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2021
Conference Paper
Titel
Enabling Ferroelectric Memories in BEoL - towards advanced neuromorphic computing architectures
Abstract
Advanced non-volatile memory concepts such as the 1T1C ferroelectric (FE) random-access memory (FeRAM) and the 1T1C FE field-effect transistor (FeFET) can be realized by connecting a metal-ferroelectric-metal (MFM) capacitor placed in the back end of line (BEoL) of a microchip to the drain and gate contacts of a standard logic device, respectively. With the vertical distributed select devices in the front-end of line (FEoL) and the storage elements in the BEoL, both concepts increase the effective memory density of a microchip without introducing major changes in the FEoL fabrication technology. However, for advanced neuromorphic computing architectures, the 1T1C FeFET is the device of choice, since it provides non-destructive readout. The most promising material for the integration of FE non-volatile memory functionalities into the BEoL is Zr doped HfO2 (HZO). It crystallizes at low temperatures in the orthorhombic phase (the one with FE properties) and with a polycrys talline structure. The latter is important to enable analogue like switching in synaptic devices. Herein, the above-mentioned memory concepts are introduced and key steps to optimize the HZO films for the BEoL integration and for the neuromorphic computing use case are described.
Author(s)
Project(s)
Important Project of Common European Interest