditioning pulse causes metal chalcogenide, e.g., Ag2Se from the layer 6 to enter into glass layer 4, thereby breaking Ge—Ge bonds 17 in the glass layer 4 and to form conductive channel 11 within the glass 4 backbone. The conditioning pulse's parameters are dependent upon the composition and thickness of the various layers comprising memory element 101.
  • For a Ge40Se60 glass layer 4, a first Ag2Se layer 6, and a second Ag layer 7 having the construction described, a conditioning pulse having a pulse duration from about 10 to about 500 ns and greater than about 700 mV has been found sufficient to form conductive channel 11. The amplitude of the conditioning pulse will depend on the pulse width. The conducting channel 11 will form in the weakest part of the chalcogenide glass material 4, i.e., in the areas that require the least amount of energy to form the conductive channel 11. The conditioning pulse causes the conducting channel 11 to form by re-orientation of the GeSe and Ag2Se regions, as shown in FIG. 2C.
  • The Ag2Se provided from the first metal-containing layer 6, and driven into the glass layer's 4 backbone, assists in forming the conducting channel 11 as it bonds with the germanium-selenide, i.e., as the Ag2Se bonds to the glass. It should be appreciated that a plurality of conducting channels 11 can be formed in the chalcogenide glass layer 4. For purposes of a simplified description, only one conducting channel 11 is illustrated in FIGS. 2C-2F.
  • After application of the conditioning pulse, memory element 101 is in a ‘medium’ state of resistance. Prior to application of a conditioning pulse, and as illustrated in FIG. 2B, memory element 101 is in a ‘high’ state of resistance where the germanium-selenide regions are not oriented. For instance, a ‘high’ state of resistance which arises after the conditioning pulse is applied to memory element 101 can be about 1 GΩ. A ‘medium’ state of resistance can be around 1 MΩ.
  • In the medium resistance state, the memory element 101 is still considered ‘OFF’ and remains in this conditioned state, with the Ag2Se regions, polarized and aligned in the direction of current flow, until the conducting channel 11 receives excess metal ions from the first metal-containing layer 6, if excess metal ions are present, and from the second metal containing layer 7, and/or electrode 10 during a ‘write’ operation.
  • Therefore, applying a conditioning pulse across the memory element 101 breaks the weak Ge—Ge bonds 17 within the Ge40Se60 glass layer 4 and allows Ag2Se and ions thereof to bond to germanium-selenide sites. In part, the conditioning pulse V1, reorients the non-uniform state of the chalcogenide glass layer 4 (FIG. 2B) into a more organized and structured state having aligned Ag2Se areas as illustrated in FIG. 2C. However, the memory element 101 of FIG. 2C is still in a medium or ‘OFF’ state of resistance.
  • Referring now to FIG. 2D, during a ‘write’ operation, excess Ag ions from metal-containing layer 6, Ag ions from metal-containing layer 7, and/or electrode 10 enter the glass 4 and will cluster in the conducting channel 11, and more specifically, cluster to the germanium-selenide and Ag2Se bonded regions; thus, forming a low resistance conductive path as clustering structures 12 in FIG. 2D illustrate. These clustering structures 12, i.e., regions of Ag/Ag+, are formed throughout the conducting channel 11. The presence of the clustering structures 12 provides a low resistance state for memory element 101. A ‘write’ mode exists when a voltage V2 less than the conditioning voltage V1 is applied across memory element 101, thereby generating an ‘ON’ (low resistance) state for memory element 101. Low resistance is about 10 kΩ.
  • It should be appreciated that the portion of the glass backbone around the conducting channel 11 does not contain much Ag ions. In fact, the majority of the chalcogenide glass layer 4 does not contain Ag ions. The Ag ions from a ‘write’ operation proceed into the conducting channel 11 from the first metal-containing layer 6 if excess metal ions are present, the second metal-containing layer 7, and/or electrode 10. One exemplary write potential V2 is preferably a pulse from about 8 to about a 150 ns that is less than the potential of V1, e.g., less than 700 mV. A write potential V2 of about 400 mV has been found to be adequate with the memory element 101. The amplitude of the write potential will vary depending on the pulse width.
  • As a result, during a write operation the Ag ions take the path of least resistance into glass layer 4. In this case, the path of least resistance is provided by the conducting channel 11. The Ag ions will migrate toward the negative potential, here, electrode 2, when applied across the memory element 101. Accordingly, the movement of the Ag ions into the conducting channel 11 renders channel 11 more conductive.
  • When an erase potential V4, having an inverse polarity to that of the write potential V2 is applied to the memory element 101, the Ag ions will leave conductive channel 11 and move back into the first metal-containing layer 6. The memory element 101 reverts back to the ‘medium’ state resistance, as illustrated in FIG. 2E. An exemplary erase potential V4 is a pulse from about 8 to about 150 ns that is from about negative 400 mV (−400 mV) to about negative 700 mV (−700 mV) in amplitude. As with the write potential V2, the amplitude of the erase potential V4 will depend on the pulse width.
  • It should be appreciated that application of an erase potential V4 from voltage source 20 across the structure 101, serves only to drive the free Ag ions (unbound Ag ions) out of the conducting channel 11 back to their original source The conducting channel 11 remains in place even after an erase potential V4 is applied across the memory element 101, so long as the erase potential V4 does not greatly exceed the magnitude of the conditioning potential V1 in reverse polarity.
  • It has been further discovered that applying another positive potential V3, to an already ‘ON’ memory element 101 structure, i.e, one in a low resistance state, illustrated in FIG. 2D, results in an even lower resistance ‘ON’ state caused by the presence of additional Ag/Ag+ ion clusters 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2F. In essence, applying multiple ‘write’ pulses to memory element 101 can reduce the resistance state of memory element 101 to a much lower resistance. In some instances, the resistance of memory element 101 can be well below 10 kΩ.
  • In an exemplary embodiment of memory element 101, a 10 ns, 1.7V conditioning pulse V, was applied to cause the memory element 101, initially at 1 GΩ, to move into a ‘medium’ state of resistance of approximately 1 MΩ. A 10 ns, 700 mV write pulse V2 was applied to the memory element 101 to move it to a low resistance state of approximately 10 kΩ. A 10 ns, negative 550 mV erase pulse V4 was applied to return the memory element 101 to a medium resistance state. It was also observed that applying a 10 ns, 700 mV write pulse V3 repeatedly to the memory element 101 yielded lower and lower resistance states below 10 kΩ. Thus, the memory element 101 could be used to set different detectable logic states in accordance with the number of applied write pulses V3.
  • For instance, a ‘read’ operation in which a read potential V5, which is less than write potential V2, can applied to the memory element 101. Current flow through the memory element 101 can be sensed by a current sensing amplifier, which can provide an output representing the resistance state of the memory element 101 (not pictured).
  • A read voltage V5, which is below the threshold for writing the memory element 101, e.g., V1, is sufficient. Where a 10 ns, 700 mV write pulse V2 is used, the read voltage V5 can then be in the range from any pulse less than about 500 ns and less than or equal to about 200 mV. The read voltage V5 does not disturb other memory elements in a memory element array, which are in the pre-conditioned medium resistance ‘OFF’ state, since the read voltage V5 is lower than the write voltage V2. The read voltage Vs may be applied in various manners, such as a sweep voltage, pulse voltage, or step voltage, among other methods.
  • FIG. 3A-3F depicts a third exemplary embodiment of a resistance variable memory device 102 constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • A first electrode 2 is formed over a substrate 1. The first electrode 2 may comprise any of the conductive materials listed above as in the FIGS. 1A and 2A embodiments.
  • Next, a first glass layer 4 is formed over the first electrode 2. The first glass layer 4 is electrically coupled to electrode 2. The first glass layer 4 can comprise the same materials as in prior embodiments and have the same stoichiometric ranges as the glass layer 4 in FIG. 2A. For purposes of a simplified description, the first glass layer 4 is described further below as a Ge40Se60 chalcogenide glass layer 4. Glass layer 4 is formed to a thickness of from about 150 Å to about 500 Å thick, and preferably is about 150 Å thick.
