# Patent

## Title
Phase change memory element

## Abstract

A phase-change memory element with an electrically isolated conductor is provided. The phase-change memory element includes: a first electrode and a second electrode; a phase-change material layer electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode; and at least two electrically isolated conductors, disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, directly contacting the phase-change material layers.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/269,282, filed Nov. 12, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a memory element, and more particularly to a phase-change memory element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Phase-change memory technology requires high reliability, high speeds, low current, and low operating voltage, in order to function as a viable alternative to current memory technologies such as flash and DRAM. A phase-change memory cell must therefore provide low programming current, voltage operation, a smaller cell size, a fast phase transformation speed, and a low cost. These requirements are difficult to meet given the current state of the art.
The phase-change memory structures are predominantly self-heating, i.e. current flows through the phase-change material to produce the required heat. The top electrical contact of the phase-change memory is generally wider than the bottom electrical contact area. The structure may be a pore filled with phase-change material, or a block of phase-change material with a sublithographic bottom contact, and lithographically defined top electrode. The wider contact defines the maximum current required to write a bit to the cell. Variations in the bottom or top contact width due to lithography, etching or other processing stages result in variations of the required programming current.
Ideally, the phase-change memory will have a fixed cross-section area, such as a pillar or bridge. However these structures tend to require high voltages as the cross-section area and/or the length is reduced. An issue limiting further advancement is that the electrodes connecting to the structure, act as heat sinks.
Macronix (U.S. Pub. 20060284157 and U.S. Pub. 20060284158) disclosed a basic phase-change bridge structure. However, the electrode contacts are the only contacts to the bridge and heat significantly flows out through these contacts, thus making programming very inefficient.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,119,353 discloses a phase change memory element, including a substrate, a CMOS formed on the substrate, a dielectric layer, a metal plug, and a phase change memory cell. Particularly, the phase change memory cell includes a phase change material layer, and a pair of electrodes. The CMOS electrically connects to the electrode of the phase change memory cell via the metal plug. Accordingly, the active area (phase change area) can be determined by the thickness of the phase change material layer. The contact surface between the phase change material layer and the metal plug, however, is limited by the diameter of the metal plug, thereby making it unable to increase heating efficiency and reducing the programming current of the phase change memory cells.
Therefore, it is desirable to devise a phase-change memory cell structure that improves upon the aforementioned problems.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An exemplary embodiment of a phase-change memory element includes: a first electrode and a second electrode; a phase-change material layer electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode; and at least two electrically isolated conductors, disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, directly contacting the phase-change material layers.
An exemplary embodiment provides a method for forming a phase-change memory element, including providing a substrate; forming a dielectric layer on the substrate; forming a first electrode and a second electrode on the dielectric layer; forming at least two electrically isolated conductors on the dielectric layer, disposed between and separated from the first electrode and the second electrode; and forming a phase-change material layer electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, directly contacting the phase-change material layer.
Another exemplary embodiment provides a method for forming phase-change memory element, including providing a substrate; forming a bottom electrode on the substrate; forming a first thermal insulator on the first electrode; forming a first electrically isolated conductor on the first thermal insulator; forming a dielectric layer on the first electrically isolated conductor; forming a second electrically isolated conductor on the dielectric layer; forming a second thermal insulator on the second electrically isolated conductor; forming a top electrode on the second thermal insulator; and forming a phase-change spacer to cover the side of above structure.
A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIGS. 1a-1j are cross sections of a method for fabricating a phase-change memory element according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross section of a device including the phase change memory element of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross section of a phase-change memory element according to another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4a-4j are cross sections of a method for fabricating a phase-change memory element according to yet another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross section of a phase-change memory element with electrically isolated conductors having a pillar structure according to embodiments of the invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.
