Abstract: A phase-changeable memory device includes a substrate having a contact region on an upper surface thereof. An insulating interlayer on the substrate has an opening therein, and a lower electrode is formed in the opening. The lower electrode has a nitrided surface portion and is in electrical contact with the contact region of the substrate. A phase-changeable material layer pattern is on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode is on the phase-changeable material layer pattern. The insulating interlayer may have a nitrided surface portion and the phase-changeable material layer may be at least partially on the nitrided surface portion of the insulating interlayer. Methods of forming phase-changeable memory devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A phase-changeable memory device may include a substrate, an insulating layer on the substrate, first and second electrodes, and a pattern of a phase-changeable material between the first and second electrodes. More particularly, the insulating layer may have a hole therein, and the first electrode may be in the hole in the insulating layer. Moreover, portions of the second electrode may extend beyond an edge of the pattern of phase-changeable material. Related methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A phase-changeable memory device includes a substrate having a contact region on an upper surface thereof. An insulating interlayer on the substrate has an opening therein, and a lower electrode is formed in the opening. The lower electrode has a nitrided surface portion and is in electrical contact with the contact region of the substrate. A phase-changeable material layer pattern is on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode is on the phase-changeable material layer pattern. The insulating interlayer may have a nitrided surface portion and the phase-changeable material layer may be at least partially on the nitrided surface portion of the insulating interlayer. Methods of forming phase-changeable memory devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Phase-changeable memory devices include a lower electrode electrically connected to an impurity region of a transistor in a substrate and a programming layer pattern including a first phase-changeable material on the lower electrode. An adiabatic layer pattern including a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the first phase-changeable material is on the programming layer pattern and an upper electrode is on the adiabatic layer pattern.

Abstract: Phase-changeable memory devices include a lower electrode electrically connected to an impurity region of a transistor in a substrate and a programming layer pattern including a first phase-changeable material on the lower electrode. An adiabatic layer pattern including a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the first phase-changeable material is on the programming layer pattern and an upper electrode is on the adiabatic layer pattern.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the phase change material including a first crystalline phase is converted to one of a second crystalline phase and an amorphous phase. The second crystalline phase transitions to the amorphous phase more easily than the first crystalline phase. For example, the first crystalline phase may be a hexagonal closed packed structure, and the first crystalline phase may be a face centered cubic structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a single crystalline substrate and an active region defined in the single crystalline substrate, wherein a major axis direction of the active region is aligned with a <0,1,1> family direction.

