Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate trench across an active region of a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure filling the gate trench, and source/drain regions formed in the active region at respective sides of the gate structure. The gate structure includes a sequentially stacked gate electrode and insulating capping pattern, and a gate dielectric layer between the gate electrode and the active region. The gate electrode is located at a lower level than an upper surface of the active region and includes a barrier conductive pattern and a gate conductive pattern. The gate conductive pattern includes a first part having a first width and a second part having a second width greater than the first width. The barrier conductive pattern is interposed between the first part of the gate conductive pattern and the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device can include forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a first conductive layer on a bottom surface and side surfaces of the trench, and selectively forming a second conductive layer on the first conductive layer to be buried in the trench. The second conductive layer may be formed selectively on the first conductive layer by using an electroless plating method or using a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) or an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a trench therein, a metal-containing barrier layer extending along an inner wall of the trench and defining a wiring space in the trench, the wiring space having a first width along a first direction, and a metal-containing conductive line on the metal-containing barrier layer in the wiring space, and including at least one metal grain having a particle diameter of about the first width along the first direction.

Abstract: A gate structure includes an insulation layer on a substrate, a first conductive layer pattern on the insulation layer, a metal ohmic layer pattern on the first conductive layer pattern, a diffusion reduction layer pattern on the metal ohmic layer pattern an amorphous layer pattern on the diffusion reduction layer pattern, and a second conductive layer pattern on the amorphous layer pattern. The gate structure may have a low sheet resistance and desired thermal stability.

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming a gate electrode on a substrate and forming a nitride layer on a sidewall and upper surface of the gate electrode. The nitride layer is then anisotropically oxidized under conditions that cause a first portion of the nitride layer extending on the upper surface of the gate electrode to be more heavily oxidized relative to a second portion of the nitride layer extending on the sidewall of the gate electrode. A ratio of a thickness of an oxidized first portion of the nitride layer relative to a thickness of an oxidized second portion of the nitride layer may be in a range from about 3:1 to about 7:1.

Abstract: Methods of forming a gate electrode can be provided by forming a trench in a substrate, conformally forming a polysilicon layer to provide a polysilicon conformal layer in the trench defining a recess surrounded by the polysilicon conformal layer, wherein the polysilicon conformal layer is formed to extend upwardly from a surface of the substrate to have a protrusion and the protrusion has a vertical outer sidewall adjacent the surface of the substrate, forming a tungsten layer in the recess to form an upper surface that includes an interface between the polysilicon conformal layer and the tungsten layer, and forming a capping layer being in direct contact with top surfaces of the polysilicon conformal layer and the tungsten layer without any intervening layers.

Abstract: A gate structure can include a polysilicon layer, a metal layer on the polysilicon layer, a metal silicide nitride layer on the metal layer and a silicon nitride mask on the metal silicide nitride layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming a gate electrode on a substrate and forming a nitride layer on a sidewall and upper surface of the gate electrode. The nitride layer is then anisotropically oxidized under conditions that cause a first portion of the nitride layer extending on the upper surface of the gate electrode to be more heavily oxidized relative to a second portion of the nitride layer extending on the sidewall of the gate electrode. A ratio of a thickness of an oxidized first portion of the nitride layer relative to a thickness of an oxidized second portion of the nitride layer may be in a range from about 3:1 to about 7:1.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate structure can be provided by forming a tunnel insulation layer on a substrate and forming a floating gate on the tunnel insulation layer. A dielectric layer pattern can be on the floating gate and a control gate can be formed on the dielectric layer pattern, which can be provided by forming a first conductive layer pattern on the dielectric layer pattern. A metal ohmic layer pattern can be formed on the first conductive layer pattern. A diffusion preventing layer pattern can be formed on the metal ohmic layer pattern. An amorphous layer pattern can be formed on the diffusion preventing layer pattern forming a second conductive layer pattern on the amorphous layer pattern. The floating gate can be further formed by forming an additional first conductive layer pattern on the tunnel insulation layer. An additional metal ohmic layer pattern can be formed on the additional first conductive layer pattern.

Abstract: A sputtering target includes a tungsten (W)-nickel (Ni) alloy, wherein the nickel (Ni) is present in an amount of between about 0.01 weight % and about 1 weight %.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a method for fabricating the device. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a plurality of preliminary gate electrode structures in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region of a semiconductor substrate; forming selective epitaxial films on the semiconductor substrate in the cell array region and the peripheral region; implanting impurities into at least some of the selective epitaxial films to form elevated source/drain regions in the cell array region and the peripheral circuit region; forming a first interlayer insulating film; and patterning the first interlayer insulating film to form a plurality of first openings exposing the elevated source/drain regions. The method further comprises forming a first ohmic film, a first barrier film, and a metal film; and removing portions of each of the metal film, the first barrier film, and the first ohmic film.

