Capacitive Memory Window With Non-Destructive Read in Ferroelectric Capacitors

Energy-efficient memory elements having a non-volatile memory window (MW) with a non-destructive read operation are highly desirable for both random access memory and compute-in-memory applications. In this work, we demonstrate a record high non-volatile capacitive MW and non-destructive read in hafnium zirconate-based metal-ferroelectric-metal capacitors (FeCAPs). Firstly, we show that a non-zero capacitive MW at zero read voltage can be realized by engineering an asymmetry between the top and bottom ferroelectric-metal interfaces and demonstrate a record high MW of <tex-math notation="LaTeX">~ 4.71× ε _0 </tex-math> at 0 V. Secondly, we show that the capacitive MW can be further improved by optimizing a non-zero read voltage. This allows to achieve a record high MW of <tex-math notation="LaTeX">~ 7.5× ε _0 </tex-math> for the asymmetric FeCAP, and even opens up a MW as high as <tex-math notation="LaTeX">~ 8.0× ε _0 </tex-math> for the symmetric FeCAP. Finally, we demonstrate that the MW can be reliably read non-destructively as long as the read voltage is carefully selected to avoid partial or full polarization switching during the read operation.