  • The formation of the chalcogenide glass layer 4, having a stoichiometric composition, such as Ge40Se60, can be accomplished by any of the methods described above for forming the glass layer 4 of FIG. 2A. The first glass layer 4 may comprise one or more layers of a glass material.
  • Still referring to FIG. 3A, a first metal-containing layer 6, preferably silver-selenide, is formed over the first chalcogenide glass layer 4. The formation of the first metal-containing layer 6, such as silver-selenide, can be accomplished by any of the methods described above for forming the metal-containing layer 6 of FIG. 2A. The first metal-containing layer 6 may comprise one or more layers of a metal-containing material. The first metal-containing layer 6 is formed to a thickness of from about 300 Å to about 1200 Å thick, and preferably is about 470 Å thick.
  • Next, a second glass layer 8 is formed over the first metal-containing layer 6. The second glass layer 8 allows deposition of silver above a silver-selenide layer 6, for instance. The second glass layer 8 can be utilized as a diffusion control layer to prevent metal ions from migrating from electrode 10 into the memory element 102. The second glass layer 8 is formed to a thickness of from about 100 Å to about 300 Å thick, and preferably is about 150 Å thick.
  • The formation and composition of the second glass layer 8 is the same as described above for the formation and composition of the glass layer 4 of FIG. 3A. For purposes of a simplified description, the second glass layer 8 is described as a chalcogenide glass layer having a stoichiometry similar to the first glass layer 4 i.e., Ge40Se60. Further, one or more layers of glass material can be provided if desired for glass layer 8. The second glass layer 8 may be formed to a thickness of from about 100 Å to about 300 Å thick, and preferably is about 150 Å thick.
  • Although the first glass layer 4 and the second glass layer 8 are described above as having a stoichiometry and material composition similar to each other i.e., Ge40Se60, it should be appreciated that the first glass layer 4 and the second glass layer 8 can possess different stoichiometries from each other, different thicknesses, and they can even be formed of different glasses.
  • As in the second embodiment, excess metal ions need to be provided in this embodiment as well, either by excess metal ions in the first metal-containing layer 6, by an optional second metal-containing layer 7 provided above glass layer 8, or by upper electrode 10. For instance, the first metal-containing layer 6 can be formed containing excess metal ions. Alternatively, if the excess metal ions are not part of the first metal-containing layer 6, i.e., added specifically or deposited with an excess metal, the metal ions need to be added as a separate second metal-containing layer 7 and/or an upper electrode 10. The second metal-containing layer 7 should have a sufficient thickness that gives the desired excess amount of metal ions to the glass layer 4.
  • The second metal-containing layer 7 can comprise any metal ions so long as it provides metal ions to enable formation of a conducting channel in the glass layer 4 after application of a conditioning pulse. For instance, the second metal-containing layer 7 may comprise silver or copper. In an exemplary embodiment, the second metal-containing layer 7 is present and serves as a source and receptacle for additional metal ions.
  • A second electrode 10 is formed over the second glass layer 8 or over the second metal containing layer 7, if provided, as shown in FIG. 3A, to complete the formation of the memory element 102. The second electrode 10 may comprise any of the conductive materials listed above for the electrode 10 described in reference to FIGS. 1A and 2A. FIG. 3A illustrates that the second electrode 10 is in contact with an upper surface of the second metal-containing layer 7; however, intervening layers may be provided between layers 7 and 10, if desired. As described above, the second metal-containing layer 7 can provide additional Ag ions. In addition, the second electrode 10 can comprise Ag which can also provide additional Ag ions if the second metal-containing layer 7 is omitted from structure 102.
  • It should be appreciated that the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 can comprise the same or different materials. However, for example, if the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 comprise the same material, such as tungsten or any other non-metal ion comprising metal, one side of the memory element 102, preferably the side with the second electrode 10, must have an excess of metal ions, Ag in the preferred embodiment, either in layer 6 or preferably as the second metal-containing layer 7.
  • As a result, although intervening barrier layers are not illustrated in the FIG. 3A embodiment, intervening barrier layers can be present to prevent metal ion migration from electrode 2 into glass layer 4, or from electrode 10 into glass layer 4, when the excess metal ions are provided by layers 6 and/or 7. Barrier layers, if provided, should not contain mobile metal ions.
  • A method of operating and manipulating the resistance state of the memory element 102 depicted in FIG. 3A is described below in reference to FIGS. 3B-3F. For exemplary purposes, the methods of operation described in FIGS. 3B-3F is for a memory element 102 comprising a first Ge40Se60 glass layer 4 that is 150 Å thick, an Ag2Se layer 470 Å thick, a second Ge40Se60 glass layer 8 that is 150 Å thick and a silver layer 200 Å thick.
  • Reference is now made to FIG. 3B which is a cross-sectional view of the glass layer 4 of memory element 102 of FIG. 3A prior to application of a conditioning pulse V1. As FIG. 3B illustrates, the glass layer 4, formed of Ge40Se60, has no long range order. FIG. 3B further illustrates the presence of germanium-germanium (Ge—Ge) bonds 17 throughout the glass layer 4. The presence of another species which can provide a more thermodynamically favorable energy will break the Ge—Ge bonds 17 and bond with the previously bonded Ge. Accordingly, the Ge—Ge bond 17 is not strong and can easily be broken.
  • Referring to FIG. 3C, when a conditioning pulse V1 is applied across memory element 102, excess Ag ions from the first and/or second metal-containing layers 6, 7 and/or from electrode 10 (if ions are available), enter into glass layer 4 and break some of the Ge—Ge bonds 17. This forms conducting channel 11 via incorporation of Ag2Se from the first metal-containing layer 6 and is illustrated in FIG. 3C. The conditioning pulse's V1 parameters are dependent upon composition and thickness of the layers comprising memory element 102. Moreover, the methods of operating memory element 101 depicted in FIGS. 2C-2F, is similar to the methods of operating memory element 102 for write, read and erase operations. Thus, as described above with reference to FIGS. 2C-2F, the methods of operating memory element 102 can proceed in a similar manner as illustrated in FIGS. 3C-3F.
  • FIG. 4A depicts a fourth exemplary embodiment of a resistance variable memory device 103 constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • A first electrode 2 is formed over a substrate 1. The first electrode 2 may comprise any of the conductive materials listed above for the electrode 2 described in the FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3A embodiments. Next, a first glass layer 4 is formed over the first electrode 2. The first glass layer 4 is electrically coupled to electrode 2. The first glass layer 4 can comprise the same material as provided for the glass layer 4 in FIGS. 2A and 3A.
  • For purposes of a simplified description, the first glass layer 4 is described further below as a Ge40Se60 chalcogenide glass layer 4. The formation of the first chalcogenide glass layer 4 can be accomplished by any of the methods described above for forming the glass layer 4 of FIGS. 2A and 3A. The first glass layer 4 may comprise one or more layers of a glass material. The first glass layer 4 is formed to a thickness of from about 150 Å to about 500 Å thick, and preferably is about 150 Å thick.
  • Still referring to FIG. 4A, a first metal-containing layer 6, preferably silver-selenide, is formed over the first chalcogenide glass layer 4. The formation of the first metal-containing layer 6 can be accomplished by any of the methods described above for forming the metal-containing layer 6 of FIGS. 2A and 3A. The first metal-containing layer 6 may comprise one or more layers of a metal-containing material. The first metal-containing layer 6 is formed to a thickness of from about 300 Å to about 1200 Å thick, and preferably is about 470 Å thick.
  • Next, a second glass layer 8 is formed over the first metal-containing layer 6. The second glass layer 8 may be used as a diffusion control layer to control the migration of metal ions into the glass layer 4. The formation and composition of the second glass layer 8 is the same as described above for the formation and composition of the glass layer 4 of FIGS. 2A and 3A. For purposes of a simplified description, the second glass layer 8 is described as a chalcogenide glass layer having a stoichiometry similar to the first glass layer 4 e.g., Ge40Se60. Further, one or more layers of glass material can be provided if desired.
