A method is described for forming a nonvolatile one-time-programmable
memory cell having reduced programming voltage. A contiguous p-i-n diode
is paired with a dielectric rupture antifuse formed of a
high-dielectric-constant material, having a dielectric constant greater
than about 8. In preferred embodiments, the high-dielectric-constant
material is formed by atomic layer deposition. The diode is preferably
formed of deposited low-defect semiconductor material, crystallized in
contact with a silicide. A monolithic three dimensional memory array of
such cells can be formed in stacked memory levels above the wafer
substrate.