First, referring to FIG. 1a, a substrate 10 with a dielectric layer 12 is provided. Particularly, the substrate 10 can be a substrate employed in a semiconductor process, such as silicon substrate. The substrate 10 can include a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit, an isolation structure, a diode, a transistor, or a capacitor (not shown). Suitable material for the dielectric layer 12 can include silicon dioxide.
Next, referring to FIG. 1b, a pair of first and second electrodes 14 and 16 is formed on the dielectric layer 12 and separated from each other. Suitable material for the first and second electrodes 14 and 16, for example, can be Al, W, Mo, Ti, TiN, TiAlN, TiW or TaN. The first electrode 14 may be electrically connected to lower layers of the substrate via a contact (not shown). The first and second electrodes 14 and 16 are formed by the same material and by the same process, and are coplanar.
Next, referring to FIG. 1c, a dielectric layers 18 is conformally formed on the substrate 10, covering the dielectric layer 12 and the first and second electrodes 14 and 16. The dielectric layer 18 can include silicon nitride, in order to prevent a subsequently formed metal layer from contacting the first and second electrodes 14 and 16. The thickness of the dielectric layers 18 can be 10-50 nm.
Next, referring to FIG. 1d, a metal layer 20 is conformally formed on the dielectric layers 18. The thickness of the metal layer 20 can be 10-50 nm. Suitable material of the metal layer includes Al, W, Mo, Ti, TiN, TiAlN, TiW or TaN.
Next, referring to FIG. 1e, an etching process (such as an anisotropic etching process) is subjected to the metal layer 20, leaving a plurality of metal spacers 22 with a pointed top 21 sitting on the dielectric layer 18 adjacent to the side walls 23 of the first and second electrodes 14 and 16.
Next, referring to FIG. 1f, another etching process (such as an anisotropic etching process) is subjected to the dielectric layers 18, patterning the dielectric layers 18 leaving a patterned dielectric layers 24.
Next, referring to FIG. 1g, a phase-change material layer 26 is conformally formed on the above substrate. The phase-change material layer 26 can include In, Ge, Sb, Te, Sn, Ga or combinations thereof, such as GeSbTe or InGeSbTe. It should be noted that there are two metal spacers 22 between the first and second electrodes 14 and 16 and the pointed top 21 and the side-walls of the two metal spacers 22 directly contact to the phase-change material layer 26. Since the two metal spacers 22 are disconnected electrically from other components except for the phase-change material layer 26, the two metal spacers 22 can serve as electrically isolated conductors of the phase-element. The thickness of the phase-change material layer 26 can be 0.5-10 nm.
Next, referring to FIG. 1h, a dielectric layer 28 is conformally formed on the phase-change material layer 26. The dielectric layer 28 can include silicon nitride or the same material as the dielectric layer 18.
Next, referring to FIG. 1i, the phase-change material layer 26 is patterned by lithography (such as one or two photomasks) to span the first and second electrodes 14 and 16 and have a bridge width comparable to a design rule. The phase-change bridge structure is therefore self-aligned to the electrodes. The dielectric layer 28 can include silicon nitride or the same material as the dielectric layer 18.
Finally, referring to FIG. 1j, a dielectric layer 30 is formed on the above structure and planarized by a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process. The dielectric layer 30 can be silicon dioxide or the same material as the dielectric layer 12. The dielectric layer 30, dielectric layer 28 and the phase-change material layer 26 over the second electrode 16 may be patterned to form a via and the second electrode 16 can be electrically connected to a conductive layer via a contact (not shown).
According to an embodiment of the invention, referring to FIG. 2, a device including the aforementioned phase change memory element is disclosed. The device includes a substrate having a transistor 32 formed thereon, wherein the transistor 32 is electrically connected to the first electrode 14 of the aforementioned phase-change memory element via a metal plug 34 with the contact hole 36. The transistor 32 can further be electrically connected to a word line. Further, the device includes a bit line 38 electrically connected to the second electrode 16 of the aforementioned phase-change memory element via a metal plug 42 with the contact hole 40.
In another embodiment of the invention, referring to FIG. 3, the phase-change memory can have more than two metal spacers 22 between the first and second electrodes 14 and 16 to contact the phase-change material layer 26, serving as electrically isolated conductors for multi-level operation.
Moreover, the invention also provides another phase-change memory element with the fabricating steps as below.
First, referring to FIG. 4a, a substrate 110 with a dielectric layer 112 is provided. Particularly, the substrate 110 can be a substrate employed in a semiconductor process, such as silicon substrate. The substrate 110 can include a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit, an isolation structure, a diode, a transistor, or a capacitor (not shown). Suitable material for the dielectric layer 112 can include silicon dioxide.
Next, referring to FIG. 4b, a pair of first and second electrodes 114 and 116 is formed on the dielectric layer 112 and is separated from each other. Suitable material for the first and second electrodes 114 and 116, for example, can be Al, W, Mo, Ti, TiN, TiAlN, TiW or TaN. The first electrode 114 may be electrically connected to lower layers of the substrate via a contact (not shown). The first and second electrodes 114 and 116 are formed by the same material and by the same process, and are coplanar.