  • Although the first glass layer 4 and the second glass layer 8 are described above as having a stoichiometry and material composition similar to each other, e.g., Ge40Se60, it should be appreciated that the first glass layer 4 and the second glass layer 8 can possess different stoichiometries from each other, be different thicknesses, and they can even be different glasses. The second glass layer 8 may be formed to a thickness of from about 100 Å to about 300 Å thick and preferably is about 150 Å thick.
  • Next, a second metal-containing layer 9, preferably silver, is formed over the second glass layer 8. The formation of the second metal-containing layer 9 can be accomplished by any of the methods described above for forming the metal-containing layer 6 of FIGS. 2A and 3A. The second metal-containing layer 9 may comprise one or more layers of a metal-containing material. The second metal-containing layer 9 is formed to a thickness of from about 100 Å to about 500 Å thick, and preferably is about 200 Å thick.
  • It should be appreciated that excess metal ions need to be provided either by the first metal-containing layer 6 or second metal-containing layer 9, and/or second electrode 10. For instance, the first metal-containing layer 6 can be formed containing excess metal ions. Alternatively, if the excess metal ions are not part of the first metal-containing layer 6 i.e., added specifically or deposited with an excess metal, the additional metal ions can be provided from the second metal-containing layer 9 and/or second electrode 10. The second metal-containing layer 9 should have a sufficient thickness that gives the desired excess amount of metal ions to the first metal-containing layer 6. In an alternate embodiment, a third metal-containing layer 7 can be provided, if desired. Preferably, the third metal-containing layer comprises silver.
  • The second metal-containing layer 9 can comprise any metal ions so long as it provides metal ions to the conducting channel 11 formed in the chalcogenide glass layer 4 after application of a conditioning voltage across the electrodes 2 and 10.
  • In an exemplary embodiment, the presence of the third metal-containing layer 7 serves as the source and receptacle for metal ions. For example, during a ‘write’ process, the third metal-containing layer 7 is the source of the metal ions that move into the conducting channel 11. During an ‘erase’ process, the third metal-containing layer 7 is the receptacle of the metal ions that move out of the conducting channel 11.
  • A second electrode 10 is next formed over the third metal-containing layer 7, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, to complete the formation of the memory device 103. The second electrode 10 may comprise any of the conductive materials listed above for the electrode 10 as described above in the FIGS. 2A and 3A embodiments. FIG. 4A illustrates that the second electrode 10 is in contact with an upper surface of the third metal-containing layer 7; however, intervening layers may be provided between layers 7 and 10, if desired. As described above, the third metal-containing layer 7 can provide additional Ag ions. In addition, the second electrode 10 can comprise Ag which can also provide additional Ag ions if the third metal-containing layer 7 is omitted from memory element 103.
  • In another exemplary embodiment, the third metal containing layer 7 is omitted and the second metal-containing layer 9, can provide and receive metal ions, e.g., Ag ions, and can be the source and receptacle of metal ions during a write and erase operation. It is also possible to use an electrode 10, which donates or receives metal ions with the third metal-containing layer 7 or second metal-containing layer 9, which also donates or receives metal ions in combination.
  • It should be appreciated that the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 can comprise the same or different materials. However, for example, if the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 10 comprise the same material such as tungsten or any other non-metal ion comprising metal, one side of the memory element 103, preferably the side with the second electrode 10, must have an excess of metal ions, e.g., Ag.
  • As described above, the third metal-containing layer 7 can provide Ag ions or the second metal-containing layer 9 can. In addition, the second electrode 10 can comprise Ag, if used, which can also provide Ag ions if the third metal-containing layer 7 is omitted from memory element 103, if desirable. Because the metal ions, e.g., Ag ions which enter and leave glass 4 is coming from the third metal-containing layer 7, if provided, or layer 10, or layer 9, if layer 7 is not provided, it is preferable that electrode 2 not donate any metal ions
  • As a result, although intervening barrier layers are not illustrated in the FIG. 4A embodiment, intervening barrier layers can be present to prevent metal ion migration from electrode 2 into glass layer 4, or from electrode 10 into glass layer 4. Barrier layers, if provided, should not contain mobile metal ions.
  • A method of operating and manipulating the resistance state of the memory element depicted in FIG. 4A is described below in reference to FIGS. 4B-4F. For exemplary purposes, the methods of operation described in FIGS. 4B-4F is for a memory element 103 comprising a first Ge40Se60 glass layer 4 that is 150 Å thick, a first Ag2Se layer 470 Å thick, a second Ge40Se60 glass layer 8 that is 150 Å, a second Ag2Se layer 200 Å thick, and a silver layer 300 Å thick.
  • Reference is now made to FIG. 4B which is a cross-sectional view of the memory element 103 of FIG. 4A prior to application of a conditioning pulse. As FIG. 4B illustrates, the Ge40Se60 glass layer 4 has no long range order. FIG. 4B further illustrates the presence of germanium-germanium (Ge—Ge) bonds 17 throughout the glass layer 4. The presence of another species which can provide a more thermodynamically favorable energy than the Ge—Ge bond energy will break the Ge—Ge bonds 17 and bond with the previously bonded Ge. Accordingly, the Ge—Ge bonds 17 are not strong and can easily be broken.
  • Referring now to FIG. 4C, a conditioning pulse V, is applied to memory element 103. Memory element 103 is conditioned in a similar manner as described above with regard to memory elements 101 and 102. Conditioning the memory element 103, is done only once and after the memory element 103 is conditioned, the conditioned memory element 103 will operate through normal write and erase operations.
  • Accordingly, applying a conditioning pulse from the voltage source 20 forms a conducting channel 11 via incorporation of Ag2Se from the metal-containing layer 6 into the glass backbone which is illustrated in FIG. 4C. The Ag2Se becomes polarized and aligned within the glass 4 backbone to form conductive channel 11. The conditioning pulse's parameters are dependent upon the thickness of the layers comprising memory element 103. Moreover, similar to the methods of operating memory elements 101 and 102 depicted in FIGS. 2C-2F and 3C-3F, the method of operating memory element 103 depicted in FIGS. 4C-4F, proceeds in an analogous manner as described above with reference to FIGS. 2C-2F and 3C-3F.
  • It should be further appreciated that with regard to memory elements 101, 102 and 103, the presence of an additional metal-containing layer 7, which provides the Ag ions, can enhance the switching characteristics of the memory elements 101, 102 and 103. For instance, since there are more available Ag ions to move in and out of the preformed conducting channels 11, the memory elements 101, 102 and 103 can operate with greater speed.
  • Although the embodiments described above in FIGS. 1A-4F, refer to the formation of only one resistance variable memory element 100, 101, 102 and 103, it must be understood that the invention contemplates the formation of any number of such memory elements. A plurality of resistance variable memory elements can be fabricated in a memory array and operated with memory access circuits. Thus, the resistance variable memory elements 100, 101, 102 and 103 can be utilized in many electronic devices. Specifically, the methods and operation of the memory elements disclosed herein, can be used in any device whenever it is desired to have a resistance variable memory element with faster switching times.
  • The resistance variable memory elements 100, 101, 102 and 103 of the invention may be used in memory applications as well as in creating various CMOS type circuits.
  • The invention is not limited to the details of the illustrated embodiments. Accordingly, the above description and drawings are only to be considered illustrative of exemplary embodiments which achieve the features and advantages of the invention. Modifications and substitutions to specific methods, process conditions, and structures can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description and drawings, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (43)

