Abstract: A test device, SRAM test device, semiconductor integrated circuit, and methods of fabricating the same are provided. The test device may include a first test active region extending in one direction on a semiconductor substrate, a second test active, apart from the first test active region, extending in one direction on a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of test gate lines crossing the test active regions, a plurality of test contacts on at least one of the test active regions and test gate lines, a plurality of conducting regions electrically connecting the test contacts, and a plurality of conductive wiring lines interconnecting the plurality of test contacts, wherein an open contact chain, which electrically connects the plurality of test contacts, is formed.

Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a fuse structure disposed on a substrate. An interlayer dielectric disposed on the fuse structure. A first contact plug, a second contact plug, and a third contact plug penetrate the interlayer dielectric and wherein each of the first contact plug, the second contact plug and the third contact plug are connected to the fuse structure. A first conductive pattern and a second conductive pattern are disposed on the interlayer dielectric. The first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern are electrically connected to the first contact plug and second contact plug, respectively.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first stress film covering a first gate electrode and first source/drain areas of a first transistor area and at least a portion of a third gate electrode of an interface area, a second stress film covering a second gate electrode and second source/drain areas of a second transistor area and overlapping at least a portion of the first stress film on the third gate electrode of the interface area, and an interlayer insulating film formed on the first and the second stress film.

Abstract: A metal interconnection of a semiconductor device, formed using a damascene process, has large grains and yet a smooth surface. First, a barrier layer and a metal layer are sequentially formed in an opening in an interlayer dielectric layer. A CMP process is carried out on the metal layer to form a metal interconnection remaining within the opening. Then, the metal interconnection is treated with plasma. The plasma treatment creates compressive stress in the metal interconnection, which stress produces hillocks at the surface of the metal interconnection. In addition, the plasma treatment process causes grains of the metal to grow, especially when the design rule is small, to thereby decrease the resistivity of the metal interconnection. The hillocks are then removed by a CMP process aimed at polishing the portion of the barrier layer that extends over the upper surface of the interlayer dielectric layer. Finally, a capping insulating layer is formed.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first insulation layer on the substrate is patterned to form a first opening having a first width. A lower electrode is formed along an inner contour of the first opening. A second insulation layer on the first insulation layer is patterned to form a second opening that has a second width greater than the first width and is connected to the first opening with a stepped portion. A dielectric layer is formed on the lower electrode in the first opening, a sidewall of the second opening and a first stepped portion between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer, so that the electrode layer is covered with the dielectric layer. An upper electrode is formed on the dielectric layer. Accordingly, a leakage current between the lower and upper electrodes is suppressed.

Abstract: A low-k dielectric film is formed on an entire surface of a substrate having a pad region and a circuit region. A resist pattern is formed on the low-k dielectric film, and an opening is formed in the low-k dielectric film of the pad region using the resist pattern as a mask. A silicon oxide film having strength higher than the low-k dielectric film is formed in the opening using liquid-phase deposition method. Wirings are formed in the silicon oxide film of the pad region and in the low-k dielectric film of the circuit region using damascene method.

Abstract: Devices and methods of fabricating a conductive pattern of such devices comprise a non-single crystalline semiconductor pattern formed on a single crystalline semiconductor substrate, an insulating spacer formed on a sidewall of the non-single crystalline semiconductor pattern, the non-single crystalline semiconductor pattern selectively recessed using a cyclic selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process, and a silicide layer formed on the recessed non-single crystalline semiconductor pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate includes a first transistor area having a first gate electrode and first source/drain areas, a second transistor area having a second gate electrode and second source/drain areas, and an interface area provided at an interface of the first transistor area and the second transistor area and having a third gate electrode. A first stress film is on the first gate electrode and the first source/drain areas of the first transistor area and at least a portion of the third gate electrode of the interface area. A second stress film is on the second gate electrode and the second source/drain areas of the second transistor area and not overlapping the first stress film on the third gate electrode of the interface area or overlapping at least a portion of the first stress film. The second stress film overlapping at least the portion of the first stress film is thinner than the second stress film in the second transistor area. Related methods are also described.

