Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate pattern disposed on a semiconductor substrate, a bulk epitaxial pattern disposed in a recess region formed in the semiconductor substrate at a side of the gate pattern, an insert epitaxial pattern disposed on the bulk epitaxial pattern, and a capping epitaxial pattern disposed on the insert epitaxial pattern. The bulk epitaxial pattern has an upper inclined surface that is a {111} crystal plane, and the insert epitaxial pattern includes a specific element that promotes the growth rate of the insert epitaxial pattern on the upper inclined surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including source drain stressors and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. The methods may include forming a recess region in the substrate at a side of a gate pattern, and an inner surface of the recess region may include a first surface of a (100) crystal plane and a second surface of one of {111} crystal planes. The method may further include performing a first selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process to form a base epitaxial pattern on the inner surface of the recess region at a process pressure in a range of about 50 Torr to about 300 Torr. The method may also include performing a second selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process to form a bulk epitaxial pattern on the base epitaxial pattern.

Abstract: A MOS transistor includes a pair of impurity regions formed in a substrate as spaced apart from each other, and a gate electrode formed on a region of the substrate located between the pair of impurity regions. Each of the impurity regions is formed of a first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, and a third epitaxial layer on the second epitaxial layer. The first epitaxial layer is formed of at least one first sub-epitaxial layer and a respective second sub-epitaxial layer stacked on each first sub-epitaxial layer. An impurity concentration of the first sub-epitaxial layer is less than that of the second sub-epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate pattern disposed on a semiconductor substrate, a bulk epitaxial pattern disposed in a recess region formed in the semiconductor substrate at a side of the gate pattern, an insert epitaxial pattern disposed on the bulk epitaxial pattern, and a capping epitaxial pattern disposed on the insert epitaxial pattern. The bulk epitaxial pattern has an upper inclined surface that is a {111} crystal plane, and the insert epitaxial pattern includes a specific element that promotes the growth rate of the insert epitaxial pattern on the upper inclined surface.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming an epitaxial layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a capping layer having a first thickness on the epitaxial layer; and oxidizing the capping layer in an oxygen atmosphere to form a first gate dielectric layer having a second thickness.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices including a stressor in a recess and methods of forming the semiconductor devices are provided. The methods may include forming a trench in an active region and the trench may include a notched portion of the active region. The methods may also include forming an embedded stressor in the trench. The embedded stressor may include a lower semiconductor layer and an upper semiconductor layer, which has a width narrower than a width of the lower semiconductor layer. A side of the upper semiconductor layer may not be aligned with a side of the lower semiconductor layer and an uppermost surface of the upper semiconductor layer may be higher than an uppermost surface of the active region.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, a first active region has a first ?-shape, and the second active region has a second ?-shape. When a line that is perpendicular to the substrate and passes a side surface of a first gate electrode in the first region is defined as a first vertical line, when a line that is perpendicular to the substrate and passes a side surface of a second gate electrode in the second region is defined as a second vertical line, when a shortest distance between the first vertical line and the first trench is defined as a first horizontal distance, and when a shortest distance between the second vertical line and the second trench is defined as a second horizontal distance, a difference between the first horizontal distance and the second horizontal distance is equal to or less than 1 nm.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate pattern disposed on a semiconductor substrate, a bulk epitaxial pattern disposed in a recess region formed in the semiconductor substrate at a side of the gate pattern, an insert epitaxial pattern disposed on the bulk epitaxial pattern, and a capping epitaxial pattern disposed on the insert epitaxial pattern. The bulk epitaxial pattern has an upper inclined surface that is a {111} crystal plane, and the insert epitaxial pattern includes a specific element that promotes the growth rate of the insert epitaxial pattern on the upper inclined surface.