1. A memory element comprising:
at least one resistance variable material layer;
at least one metal-containing layer; and
at least one conducting channel formed within said resistance variable material layer, said conducting channel configured to receive and expel metal ions in response to write, erase, and read voltages applied to said memory element.
2. The memory element of claim 1, wherein said resistance variable material layer is a chalcogenide glass layer.
3. The memory element of claim 2, wherein said chalcogenide glass layer has a stoichiometry of GexSe100−x.
4. The memory element of claim 3, wherein said chalcogenide glass layer has a stoichiometry from about Ge18Se82 to Ge25Se75.
5. The memory element of claim 4, wherein said chalcogenide glass layer is a doped chalcogenide glass layer.
6. The memory element of claim 5, wherein said doped chalcogenide glass layer is doped with metal ions.
7. The memory element of claim 6, wherein said metal ions are silver ions.
8. The memory element of claim 7, wherein said doped chalcogenide glass layer is from about 150 Å to about 600 Å thick.
9. The memory element of claim 8, wherein said doped chalcogenide glass layer has metal-chalcogen regions which are aligned to form said conducting channel.
10. The memory element of claim 9, wherein said metal-chalcogen regions are Ag2Se regions within a GeSe glass backbone.
11. The memory element of claim 10, wherein said Ag2Se regions become aligned upon application of a conditioning voltage to the memory element.
12. The memory element of claim 11, wherein said conditioning voltage is greater than subsequent write, read, and erase voltages.
13. The memory element of claim 12, wherein the Ag2Se regions form at least one conducting channel within the doped chalcogenide glass layer.
14. The memory element of claim 11, wherein prior to application of said conditioning voltage, said memory element has a first resistance state and after application of said conditioning voltage to said memory element, said memory element has a second resistance state lower than said first resistance state.
15. The memory element of claim 14, wherein said write, erase, and read voltages have an absolute magnitude lower than that of said conditioning voltage.
16. The memory element of claim 15, wherein said write voltage produces a third resistance state lower than the second resistance state.
17. The memory element of claim 16, wherein a second write voltage produces a fourth resistance state lower than said third resistance state.
18. The memory element of claim 3, wherein said chalcogenide glass layer has a stoichiometry from about Ge20Se80 to Ge43Se57.
19. The memory element of claim 18, wherein said chalcogenide glass layer has a stoichiometry of Ge40Se60.
20. The memory element of claim 18, wherein said chalcogenide glass layer is from about 150 Å to about 500 Å thick.
21. The memory element of claim 20, wherein the at least one metal-containing layer is formed over said chalcogenide glass layer.
22. The memory element of claim 21, wherein said at least one metal-containing layer is from about 300 Å to about 1200 Å thick.
23. The memory element of claim 1, wherein said at least one metal-containing layer is an Ag2Se layer.
24. The memory element of claim 1, wherein said resistance variable material has a germanium-selenide glass backbone.
25. The memory element of claim 24, wherein when a conditioning pulse is applied to the memory element, Ag2Se is driven into said germanium-selenide glass backbone.
26. The memory element of claim 25, wherein said conditioning pulse has a pulse duration of from about 10 to about 500 ns and greater than about 700 mV.
27. The memory element of claim 26, wherein the Ag2Se is bonded to the germanium-selenide glass backbone forming at least one conducting channel within the chalcogenide glass layer.
28. The memory element of claim 27, further comprising a second metal-containing layer formed over the first metal-containing layer.
29. The memory element of claim 28, wherein said second metal-containing layer comprises silver ions.
30. The memory element of claim 29, wherein the silver ions are driven in and out of the at least one conducting channel by applying different voltages.
31. A memory element comprising:
at least one doped chalcogenide glass layer, said doped chalcogenide glass layer comprising polarized metal-chalcogen regions within a glass backbone, wherein said polarized metal-chalcogen regions form at least one conducting channel for receiving and expelling metal ions within said doped chalcogenide glass layer in response to write, erase, and read voltages applied to said memory element, wherein a conditioning voltage is applied that changes said memory element from a first resistance state to a second resistance state, said second resistance state being lower than said first resistance state; and
first and second electrodes electrically coupled to said doped chalcogenide glass layer.
32-39. (canceled)
40. A memory element comprising:
at least one chalcogenide glass layer, said chalcogenide glass layer further comprising bonded regions of metal and glass, wherein said bonded regions of metal and glass form at least one conducting channel within said chalcogenide glass layer;
at least one metal-containing layer formed over said chalcogenide glass layer; and
first and second electrodes electrically coupled to said chalcogenide glass layer.
41-119. (canceled)
120. A method of operating a memory element comprising a conducting at least one conducting channel formed within a chalcogenide glass material, said method comprising:
applying a conditioning voltage to physically align metal-chalcogen regions which form said at least one conducting channel within a chalcogenide glass material, said first voltage moving the memory element from a first to a second resistance state, said first resistance state exhibiting a higher resistance than said second resistance state; and
applying a first write voltage to move metal ions into said conducting channel and placing the memory element in a third resistance state, said third resistance state being lower than said second resistance state.
121. The method of claim 120, further comprising applying a second write voltage to move the memory element into a fourth resistance state, said fourth resistance state being equal to or lower than said third resistance state.
122. The method of claim 121, further comprising applying an erase voltage to move the memory element into a fifth resistance state, said fifth resistance state being higher than said second and third resistance state.
123-126. (canceled)
127. The method of claim 120, wherein the write voltage is less than the conditioning voltage in absolute amplitude.
128. The method of claim 121, wherein the second write voltage is less than or equal to the first write voltage in absolute amplitude.
129. The method of claim 122, wherein the erase voltage is applied with inverse polarity compared to the write voltage.
130. A method of operating a memory element comprising a chalcogenide glass material with at least one conducting channel formed from bonded metal and glass regions, said method comprising:
applying a conditioning voltage to condition the memory element, said first voltage moving the memory element from a first resistance state into a second resistance state, wherein said second resistance state is less than said first resistance state; and
applying a write voltage to move the memory element into a third resistance state, said third resistance state being less than said second resistance state.
131-143. (canceled)
US11/149,225 2004-01-28 2005-06-10 Resistance variable memory elements based on polarized silver-selenide network growth Abandoned US20050286294A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/149,225 US20050286294A1 (en) 2004-01-28 2005-06-10 Resistance variable memory elements based on polarized silver-selenide network growth