Next, referring to FIG. 4c, a dielectric layers 118 is conformally formed on the substrate 110, covering the dielectric layer 112 and the first and second electrodes 114 and 116. The dielectric layer 118 can include silicon nitride, in order to prevent a subsequently formed metal layer from contacting the first and second electrodes 114 and 116. The thickness of the dielectric layers 118 can be 10-50 nm.
Next, referring to FIG. 4d, a metal layer 120 is conformally formed on the dielectric layers 118. The thickness of the metal layer 120 can be 10-50 nm.
Next, referring to FIG. 4e, an etching process (such as an anisotropic etching process) is subjected to the metal layer 120, leaving a plurality of metal spacers 122 with a pointed top 121 sitting on the dielectric layer 118 adjacent to the side walls 123 of the first and second electrodes 114 and 116.
Next, referring to FIG. 4f, another etching process (such as an anisotropic etching process) is subjected to the dielectric layers 118, patterning the dielectric layers 118 as the metal spacer as a mask, leaving a patterned dielectric layers 124. Particularly, the patterned dielectric layers 124 and the adjacent electrode are separated by trenches 125.
Next, referring to FIG. 4g, a phase-change material layer 126 is conformally formed on the above substrate and fills the trenches 125. The phase-change material layer 126 can include In, Ge, Sb, Te, Sn, Ga or combinations thereof, such as GeSbTe or InGeSbTe. It should be noted that there are two metal spacers 122 between the first and second electrodes 114 and 116 and the pointed top 121 and the side-walls of the two metal spacers 122 directly contact two the phase-change material layer 126. It should be noted that each metal spacer 122 and the electrode adjacent thereto are separated by the phase-change material layer 126 filled into the trenches. Since the two metal spacers 122 are disconnected electrically from other components except for the phase-change material layer 126, the two metal spacers 122 can serve as electrically isolated conductors of the phase-element. The thickness of the phase-change material layer 126 can be 0.5-10 nm.
Next, referring to FIG. 4h, a dielectric layer 128 is conformally formed on the phase-change material layer 126. The dielectric layer 128 can include silicon nitride or the same material as the dielectric layer 118.
Next, referring to FIG. 4i, the phase-change material layer 126 is patterned by lithography (such as one or two photomask) to span the first and second electrodes 114 and 116 and have a bridge width comparable to a design rule. The phase-change bridge structure is therefore self-aligned to the electrodes. The dielectric layer 128 can include silicon nitride or the same material as the dielectric layer 118.
Finally, referring to FIG. 4j, a dielectric layer 130 is formed on the above structure and planarized by a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process. The dielectric layer 130 can be silicon dioxide or the same material as the dielectric layer 112. The dielectric layer 130, dielectric layer 128 and the phase-change material layer 126 over the second electrode 116 may be patterned to form a via and the second electrode 116 can be electrically connected to a conductive layer of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit, an isolation structure, a diode, a transistor, or a capacitor (not shown) via a contact.
According to embodiments of the invention, a phase-change memory element 200 with electrically isolated conductors can have a pillar structure, as shown in FIG. 5.
Referring to FIG. 5, the phase-change memory element 200 includes, from bottom to top, a bottom electrode 210, a first thermal insulator 212, a first dielectric layer 214, a first electrically isolated conductor 216, a second dielectric layer 218, a second electrically isolated conductor 220, a third dielectric layer 222, a second thermal insulator 224, and a top electrode 226. The phase-change memory element 200 further includes phase-change material spacers 228 covering all side walls of the above components, and a dielectric spacer 230 covering the phase-change material spacers. The bottom and top electrodes 210 and 226 can be independent and include Al, W, Mo, Ti, TiN, TiAlN, TiW or TaN. The first and second thermal insulators 212 and 224 can be a dielectric layer with low thermal conductivity or phase-change material. The dielectric layer 218 can be silicon dioxide. The first and second electrically isolated conductors 216 and 220 can be metal or phase-change material; phase-change material can include In, Ge, Sb, Te, Sn, Ga or combinations thereof, such as GeSbTe or InGeSbTe.
In the embodiment, the thermal insulator slows heating of the electrically isolated conductors and the phase-change area is confined to in-between the electrically isolated metal.
It should be noted that the width W of the phase-change material spacers 228 must be less than the thickness T2 of the first and second electrically isolated conductors 216 and 220. When the first and second thermal insulators 212 and 224 are phase-change material, the width W of the phase-change material spacers 228 must be less than the thickness T1 of the first and second thermal insulators 212 and 224. For example, the width W of the phase-change material spacers 228 can be 2-5 nm, the thickness T2 of the first and second crystallization initiators 216 and 220 are 15 nm, and the thickness T1 of the first and second thermal insulators 212 and 224 are 15 nm.
Accordingly, the phase-change memory element of the invention allows reduction of current and voltage and thermal non-uniformity in the programming region through manufacturing processes. Further, multi-bit capability is also possible. The bridge embodiment is not affected by the top contact critical dimension (CD) and bottom contact critical dimension (CD) variation issue.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