Abstract: A MOS transistor includes a pair of impurity regions formed in a substrate as spaced apart from each other, and a gate electrode formed on a region of the substrate located between the pair of impurity regions. Each of the impurity regions is formed of a first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, and a third epitaxial layer on the second epitaxial layer. The first epitaxial layer is formed of at least one first sub-epitaxial layer and a respective second sub-epitaxial layer stacked on each first sub-epitaxial layer. An impurity concentration of the first sub-epitaxial layer is less than that of the second sub-epitaxial layer.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, a first active region has a first ?-shape, and the second active region has a second ?-shape. When a line that is perpendicular to the substrate and passes a side surface of a first gate electrode in the first region is defined as a first vertical line, when a line that is perpendicular to the substrate and passes a side surface of a second gate electrode in the second region is defined as a second vertical line, when a shortest distance between the first vertical line and the first trench is defined as a first horizontal distance, and when a shortest distance between the second vertical line and the second trench is defined as a second horizontal distance, a difference between the first horizontal distance and the second horizontal distance is equal to or less than 1 nm.

Abstract: A method of fabricating one or more semiconductor devices includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, performing a cycling process to remove contaminants from the trench, and forming an epitaxial layer on the trench. The cycling process includes sequentially supplying a first reaction gas containing germane, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen and a second reaction gas containing hydrogen chloride and hydrogen onto the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating one or more semiconductor devices includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, performing a cycling process to remove contaminants from the trench, and forming an epitaxial layer on the trench. The cycling process includes sequentially supplying a first reaction gas containing germane, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen and a second reaction gas containing hydrogen chloride and hydrogen onto the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming an epitaxial layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a capping layer having a first thickness on the epitaxial layer; and oxidizing the capping layer in an oxygen atmosphere to form a first gate dielectric layer having a second thickness.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices including a stressor in a recess and methods of forming the semiconductor devices are provided. The methods may include forming a trench in an active region and the trench may include a notched portion of the active region. The methods may also include forming an embedded stressor in the trench. The embedded stressor may include a lower semiconductor layer and an upper semiconductor layer, which has a width narrower than a width of the lower semiconductor layer. A side of the upper semiconductor layer may not be aligned with a side of the lower semiconductor layer and an uppermost surface of the upper semiconductor layer may be higher than an uppermost surface of the active region.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices including a stressor in a recess and methods of forming the semiconductor devices are provided. The methods may include forming a fast etching region comprising phosphorous in an active region and forming a first trench in the active region by recessing the fast etching region. The methods may also include forming a second trench in the active region by enlarging the first trench using a directional etch process and forming a stressor in the second trench. The second trench may include a notched portion of the active region.

Abstract: Provided are methods of forming semiconductor devices. A method may include preparing a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region adjacent the first region. The method may also include forming sacrificial pattern covering the second region and exposing the first region. The method may further include forming a capping layer including a faceted sidewall on the first region using selective epitaxial growth (SEG). The faceted sidewall may be separate from the sacrificial pattern. The sacrificial pattern may be removed. Impurity ions may be implanted into the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including source drain stressors and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. The methods may include forming a recess region in the substrate at a side of a gate pattern, and an inner surface of the recess region may include a first surface of a (100) crystal plane and a second surface of one of {111} crystal planes. The method may further include performing a first selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process to form a base epitaxial pattern on the inner surface of the recess region at a process pressure in a range of about 50 Torr to about 300 Torr. The method may also include performing a second selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process to form a bulk epitaxial pattern on the base epitaxial pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate pattern disposed on a semiconductor substrate, a bulk epitaxial pattern disposed in a recess region formed in the semiconductor substrate at a side of the gate pattern, an insert epitaxial pattern disposed on the bulk epitaxial pattern, and a capping epitaxial pattern disposed on the insert epitaxial pattern. The bulk epitaxial pattern has an upper inclined surface that is a {111} crystal plane, and the insert epitaxial pattern includes a specific element that promotes the growth rate of the insert epitaxial pattern on the upper inclined surface.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming an epitaxial layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a capping layer having a first thickness on the epitaxial layer; and oxidizing the capping layer in an oxygen atmosphere to form a first gate dielectric layer having a second thickness.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a channel region, a gate insulation layer on the channel region, a gate electrode on the gate insulation layer, and source and drain regions in recesses in the substrate on both sides of the channel region, respectively. The source and drain regions include a lower main layer whose bottom surface is located at level above the bottom of a recess and lower than that of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and a top surface no higher than the level of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and an upper main layer contacting the lower main layer and whose top surface extends to a level higher than that of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and in which the lower layer has a Ge content higher than that of the upper layer.