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/765,393 US7153721B2 (en) 2004-01-28 2004-01-28 Resistance variable memory elements based on polarized silver-selenide network growth
US11/149,225 US20050286294A1 (en) 2004-01-28 2005-06-10 Resistance variable memory elements based on polarized silver-selenide network growth

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/765,393 Division US7153721B2 (en) 2004-01-28 2004-01-28 Resistance variable memory elements based on polarized silver-selenide network growth

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20050286294A1 true US20050286294A1 (en) 2005-12-29

Family

ID=34795469

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/765,393 Expired - Fee Related US7153721B2 (en) 2004-01-28 2004-01-28 Resistance variable memory elements based on polarized silver-selenide network growth
US11/149,225 Abandoned US20050286294A1 (en) 2004-01-28 2005-06-10 Resistance variable memory elements based on polarized silver-selenide network growth

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/765,393 Expired - Fee Related US7153721B2 (en) 2004-01-28 2004-01-28 Resistance variable memory elements based on polarized silver-selenide network growth

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (2) US7153721B2 (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080073751A1 (en) * 2006-09-21 2008-03-27 Rainer Bruchhaus Memory cell and method of manufacturing thereof
US20080078983A1 (en) * 2006-09-28 2008-04-03 Wolfgang Raberg Layer structures comprising chalcogenide materials
US20100208508A1 (en) * 2009-02-16 2010-08-19 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Multi-level nonvolatile memory devices using variable resistive elements
US7924608B2 (en) 2006-10-19 2011-04-12 Boise State University Forced ion migration for chalcogenide phase change memory device
US8238146B2 (en) 2008-08-01 2012-08-07 Boise State University Variable integrated analog resistor
US8284590B2 (en) 2010-05-06 2012-10-09 Boise State University Integratable programmable capacitive device
US8467236B2 (en) 2008-08-01 2013-06-18 Boise State University Continuously variable resistor
DE102008016522B4 (en) * 2007-01-04 2015-02-12 International Business Machines Corporation Phase change memory cell with phase change memory material with limited resistance, method for producing a deratigen memory cell and integrated circuit with corresponding memory cell

Families Citing this family (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050041467A1 (en) * 2003-06-18 2005-02-24 Macronix International Co., Ltd. Chalcogenide memory
FR2880177B1 (en) * 2004-12-23 2007-05-18 Commissariat Energie Atomique MEMORY PMC HAVING IMPROVED RETENTION TIME AND WRITING SPEED
US20070045606A1 (en) * 2005-08-30 2007-03-01 Michele Magistretti Shaping a phase change layer in a phase change memory cell
US7741638B2 (en) * 2005-11-23 2010-06-22 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Control layer for a nanoscale electronic switching device
FR2895531B1 (en) * 2005-12-23 2008-05-09 Commissariat Energie Atomique IMPROVED METHOD FOR MAKING MEMORY CELLS OF THE PMC TYPE
KR100731117B1 (en) 2005-12-28 2007-06-22 동부일렉트로닉스 주식회사 Phase change ram and method for operating the same
US20070195611A1 (en) * 2006-02-23 2007-08-23 Ralf Symanczyk Programmable structure, a memory, a display and a method for reading data from a memory cell
FR2922368A1 (en) * 2007-10-16 2009-04-17 Commissariat Energie Atomique METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A CBRAM MEMORY HAVING IMPROVED RELIABILITY
KR101176422B1 (en) 2009-06-23 2012-08-30 광주과학기술원 Nonvolatile resistance random access memory device
US20110079709A1 (en) * 2009-10-07 2011-04-07 Campbell Kristy A Wide band sensor
US8415652B2 (en) 2010-06-21 2013-04-09 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Memristors with a switching layer comprising a composite of multiple phases
US8605495B2 (en) 2011-05-09 2013-12-10 Macronix International Co., Ltd. Isolation device free memory
US20140077149A1 (en) * 2012-09-14 2014-03-20 Industrial Technology Research Institute Resistance memory cell, resistance memory array and method of forming the same
CN105283920A (en) * 2013-05-29 2016-01-27 惠普发展公司,有限责任合伙企业 Writable device based on alternating current
US9490011B2 (en) 2013-07-10 2016-11-08 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development Lp Storage device write pulse control
JP2015018591A (en) 2013-07-12 2015-01-29 株式会社東芝 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device