Abstract: A phase changeable memory cell is provided. The phase changeable memory cell includes a lower interlayer dielectric layer formed on a semiconductor substrate and a lower conductive plug passing through the lower interlayer dielectric layer. The lower conductive plug is in contact with a phase change material pattern disposed on the lower interlayer dielectric layer. The phase change material pattern and the lower interlayer dielectric layer are covered with an upper interlayer dielectric layer. The phase change material pattern is in direct contact with a conductive layer pattern, which is disposed in a plate line contact hole passing through the upper interlayer dielectric layer. Methods of fabricating the phase changeable memory cell is also provided.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the phase change material including a first crystalline phase is converted to one of a second crystalline phase and an amorphous phase. The second crystalline phase transitions to the amorphous phase more easily than the first crystalline phase. For example the first crystalline phase may be a hexagonal closed packed structure and the first crystalline phase may be a face centered cubic structure.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor integrated circuit devices are provided. A substrate is provided with gate patterns formed on first and second regions. Spaces between gate patterns on the first region are narrower than spaces between gate patterns on the second region. Source/drain trenches are formed in the substrate on opposite sides of the gate patterns on the first and second regions. A first silicon-germanium (SiGe) epitaxial layer is formed that partially fills the source/drain trenches using a first silicon source gas. A second SiGe epitaxial layer is formed directly on the first SiGe epitaxial layer to further fill the source/drain trenches using a second silicon source gas that is different from the first silicon source gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phase changeable structure having decreased amounts of defects and a method of forming the phase changeable structure. A stacked composite is first formed by (i) forming a phase changeable layer including a chalcogenide is formed on a lower electrode, (ii) forming an etch stop layer having a first etch rate with respect to a first etching material including chlorine on the phase changeable layer, and (iii) forming a conductive layer having a second etch rate with respect to the first etching material on the etch stop layer. The conductive layer of the stacked composite is then etched using the first etching material to form an upper electrode. The etch stop layer and the phase changeable layer are then etched using a second etching material that is substantially flee of chlorine to form an etch stop pattern and a phase changeable pattern, respectively.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode are formed in a first area and a second area of a substrate. Non-crystalline regions are formed in the first area of the substrate adjacent the first gate electrode. A layer having a first stress is formed on the substrate and the first and the second gate electrodes. A mask is formed on a first portion of the layer in the first area of the substrate to expose a second portion of the layer in the second area. The second portion is etched to form a sacrificial spacer on a sidewall of the second gate electrode. The second area of the substrate is partially etched using the mask, the second gate electrode and the sacrificial spacer, to form recesses in the second area of the substrate adjacent the second gate electrode. Patterns having a second stress are formed in the recesses.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a phase-change memory device has an oxidation barrier layer to protect against memory cell contamination or oxidation and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises a molding layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The molding layer has a protrusion portion vertically extending from a top surface thereof. The device further includes a phase-changeable material pattern adjacent the protrusion portion and a lower electrode electrically connected to the phase-changeable material pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including an active region formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a field region adjacent to the active region, which is able to increase a width of the active region through use of a field recess portion at one surface side of the field region. The field recess portion may be laterally adjacent to a portion of the active region, thereby resulting in an increase of a width of the active region. A gate insulating film and a gate electrode may be formed on the field region and the active region, the gate insulating film and the gate electrode being formed in the field recess portion. The width of the active region may be a channel width.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a phase-change memory device has an oxidation barrier layer to protect against memory cell contamination or oxidation and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises a molding layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The molding layer has a protrusion portion vertically extending from a top surface thereof. The device further includes a phase-changeable material pattern adjacent the protrusion portion and a lower electrode electrically connected to the phase-changeable material pattern.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming at least one capping layer over epitaxial source/drain regions of a PMOS device, forming a stress memorization (SM) layer over the PMOS device including the at least one capping layer and over an adjacent NMOS device, and treating the SM layer formed over the NMOS and PMOS devices to induce tensile stress in a channel region of the NMOS device.

Abstract: A phase-changeable memory device includes a substrate having a field effect transistor therein and a phase-changeable material electrically coupled to a source region of the field effect transistor. The phase-changeable material includes a chalcogenide composition containing at least germanium, bismuth and tellurium and at least one dopant selected from a group consisting of nitrogen and silicon.

Abstract: Phase-changeable memory devices and method of fabricating phase-changeable memory devices are provided that include a phase-changeable material pattern of a phase-changeable material that may include nitrogen atoms and/or silicon atoms. First and second electrodes are electrically connected to the phase-changeable material pattern and provide an electrical signal thereto. The phase-changeable material pattern may have a polycrystal line structure.

Abstract: A phase-changeable memory device may include a substrate, an insulating layer on the substrate, first and second electrodes, and a pattern of a phase-changeable material between the first and second electrodes. More particularly, the insulating layer may have a hole therein, and the first electrode may be in the hole in the insulating layer. Moreover, portions of the second electrode may extend beyond an edge of the pattern of phase-changeable material. Related methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A phase-changeable memory device includes a substrate having a contact region on an upper surface thereof. An insulating interlayer on the substrate has an opening therein, and a lower electrode is formed in the opening. The lower electrode has a nitrided surface portion and is in electrical contact with the contact region of the substrate. A phase-changeable material layer pattern is on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode is on the phase-changeable material layer pattern. The insulating interlayer may have a nitrided surface portion and the phase-changeable material layer may be at least partially on the nitrided surface portion of the insulating interlayer. Methods of forming phase-changeable memory devices are also disclosed.