Patent ID: 7696018

Claim:
A method for fabricating a multi-terminal PCD (phase-change device) following CMOS processing, comprising: disposing a first dielectric material over a metal-containing layer comprising metal portions disposed in a second dielectric material; etching a first heater hole in the first dielectric material, the heater hole being in communication with a first metal portion of the metal layer; disposing a first diffusion barrier in the heater hole; forming one or more via holes in the first dielectric material over corresponding metal portions of the metal layer, the one or more formed via holes being in communication with the corresponding metal portions; filling the one or more via holes with an electrically conductive material; disposing a second diffusion barrier over one or more filled via holes; disposing a third dielectric material over the first dielectric material; forming a trench in the third dielectric material over the first heater hole and at least one of the filled one or more via holes; disposing a phase change material (PCM) in the trench, the phase change material being in electrical contact with conductive material in the heater hole and at least one of the filled one or more via holes; disposing an interface barrier material over a portion of the phase change material; disposing a fourth dielectric material over the phase change material; forming a second heater hole in the fourth dielectric material; filling the second heater hole with a third diffusion barrier in electrical communication with the interface barrier material and phase change material; depositing a top electrode barrier over the third diffusion barrier; and disposing a fifth dielectric material over the top electrode barrier.