Abstract: A semiconductor device that prevents gate spacer stress and physical and chemical damages on a silicide region, and a method of manufacturing the same, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes a substrate, isolation regions formed in the substrate, a gate pattern formed between the isolation regions on the substrate, an L-type spacer adjacent to the sidewall of the gate pattern and extended to the surface of the substrate, source/drain silicide regions formed on the substrate between the end of the L-type spacer extended to the surface of the substrate and the isolation regions, via plugs electrically connected with the source/drain silicide regions, an interlayer dielectric layer which is adjacent to the L-type spacer and which fills the space between the via plugs layer formed on the gate pattern and the substrate, and a signal-transfer line formed on the interlayer dielectric layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming first, second and third gate electrodes on a semiconductor substrate. A first stress film is provided that covers the first gate electrode and at least a first portion of the third gate electrode. The first stress film has a sufficiently high internal stress characteristic to impart a net compressive stress in a first portion of the semiconductor substrate extending opposite the first gate electrode. A second stress film is also provided. The second stress film covers the second gate electrode and at least a second portion of the third gate electrode. The second stress film has a sufficiently high internal stress characteristic to impart a net tensile stress in a second portion of the semiconductor substrate extending opposite the second gate electrode. The second stress film has an upper surface that is coplanar with an upper surface of the first stress film at a location adjacent the third gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a nickel alloy silicide layer having a uniform thickness includes isolation regions formed in a substrate, gate electrodes respectively formed on the substrate between the isolation regions, source/drain regions respectively formed between the gate electrodes and the isolation regions, spacers formed on lateral surfaces of the gate electrodes, and a nickel alloy silicide layer formed on upper portions of the source/drain regions.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device including a reliable interconnect and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) pattern having an opening, an amorphous metallic nitride layer formed on the inner surface of the opening, a diffusion barrier layer formed on the amorphous metallic nitride layer, and a conductive layer filled into the opening having the diffusion barrier layer.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating dual damascene interconnections suitable for use in microelectronic devices and similar applications using a diffusion barrier layer to protect against base materials during processing are provided. The methods include the steps of: filling a via with a hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ)-based filler as expressed by the general chemical formula: (RSiO3/2)x(HSiO3/2)y, wherein x and y satisfy the relationships x+y=1 and 0<x<y<1, and R is selected from C4-C24 alkyl, C4-C24 alkenyl, C4-C24 alkoxy, C8-C24 alkenoxy, substituted C4-C24 hydrocarbon, non-substituted C1-C4 hydrocarbon or substituted C1-C4 hydrocarbon; and, partially etching the filler filling the via and an interlayer dielectric to form a trench, which is connected to the via in the region where the dual damascene interconnections are to be formed. Then, the filler remaining in the via is removed, and the trench and the via are filled with an interconnection material to complete the dual damascene interconnections.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device fabricated thereby. The method of fabricating the semiconductor device includes forming gate electrodes on a semiconductor substrate; forming source/drain regions within the semiconductor substrate so as to be located at both sides of each of the gate electrodes; forming a nickel silicide layer on surfaces of the gate electrodes and the source/drain regions by evaporating nickel or nickel alloy on the semiconductor substrate formed with the gate electrodes and the source/drain regions and then performing a thermal process on the nickel or the nickel alloy; forming an interlayer insulating layer, which is formed with contact holes through which a surface of the nickel silicide layer is exposed, on a surface obtained after the above processes have been performed; forming an ohmic layer by evaporating a refractory metal conformably along the contact holes, the refractory metal being converted to silicide at a temperature of 500° C.

Abstract: A method of forming a via contact structure using a dual damascene process is disclosed. According to one embodiment a sacrificial layer is formed on an insulating interlayer during the formation of a preliminary via hole. The sacrificial layer has the same composition as a layer filling the preliminary via hole in a subsequent trench formation process. The sacrificial layer and the layer filling the preliminary via hole are simultaneously removed after the trench formation process is carried out. According to another embodiment, a thin capping oxide layer is formed on an insulating interlayer during the formation of a preliminary via hole. The thin capping oxide layer is removed together with a sacrificial layer after a trench formation process is carried out.

Abstract: Example embodiments provide a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. According to the method, a capping insulation pattern may be formed to cover the top surface of a filling insulation pattern in a trench. The capping insulation pattern may have an etch selectivity according to the filling insulation pattern. As a result, the likelihood that the filling insulation layer may be etched by various cleaning processes and the process removing the buffer insulation pattern may be reduced or prevented.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer processing apparatus may include a chuck and/or a focus ring. The chuck may be configured to hold a wafer. The focus ring may be disposed surrounding a rim of the chuck. The focus ring may include a first section formed of a first material and a second section formed of a second material. The first material and the second material may have different conductivities. A method of forming a semiconductor wafer processing apparatus may include forming a first section of a focus ring from a first material, forming a second section of the focus ring from a second material having a different conductivity than the first material, combining the first and second sections to form a focus ring, and/or arranging the focus ring so as to surround a chuck.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a dielectric or an insulating layer with decreased (or minimal) erosion properties when performing metal Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device may include gate electrodes formed on a substrate. A first interlayer oxide layer may be formed on the substrate and between the gate electrodes. A second interlayer oxide layer, which is harder than the first interlayer oxide layer, may be formed on the first interlayer oxide layer. A plug electrode may be formed through the second interlayer oxide layer and the first interlayer oxide layer.

Abstract: A fixed abrasive polishing pad includes a base and a plurality of polishing layers on the base, wherein each polishing layer includes abrasive particles and apertures in a polishing surface of the polishing layer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of fabricating interconnection lines for a semiconductor device. The method includes forming an interlayer insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate. A via hole is formed through the interlayer insulating layer. A via filling material is formed to fill the via hole. A photoresist pattern is formed on the via filling material. The via filling material and the interlayer insulating layer are anisotropically etched using the photoresist pattern as an etch mask to form a trench. A residual portion of the via filling material is removed using two wet etch processes. After removing the residual portion of the via filling material, a conductive layer pattern is formed in the via hole and the trench.