Patent ID: 9419212
Filing Date: 2016-08-16
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of phase-change memory (PCM) elements, wherein individual PCM elements of the plurality of PCM elements include: a bottom electrode layer; a select device layer disposed on the bottom electrode layer; a middle electrode layer disposed on the select device layer; a phase-change material layer disposed on the middle electrode layer; a top electrode layer disposed on the phase-change material layer; and a barrier film comprising a group IV transition metal having up to 15% by atom, a group VI transition metal having up to 70% by atom, carbon (C) having 5%-90% by atom and nitrogen (N) having 20%-30% by atom, the barrier film being disposed between the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer, wherein the barrier film has a resistance ranging from 1 mOhm-cm to 50 mOhm-cm, and wherein the top and bottom electrode layers have a resistance ranging from 1 mOhm-cm to 100 mOhm-cm.