Citations (88)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3271591A (en) * 1963-09-20 1966-09-06 Energy Conversion Devices Inc Symmetrical current controlling device
US3961314A (en) * 1974-03-05 1976-06-01 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Structure and method for producing an image
US3966317A (en) * 1974-04-08 1976-06-29 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Dry process production of archival microform records from hard copy
US3983542A (en) * 1970-08-13 1976-09-28 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method and apparatus for recording information
US4267261A (en) * 1971-07-15 1981-05-12 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method for full format imaging
US4597162A (en) * 1983-01-18 1986-07-01 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method for making, parallel preprogramming or field programming of electronic matrix arrays
US4608296A (en) * 1983-12-06 1986-08-26 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Superconducting films and devices exhibiting AC to DC conversion
US4637895A (en) * 1985-04-01 1987-01-20 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Gas mixtures for the vapor deposition of semiconductor material
US4646266A (en) * 1984-09-28 1987-02-24 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Programmable semiconductor structures and methods for using the same
US4664939A (en) * 1985-04-01 1987-05-12 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Vertical semiconductor processor
US4668968A (en) * 1984-05-14 1987-05-26 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Integrated circuit compatible thin film field effect transistor and method of making same
US4670763A (en) * 1984-05-14 1987-06-02 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film field effect transistor
US4673957A (en) * 1984-05-14 1987-06-16 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Integrated circuit compatible thin film field effect transistor and method of making same
US4678679A (en) * 1984-06-25 1987-07-07 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Continuous deposition of activated process gases
US4728406A (en) * 1986-08-18 1988-03-01 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method for plasma - coating a semiconductor body
US4737379A (en) * 1982-09-24 1988-04-12 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Plasma deposited coatings, and low temperature plasma method of making same
US4766471A (en) * 1986-01-23 1988-08-23 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film electro-optical devices
US4769338A (en) * 1984-05-14 1988-09-06 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film field effect transistor and method of making same
US4775425A (en) * 1987-07-27 1988-10-04 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. P and n-type microcrystalline semiconductor alloy material including band gap widening elements, devices utilizing same
US4788594A (en) * 1986-10-15 1988-11-29 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Solid state electronic camera including thin film matrix of photosensors
US4809044A (en) * 1986-08-22 1989-02-28 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film overvoltage protection devices
US4818717A (en) * 1986-06-27 1989-04-04 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method for making electronic matrix arrays
US4843443A (en) * 1984-05-14 1989-06-27 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film field effect transistor and method of making same
US4845533A (en) * 1986-08-22 1989-07-04 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film electrical devices with amorphous carbon electrodes and method of making same
US4853785A (en) * 1986-10-15 1989-08-01 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electronic camera including electronic signal storage cartridge
US4891330A (en) * 1987-07-27 1990-01-02 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method of fabricating n-type and p-type microcrystalline semiconductor alloy material including band gap widening elements
US5128099A (en) * 1991-02-15 1992-07-07 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Congruent state changeable optical memory material and device
US5159661A (en) * 1990-10-05 1992-10-27 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Vertically interconnected parallel distributed processor
US5166758A (en) * 1991-01-18 1992-11-24 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable phase change memory
US5177567A (en) * 1991-07-19 1993-01-05 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin-film structure for chalcogenide electrical switching devices and process therefor
US5296716A (en) * 1991-01-18 1994-03-22 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable, directly overwritable, multibit single cell memory elements and arrays fabricated therefrom
US5335219A (en) * 1991-01-18 1994-08-02 Ovshinsky Stanford R Homogeneous composition of microcrystalline semiconductor material, semiconductor devices and directly overwritable memory elements fabricated therefrom, and arrays fabricated from the memory elements
US5341328A (en) * 1991-01-18 1994-08-23 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable memory elements having reduced switching current requirements and increased write/erase cycle life
US5359205A (en) * 1991-11-07 1994-10-25 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable memory elements characterized by reduced current and improved thermal stability
US5406509A (en) * 1991-01-18 1995-04-11 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable, directly overwritable, multibit single cell memory elements and arrays fabricated therefrom
US5414271A (en) * 1991-01-18 1995-05-09 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable memory elements having improved set resistance stability
US5534712A (en) * 1991-01-18 1996-07-09 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable memory elements characterized by reduced current and improved thermal stability
US5534711A (en) * 1991-01-18 1996-07-09 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable, directly overwritable, multibit single cell memory elements and arrays fabricated therefrom
US5536947A (en) * 1991-01-18 1996-07-16 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable, directly overwritable, multibit single cell memory element and arrays fabricated therefrom
US5543737A (en) * 1995-02-10 1996-08-06 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Logical operation circuit employing two-terminal chalcogenide switches
US5591501A (en) * 1995-12-20 1997-01-07 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Optical recording medium having a plurality of discrete phase change data recording points
US5596522A (en) * 1991-01-18 1997-01-21 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Homogeneous compositions of microcrystalline semiconductor material, semiconductor devices and directly overwritable memory elements fabricated therefrom, and arrays fabricated from the memory elements
US5687112A (en) * 1996-04-19 1997-11-11 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Multibit single cell memory element having tapered contact
US5714768A (en) * 1995-10-24 1998-02-03 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Second-layer phase change memory array on top of a logic device
US5825046A (en) * 1996-10-28 1998-10-20 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Composite memory material comprising a mixture of phase-change memory material and dielectric material
US5893732A (en) * 1996-10-25 1999-04-13 Micron Technology, Inc. Method of fabricating intermediate SRAM array product and conditioning memory elements thereof
US5912839A (en) * 1998-06-23 1999-06-15 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Universal memory element and method of programming same
US5933365A (en) * 1997-06-19 1999-08-03 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Memory element with energy control mechanism
US6011757A (en) * 1998-01-27 2000-01-04 Ovshinsky; Stanford R. Optical recording media having increased erasability
US6087674A (en) * 1996-10-28 2000-07-11 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Memory element with memory material comprising phase-change material and dielectric material
US6141241A (en) * 1998-06-23 2000-10-31 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Universal memory element with systems employing same and apparatus and method for reading, writing and programming same
US6339544B1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2002-01-15 Intel Corporation Method to enhance performance of thermal resistor device
US6404665B1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2002-06-11 Intel Corporation Compositionally modified resistive electrode
US6429064B1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2002-08-06 Intel Corporation Reduced contact area of sidewall conductor
US6437383B1 (en) * 2000-12-21 2002-08-20 Intel Corporation Dual trench isolation for a phase-change memory cell and method of making same
US6462984B1 (en) * 2001-06-29 2002-10-08 Intel Corporation Biasing scheme of floating unselected wordlines and bitlines of a diode-based memory array
US6480438B1 (en) * 2001-06-12 2002-11-12 Ovonyx, Inc. Providing equal cell programming conditions across a large and high density array of phase-change memory cells
US20020168820A1 (en) * 2000-09-08 2002-11-14 Kozicki Michael N. Microelectronic programmable device and methods of forming and programming the same
US6487113B1 (en) * 2001-06-29 2002-11-26 Ovonyx, Inc. Programming a phase-change memory with slow quench time
US6507061B1 (en) * 2001-08-31 2003-01-14 Intel Corporation Multiple layer phase-change memory
US6511867B2 (en) * 2001-06-30 2003-01-28 Ovonyx, Inc. Utilizing atomic layer deposition for programmable device
US6511862B2 (en) * 2001-06-30 2003-01-28 Ovonyx, Inc. Modified contact for programmable devices
US6512241B1 (en) * 2001-12-31 2003-01-28 Intel Corporation Phase change material memory device
US6514805B2 (en) * 2001-06-30 2003-02-04 Intel Corporation Trench sidewall profile for device isolation
US6531373B2 (en) * 2000-12-27 2003-03-11 Ovonyx, Inc. Method of forming a phase-change memory cell using silicon on insulator low electrode in charcogenide elements
US20030048744A1 (en) * 2001-09-01 2003-03-13 Ovshinsky Stanford R. Increased data storage in optical data storage and retrieval systems using blue lasers and/or plasmon lenses
US6534781B2 (en) * 2000-12-26 2003-03-18 Ovonyx, Inc. Phase-change memory bipolar array utilizing a single shallow trench isolation for creating an individual active area region for two memory array elements and one bipolar base contact
US6545287B2 (en) * 2001-09-07 2003-04-08 Intel Corporation Using selective deposition to form phase-change memory cells
US6545907B1 (en) * 2001-10-30 2003-04-08 Ovonyx, Inc. Technique and apparatus for performing write operations to a phase change material memory device
US6555860B2 (en) * 2000-09-29 2003-04-29 Intel Corporation Compositionally modified resistive electrode
US6563164B2 (en) * 2000-09-29 2003-05-13 Ovonyx, Inc. Compositionally modified resistive electrode
US6567293B1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2003-05-20 Ovonyx, Inc. Single level metal memory cell using chalcogenide cladding
US6566700B2 (en) * 2001-10-11 2003-05-20 Ovonyx, Inc. Carbon-containing interfacial layer for phase-change memory
US6570784B2 (en) * 2001-06-29 2003-05-27 Ovonyx, Inc. Programming a phase-change material memory
US6569705B2 (en) * 2000-12-21 2003-05-27 Intel Corporation Metal structure for a phase-change memory device
US6576921B2 (en) * 2001-11-08 2003-06-10 Intel Corporation Isolating phase change material memory cells
US6586761B2 (en) * 2001-09-07 2003-07-01 Intel Corporation Phase change material memory device
US6589714B2 (en) * 2001-06-26 2003-07-08 Ovonyx, Inc. Method for making programmable resistance memory element using silylated photoresist
US6590807B2 (en) * 2001-08-02 2003-07-08 Intel Corporation Method for reading a structural phase-change memory
US6605527B2 (en) * 2001-06-30 2003-08-12 Intel Corporation Reduced area intersection between electrode and programming element
US6613604B2 (en) * 2001-08-02 2003-09-02 Ovonyx, Inc. Method for making small pore for use in programmable resistance memory element
US6625054B2 (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-09-23 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus to program a phase change memory
US6673700B2 (en) * 2001-06-30 2004-01-06 Ovonyx, Inc. Reduced area intersection between electrode and programming element
US6687427B2 (en) * 2000-12-29 2004-02-03 Intel Corporation Optic switch
US6690026B2 (en) * 2001-09-28 2004-02-10 Intel Corporation Method of fabricating a three-dimensional array of active media
US6696355B2 (en) * 2000-12-14 2004-02-24 Ovonyx, Inc. Method to selectively increase the top resistance of the lower programming electrode in a phase-change memory
US20040035401A1 (en) * 2002-08-26 2004-02-26 Subramanian Ramachandran Hydrogen powered scooter
US6714954B2 (en) * 2002-05-10 2004-03-30 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Methods of factoring and modular arithmetic

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4177474A (en) 1977-05-18 1979-12-04 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. High temperature amorphous semiconductor member and method of making the same
US4710899A (en) 1985-06-10 1987-12-01 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Data storage medium incorporating a transition metal for increased switching speed
US5694054A (en) 1995-11-28 1997-12-02 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Integrated drivers for flat panel displays employing chalcogenide logic elements
US5761115A (en) * 1996-05-30 1998-06-02 Axon Technologies Corporation Programmable metallization cell structure and method of making same
US6501111B1 (en) 2000-06-30 2002-12-31 Intel Corporation Three-dimensional (3D) programmable device
US6649928B2 (en) 2000-12-13 2003-11-18 Intel Corporation Method to selectively remove one side of a conductive bottom electrode of a phase-change memory cell and structure obtained thereby
US6646297B2 (en) 2000-12-26 2003-11-11 Ovonyx, Inc. Lower electrode isolation in a double-wide trench
US6642102B2 (en) 2001-06-30 2003-11-04 Intel Corporation Barrier material encapsulation of programmable material
WO2003032392A2 (en) * 2001-10-09 2003-04-17 Axon Technologies Corporation Programmable microelectronic device, structure, and system, and method of forming the same
US6667900B2 (en) 2001-12-28 2003-12-23 Ovonyx, Inc. Method and apparatus to operate a memory cell
US6867996B2 (en) * 2002-08-29 2005-03-15 Micron Technology, Inc. Single-polarity programmable resistance-variable memory element

