Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed, together with a fabricating method therefor. The semiconductor device has an etch barrier structure, made with SiN or SiON, which is formed on an element-isolating region alongside an active region. Although there is an alignment error which causes the element-isolating region to be exposed, the etch barrier structure protects the element-isolating region from being etched when carrying out the etching processes for contact holes in a semiconductor memory cell. Thus, while preventing the deterioration of element-isolation properties, the etch barrier structure can affords a larger allowable alignment error in the etching processes for contact holes, so it is possible to make a small active region and thus, highly integrate semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed, together with a fabricating method therefor. The semiconductor device has an etch barrier structure, made with SiN or SiON, which is formed on an element-isolating region alongside an active region. Although there is an alignment error which causes the element-isolating region to be exposed, the etch barrier structure protects the element-isolating region from being etched when carrying out the etching processes for contact holes in a semiconductor memory cell. Thus, while preventing the deterioration of element-isolation properties, the etch barrier structure can affords a larger allowable alignment error in the etching processes for contact holes, so it is possible to make a small active region and thus, highly integrate semiconductor devices.