Patent ID: 8648327

Claim:
A memory device disposed upon a first dielectric material layer overlying a surface region of a semiconductor substrate, comprises: a first plurality of memory cells arranged in a first crossbar array overlying the first dielectric material, each of the first plurality of memory cells comprising at least a first metal wiring structure spatially extending in a first direction, a second metal wiring structure spatially extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a first switching element sandwiched in an intersection region between the first metal wiring structure and the second metal wiring structure, the first plurality of memory cells forming the first crossbar array of memory cells; a second dielectric material overlying the first plurality of memory cells, the second dielectric material having a thickness; and a second plurality of memory cells arranged in a second crossbar array overlying the second dielectric material, each of the second plurality of memory cells comprising at least a third metal wiring structure extending in a third direction, a fourth metal wiring structure extending in a fourth direction orthogonal to the third direction, and a second switching element sandwiched in an intersection region of the third metal wiring structure and the fourth metal wiring structure, the second plurality of memory cells forming the second crossbar array of memory cells; wherein the first switching element comprises a switching material having intrinsic semiconductor properties; wherein the second switching element comprises a switching material having intrinsic semiconductor properties; wherein the first metal wiring structure further comprises a contact layer comprising a conductive silicon-containing material in contact with the switching material of the first switching element, and wherein the third metal wiring structure further comprises a contact layer comprising a conductive silicon-containing material in contact with the switching material of the second switching element.