Patent Citations (99)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3271591A (en) * 1963-09-20 1966-09-06 Energy Conversion Devices Inc Symmetrical current controlling device
US3983542A (en) * 1970-08-13 1976-09-28 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method and apparatus for recording information
US3988720A (en) * 1970-08-13 1976-10-26 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Recording and retrieving information in an amorphous memory material using a catalytic material
US4267261A (en) * 1971-07-15 1981-05-12 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method for full format imaging
US3961314A (en) * 1974-03-05 1976-06-01 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Structure and method for producing an image
US3966317A (en) * 1974-04-08 1976-06-29 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Dry process production of archival microform records from hard copy
US4737379A (en) * 1982-09-24 1988-04-12 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Plasma deposited coatings, and low temperature plasma method of making same
US4597162A (en) * 1983-01-18 1986-07-01 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method for making, parallel preprogramming or field programming of electronic matrix arrays
US4608296A (en) * 1983-12-06 1986-08-26 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Superconducting films and devices exhibiting AC to DC conversion
US4769338A (en) * 1984-05-14 1988-09-06 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film field effect transistor and method of making same
US4843443A (en) * 1984-05-14 1989-06-27 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film field effect transistor and method of making same
US4668968A (en) * 1984-05-14 1987-05-26 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Integrated circuit compatible thin film field effect transistor and method of making same
US4670763A (en) * 1984-05-14 1987-06-02 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film field effect transistor
US4673957A (en) * 1984-05-14 1987-06-16 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Integrated circuit compatible thin film field effect transistor and method of making same
US4678679A (en) * 1984-06-25 1987-07-07 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Continuous deposition of activated process gases
US4646266A (en) * 1984-09-28 1987-02-24 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Programmable semiconductor structures and methods for using the same
US4664939A (en) * 1985-04-01 1987-05-12 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Vertical semiconductor processor
US4698234A (en) * 1985-04-01 1987-10-06 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Vapor deposition of semiconductor material
US4696758A (en) * 1985-04-01 1987-09-29 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Gas mixtures for the vapor deposition of semiconductor material
US4637895A (en) * 1985-04-01 1987-01-20 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Gas mixtures for the vapor deposition of semiconductor material
US4766471A (en) * 1986-01-23 1988-08-23 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film electro-optical devices
US4818717A (en) * 1986-06-27 1989-04-04 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method for making electronic matrix arrays
US4728406A (en) * 1986-08-18 1988-03-01 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method for plasma - coating a semiconductor body
US4809044A (en) * 1986-08-22 1989-02-28 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film overvoltage protection devices
US4845533A (en) * 1986-08-22 1989-07-04 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin film electrical devices with amorphous carbon electrodes and method of making same
US4853785A (en) * 1986-10-15 1989-08-01 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electronic camera including electronic signal storage cartridge
US4788594A (en) * 1986-10-15 1988-11-29 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Solid state electronic camera including thin film matrix of photosensors
US4775425A (en) * 1987-07-27 1988-10-04 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. P and n-type microcrystalline semiconductor alloy material including band gap widening elements, devices utilizing same
US4891330A (en) * 1987-07-27 1990-01-02 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Method of fabricating n-type and p-type microcrystalline semiconductor alloy material including band gap widening elements
US5159661A (en) * 1990-10-05 1992-10-27 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Vertically interconnected parallel distributed processor
US5335219A (en) * 1991-01-18 1994-08-02 Ovshinsky Stanford R Homogeneous composition of microcrystalline semiconductor material, semiconductor devices and directly overwritable memory elements fabricated therefrom, and arrays fabricated from the memory elements
US5534712A (en) * 1991-01-18 1996-07-09 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable memory elements characterized by reduced current and improved thermal stability
US5596522A (en) * 1991-01-18 1997-01-21 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Homogeneous compositions of microcrystalline semiconductor material, semiconductor devices and directly overwritable memory elements fabricated therefrom, and arrays fabricated from the memory elements
US5296716A (en) * 1991-01-18 1994-03-22 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable, directly overwritable, multibit single cell memory elements and arrays fabricated therefrom
US5536947A (en) * 1991-01-18 1996-07-16 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable, directly overwritable, multibit single cell memory element and arrays fabricated therefrom
US5341328A (en) * 1991-01-18 1994-08-23 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable memory elements having reduced switching current requirements and increased write/erase cycle life
US5534711A (en) * 1991-01-18 1996-07-09 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable, directly overwritable, multibit single cell memory elements and arrays fabricated therefrom
US5406509A (en) * 1991-01-18 1995-04-11 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable, directly overwritable, multibit single cell memory elements and arrays fabricated therefrom
US5414271A (en) * 1991-01-18 1995-05-09 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable memory elements having improved set resistance stability
US5166758A (en) * 1991-01-18 1992-11-24 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable phase change memory
US5128099A (en) * 1991-02-15 1992-07-07 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Congruent state changeable optical memory material and device
US5177567A (en) * 1991-07-19 1993-01-05 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Thin-film structure for chalcogenide electrical switching devices and process therefor
US5359205A (en) * 1991-11-07 1994-10-25 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Electrically erasable memory elements characterized by reduced current and improved thermal stability
US5543737A (en) * 1995-02-10 1996-08-06 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Logical operation circuit employing two-terminal chalcogenide switches
US5714768A (en) * 1995-10-24 1998-02-03 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Second-layer phase change memory array on top of a logic device
US5591501A (en) * 1995-12-20 1997-01-07 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Optical recording medium having a plurality of discrete phase change data recording points
US5687112A (en) * 1996-04-19 1997-11-11 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Multibit single cell memory element having tapered contact
USRE37259E1 (en) * 1996-04-19 2001-07-03 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Multibit single cell memory element having tapered contact
US5893732A (en) * 1996-10-25 1999-04-13 Micron Technology, Inc. Method of fabricating intermediate SRAM array product and conditioning memory elements thereof
US5825046A (en) * 1996-10-28 1998-10-20 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Composite memory material comprising a mixture of phase-change memory material and dielectric material
US6087674A (en) * 1996-10-28 2000-07-11 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Memory element with memory material comprising phase-change material and dielectric material
US5933365A (en) * 1997-06-19 1999-08-03 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Memory element with energy control mechanism
US6011757A (en) * 1998-01-27 2000-01-04 Ovshinsky; Stanford R. Optical recording media having increased erasability
US6141241A (en) * 1998-06-23 2000-10-31 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Universal memory element with systems employing same and apparatus and method for reading, writing and programming same
US5912839A (en) * 1998-06-23 1999-06-15 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Universal memory element and method of programming same
US20020168820A1 (en) * 2000-09-08 2002-11-14 Kozicki Michael N. Microelectronic programmable device and methods of forming and programming the same
US6597009B2 (en) * 2000-09-29 2003-07-22 Intel Corporation Reduced contact area of sidewall conductor
US6555860B2 (en) * 2000-09-29 2003-04-29 Intel Corporation Compositionally modified resistive electrode
US6563164B2 (en) * 2000-09-29 2003-05-13 Ovonyx, Inc. Compositionally modified resistive electrode
US6567293B1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2003-05-20 Ovonyx, Inc. Single level metal memory cell using chalcogenide cladding
US6429064B1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2002-08-06 Intel Corporation Reduced contact area of sidewall conductor
US6404665B1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2002-06-11 Intel Corporation Compositionally modified resistive electrode
US6339544B1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2002-01-15 Intel Corporation Method to enhance performance of thermal resistor device
US6621095B2 (en) * 2000-09-29 2003-09-16 Ovonyx, Inc. Method to enhance performance of thermal resistor device
US6696355B2 (en) * 2000-12-14 2004-02-24 Ovonyx, Inc. Method to selectively increase the top resistance of the lower programming electrode in a phase-change memory
US6569705B2 (en) * 2000-12-21 2003-05-27 Intel Corporation Metal structure for a phase-change memory device
US6437383B1 (en) * 2000-12-21 2002-08-20 Intel Corporation Dual trench isolation for a phase-change memory cell and method of making same
US6593176B2 (en) * 2000-12-26 2003-07-15 Ovonyx, Inc. Method for forming phase-change memory bipolar array utilizing a single shallow trench isolation for creating an individual active area region for two memory array elements and one bipolar base contact
US6534781B2 (en) * 2000-12-26 2003-03-18 Ovonyx, Inc. Phase-change memory bipolar array utilizing a single shallow trench isolation for creating an individual active area region for two memory array elements and one bipolar base contact
US6531373B2 (en) * 2000-12-27 2003-03-11 Ovonyx, Inc. Method of forming a phase-change memory cell using silicon on insulator low electrode in charcogenide elements
US6687427B2 (en) * 2000-12-29 2004-02-03 Intel Corporation Optic switch
US6480438B1 (en) * 2001-06-12 2002-11-12 Ovonyx, Inc. Providing equal cell programming conditions across a large and high density array of phase-change memory cells
US6589714B2 (en) * 2001-06-26 2003-07-08 Ovonyx, Inc. Method for making programmable resistance memory element using silylated photoresist
US6487113B1 (en) * 2001-06-29 2002-11-26 Ovonyx, Inc. Programming a phase-change memory with slow quench time
US6462984B1 (en) * 2001-06-29 2002-10-08 Intel Corporation Biasing scheme of floating unselected wordlines and bitlines of a diode-based memory array
US6687153B2 (en) * 2001-06-29 2004-02-03 Ovonyx, Inc. Programming a phase-change material memory
US6570784B2 (en) * 2001-06-29 2003-05-27 Ovonyx, Inc. Programming a phase-change material memory
US6511862B2 (en) * 2001-06-30 2003-01-28 Ovonyx, Inc. Modified contact for programmable devices
US6673700B2 (en) * 2001-06-30 2004-01-06 Ovonyx, Inc. Reduced area intersection between electrode and programming element
US6511867B2 (en) * 2001-06-30 2003-01-28 Ovonyx, Inc. Utilizing atomic layer deposition for programmable device
US6605527B2 (en) * 2001-06-30 2003-08-12 Intel Corporation Reduced area intersection between electrode and programming element
US6514805B2 (en) * 2001-06-30 2003-02-04 Intel Corporation Trench sidewall profile for device isolation
US6613604B2 (en) * 2001-08-02 2003-09-02 Ovonyx, Inc. Method for making small pore for use in programmable resistance memory element
US6590807B2 (en) * 2001-08-02 2003-07-08 Intel Corporation Method for reading a structural phase-change memory
US6707712B2 (en) * 2001-08-02 2004-03-16 Intel Corporation Method for reading a structural phase-change memory
US6507061B1 (en) * 2001-08-31 2003-01-14 Intel Corporation Multiple layer phase-change memory
US6674115B2 (en) * 2001-08-31 2004-01-06 Intel Corporation Multiple layer phrase-change memory
US20030048744A1 (en) * 2001-09-01 2003-03-13 Ovshinsky Stanford R. Increased data storage in optical data storage and retrieval systems using blue lasers and/or plasmon lenses
US6586761B2 (en) * 2001-09-07 2003-07-01 Intel Corporation Phase change material memory device
US6545287B2 (en) * 2001-09-07 2003-04-08 Intel Corporation Using selective deposition to form phase-change memory cells
US6690026B2 (en) * 2001-09-28 2004-02-10 Intel Corporation Method of fabricating a three-dimensional array of active media
US6566700B2 (en) * 2001-10-11 2003-05-20 Ovonyx, Inc. Carbon-containing interfacial layer for phase-change memory
US6545907B1 (en) * 2001-10-30 2003-04-08 Ovonyx, Inc. Technique and apparatus for performing write operations to a phase change material memory device
US6576921B2 (en) * 2001-11-08 2003-06-10 Intel Corporation Isolating phase change material memory cells
US6673648B2 (en) * 2001-11-08 2004-01-06 Intel Corporation Isolating phase change material memory cells
US6625054B2 (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-09-23 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus to program a phase change memory
US6512241B1 (en) * 2001-12-31 2003-01-28 Intel Corporation Phase change material memory device
US6714954B2 (en) * 2002-05-10 2004-03-30 Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Methods of factoring and modular arithmetic
US20040035401A1 (en) * 2002-08-26 2004-02-26 Subramanian Ramachandran Hydrogen powered scooter