## Claims

1. A phase-change memory, comprising:
a bottom electrode;
a first electrically-isolated conductor located above the bottom electrode;
a second electrically-isolated conductor located above the first electrically-isolated conductor;
a top electrode located above the second electrically-isolated conductor; and
a phase-change material that contacts at least one surface of each of the bottom electrode, the first electrically-isolated conductor, the second electrically-isolated conductor, and the top electrode.

2. The phase-change memory of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric material in contact with an outer surface of the phase-change material, wherein an inner surface of the phase-change material contacts the at least one surface of each of the bottom electrode, the first electrically-isolated conductor, the second electrically-isolated conductor, and the top electrode.

3. The phase-change memory of claim 1, wherein the phase-change material comprises at least one of In, Ge, Sb, Te, Ga, or Sn.

4. The phase-change memory of claim 1, wherein the bottom electrode and the top electrode comprise at least one of Al, W, Mo, Ti, TiN, TiAlN, TiW, or TaN.

5. The phase-change memory of claim 1, wherein the first electrically-isolated conductor and the second electrically-isolated conductor comprise at least one of Al, W, Mo, Ti, TiN, TiAlN, TiW, or TaN.

6. The phase-change memory of claim 1, further comprising:
a first thermal insulator located between the bottom electrode and the first electrically-isolated conductor; and
a second thermal insulator located between the top electrode and the second electrically-isolated conductor, wherein the phase-change material contacts at least one surface of each of the first thermal insulator and the second thermal insulator.

7. A phase-change memory, comprising:
a first electrode;
a second electrode;
an electrically-isolated conductor located between the first electrode and the second electrode; and
a phase-change material that contacts each of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the electrically-isolated conductor, wherein a width of the phase-change material is less than a thickness of the electrically-isolated conductor.

8. The phase-change memory of claim 7, further comprising a dielectric material in contact with an outer surface of the phase-change material, wherein an inner surface of the phase-change material contacts at least one surface of each of the first electrode, the electrically-isolated conductor, and the second electrode.

9. The phase-change memory of claim 7, wherein the electrically-isolated conductor comprises a first electrically-isolated conductor and further comprising a second electrically-isolated conductor spaced apart from the first electrically-isolated conductor and located between the first electrode and the second electrode, and wherein the phase-change material contacts the second electrically-isolated conductor.

10. The phase-change memory of claim 7, wherein the phase-change material forms a phase-change bridge structure that is self-aligned to the first electrode and the second electrode.

11. The phase-change memory of claim 7, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are coplanar, and wherein the electrically-isolated conductor does not directly contact either of the first electrode or the second electrode.

12. A phase-change memory, comprising:
a first electrode;
a second electrode;
an electrically-isolated conductor located between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electrically-isolated conductor does not directly contact either of the first electrode or the second electrode; and
a phase-change material that contacts each of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the electrically-isolated conductor.

13. The phase-change memory of claim 12, further comprising a dielectric material in contact with an outer surface of the phase-change material, wherein an inner surface of the phase-change material contacts at least one surface of each of the first electrode, the electrically-isolated conductor, and the second electrode.

14. The phase-change memory of claim 12, wherein the electrically-isolated conductor comprises a first electrically-isolated conductor and further comprising a second electrically-isolated conductor spaced apart from the first electrically-isolated conductor and located between the first electrode and the second electrode.

15. The phase-change memory of claim 12, wherein the phase-change material forms a phase-change bridge structure that is self-aligned to the first electrode and the second electrode.

16. The phase-change memory of claim 12, further comprising a first thermal insulator located between the first electrode and the electrically-isolated conductor.

17. The phase-change memory of claim 16, further comprising a second thermal insulator located between the second electrode and the electrically-isolated conductor.