Abstract: A gate structure includes an insulation layer on a substrate, a first conductive layer pattern on the insulation layer, a metal ohmic layer pattern on the first conductive layer pattern, a diffusion preventing layer pattern on the metal ohmic layer pattern, an amorphous layer pattern on the diffusion preventing layer pattern, and a second conductive layer pattern on the amorphous layer pattern. The gate structure may have a low sheet resistance and desired thermal stability.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a method for fabricating the device. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a plurality of preliminary gate electrode structures in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region of a semiconductor substrate; forming selective epitaxial films on the semiconductor substrate in the cell array region and the peripheral region; implanting impurities into at least some of the selective epitaxial films to form elevated source/drain regions in the cell array region and the peripheral circuit region; forming a first interlayer insulating film; and patterning the first interlayer insulating film to form a plurality of first openings exposing the elevated source/drain regions. The method further comprises forming a first ohmic film, a first barrier film, and a metal film; and removing portions of each of the metal film, the first barrier film, and the first ohmic film.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of methods for increasing the relative thickness in the peripheral or edge regions of gate dielectric patterns to suppress leakage through these regions. The methods provide alternatives to conventional GPOX processes and provide the improved leakage resistance without incurring the degree of increased gate electrode resistance associated with GPOX processes. Each of the methods includes forming a first opening to expose an active area region, forming an oxidation control region on the exposed portion and then forming a second opening whereby a peripheral region free of the oxidation control region is exposed for formation of a gate dielectric layer. The resulting gate dielectric layers are characterized by a thinner central region surrounded or bounded by a thicker peripheral region.

Abstract: In an ohmic layer and methods of forming the ohmic layer, a gate structure including the ohmic layer and a metal wiring having the ohmic layer, the ohmic layer is formed using tungsten silicide that includes tungsten and silicon with an atomic ratio within a range of about 1:5 to about 1:15. The tungsten silicide may be obtained in a chamber using a reaction gas including a tungsten source gas and a silicon source gas by a partial pressure ratio within a range of about 1.0:25.0 to about 1.0:160.0. The reaction gas may have a partial pressure within a range of about 2.05 percent to about 30.0 percent of a total internal pressure of the chamber. When the ohmic layer is employed for a conductive structure, such as a gate structure or a metal wiring, the conductive structure may have a reduced resistance.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of methods for increasing the relative thickness in the peripheral or edge regions of gate dielectric patterns to suppress leakage through these regions. The methods provide alternatives to conventional GPDX processes and provide the improved leakage resistance without incurring the degree of increased gate electrode resistance associated with GPDX processes. Each of the methods includes forming a first opening to expose an active area region, forming an oxidation control region on the exposed portion and then forming a second opening whereby a peripheral region free of the oxidation control region is exposed for formation of a gate dielectric layer. The resulting gate dielectric layers are characterized by a thinner central region surrounded or bounded by a thicker peripheral region.

Abstract: A sputtering target includes a tungsten (W)-nickel (Ni) alloy, wherein the nickel (Ni) is present in an amount of between about 0.01 weight % and about 1 weight %.

Abstract: Provided are semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same, and more specifically, semiconductor devices having a W—Ni alloy thin layer that has a low resistance, and methods of fabricating the same. The semiconductor devices include the W—Ni alloy thin layer. The weight of Ni in the W—Ni alloy thin layer may be in a range from approximately 0.01 to approximately 5.0 wt % of the total weight of the W—Ni alloy thin layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device can include forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a first conductive layer on a bottom surface and side surfaces of the trench, and selectively forming a second conductive layer on the first conductive layer to be buried in the trench. The second conductive layer may be formed selectively on the first conductive layer by using an electroless plating method or using a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) or an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device may include forming a tunnel oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate structure on the tunnel oxide layer, forming a leakage barrier oxide, and forming an insulating spacer. More particularly, the tunnel oxide layer may be between the gate structure and the substrate, and the gate structure may include a first gate electrode on the tunnel oxide layer, an inter-gate dielectric on the first gate electrode, and a second gate electrode on the inter-gate dielectric with the inter-gate dielectric between the first and second gate electrodes. The leakage barrier oxide may be formed on sidewalls of the second gate electrode. The insulating spacer may be formed on the leakage barrier oxide with the leakage barrier oxide between the insulating spacer and the sidewalls of the second gate electrode. In addition, the insulating spacer and the leakage barrier oxide may include different materials. Related structures are also discussed.