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102006051472A1 (en) * 2006-09-21 2008-04-03 Qimonda Ag Memory cell and method of manufacturing the same
US20080073751A1 (en) * 2006-09-21 2008-03-27 Rainer Bruchhaus Memory cell and method of manufacturing thereof
US20080078983A1 (en) * 2006-09-28 2008-04-03 Wolfgang Raberg Layer structures comprising chalcogenide materials
DE102006048384A1 (en) * 2006-09-28 2008-04-03 Altis Semiconductor Sandwich structure e.g. memory cell such as conductive bridging RAM-cell, has layer isolated from another layer and containing silver and tantalum, which reduces mobility of silver atoms and silver ions
US8295081B2 (en) 2006-10-19 2012-10-23 Boise State University Forced ion migration for chalcogenide phase change memory device
US7924608B2 (en) 2006-10-19 2011-04-12 Boise State University Forced ion migration for chalcogenide phase change memory device
US8611146B2 (en) 2006-10-19 2013-12-17 Boise State University Forced ion migration for chalcogenide phase change memory device
DE102008016522B4 (en) * 2007-01-04 2015-02-12 International Business Machines Corporation Phase change memory cell with phase change memory material with limited resistance, method for producing a deratigen memory cell and integrated circuit with corresponding memory cell
US8238146B2 (en) 2008-08-01 2012-08-07 Boise State University Variable integrated analog resistor
US8467236B2 (en) 2008-08-01 2013-06-18 Boise State University Continuously variable resistor
US8358527B2 (en) * 2009-02-16 2013-01-22 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Multi-level nonvolatile memory devices using variable resistive elements
US20100208508A1 (en) * 2009-02-16 2010-08-19 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Multi-level nonvolatile memory devices using variable resistive elements
US8284590B2 (en) 2010-05-06 2012-10-09 Boise State University Integratable programmable capacitive device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US7153721B2 (en) 2006-12-26
US20050162907A1 (en) 2005-07-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20050286294A1 (en) Resistance variable memory elements based on polarized silver-selenide network growth
US6867996B2 (en) Single-polarity programmable resistance-variable memory element
US6891749B2 (en) Resistance variable ‘on ’ memory
US7372065B2 (en) Programmable metallization cell structures including an oxide electrolyte, devices including the structure and method of forming same
US7728322B2 (en) Programmable metallization cell structures including an oxide electrolyte, devices including the structure and method of forming same
US8466445B2 (en) Silver-selenide/chalcogenide glass stack for resistance variable memory and manufacturing method thereof
US7315465B2 (en) Methods of operating and forming chalcogenide glass constant current devices
US6927411B2 (en) Programmable structure, an array including the structure, and methods of forming the same
JP6433439B2 (en) Resistive switching device having switching layer and intermediate electrode layer and method for forming the same
US20080093589A1 (en) Resistance variable devices with controllable channels
US20040223390A1 (en) Resistance variable memory element having chalcogenide glass for improved switching characteristics
US7374174B2 (en) Small electrode for resistance variable devices
KR20060132038A (en) Layered resistance variable memory device and method of fabrication
US20080007997A1 (en) Pmc Memory With Improved Retention Time And Writing Speed
KR20090089340A (en) Rectifying element for a crosspoint based memory array architecture
US20060046444A1 (en) Method of forming a memory cell
US20170104031A1 (en) Selector Elements
US20040202016A1 (en) Differential negative resistance memory
US7061004B2 (en) Resistance variable memory elements and methods of formation
US8610098B2 (en) Phase change memory bridge cell with diode isolation device
KR100902504B1 (en) Resistive RAM having amorphous solid electrolyte and method of operating the same
Moore et al. Graded Ge x Se 100-x concentration in PCRAM

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION