Patent ID: 8877586

Claim:
A method for fabricating a resistance-switching memory device, comprising: providing raised structures, separated from one another by voids, on a substrate, each raised structure comprising a mask above a bottom electrode; filling the voids with insulation, lower portions of the insulation extending between the raised structures up to a top surface of the mask of each raised structure, and upper portions of the insulation extending above the top surface of the mask of each raised structure and above top surfaces of the lower portions of the insulation; performing a planarizing step, the planarizing step removes the upper portions of the insulation, thereby exposing the top surface of the mask of each raised structure and the top surfaces of the lower portions of the insulation; removing the mask of each raised structure, exposing a top surface of the bottom electrode of each raised structure, and exposing sidewalls of the lower portions of the insulation, thereby forming a recess for each raised structure; performing at least one coating step with nano-particles, the nano-particles self-assemble in the recesses, a bottom surface of at least one nano-particle contacting the top surface of the bottom electrode of each raised structure; depositing an insulation layer; reducing the insulation layer, thereby providing at least one nano-particle with an exposed top surface for each raised structure; and providing a top electrode for each raised structure, a bottom surface of the top electrode contacting the top surface of the at least one nano-particle with the exposed top surface for each raised structure, thereby forming a resistance-switching memory cell from each raised structure in which the nano-particles are resistance-switching particles.