Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method, in an integrated, of forming a high-K node dielectric of a trench capacitor and a trench sidewall device dielectric at the same time. The method includes forming a trench in a single crystal layer of a semiconductor substrate, and forming an isolation collar along a portion of the trench sidewall, wherein the collar has a top below the top of the trench in the single crystal layer. Then, at the same time, a high-K dielectric is formed along the trench sidewall, the high-K dielectric extending in both an upper portion of the trench including above the isolation collar and in a lower portion of the trench below the isolation collar.

Abstract: A method and structure for increasing the threshold voltage of vertical semiconductor devices. The method comprises creating a deep trench in a substrate whose semiconductor material has an orientation plane perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. Then, vertical transistors are formed around and along the depth of the deep trench. Next, two shallow trench isolation are formed such that they sandwich the deep trench in an active region and the two shallow trench isolation regions abut the active region via planes perpendicular to the orientation plane. Then, the channel regions of the vertical transistors are exposed to the atmosphere in the deep trench and then chemically etched to planes parallel to the orientation plane. Then, a gate dielectric layer is formed on the wall of the deep trench. Finally, the deep trench is filled with poly-silicon to form the gate for the vertical transistors.

Abstract: A 3D microelectronic structure is provided which includes a substrate having at least one opening present therein, the at least one opening having sidewalls which extend to a common bottom wall; and a thermal nitride layer present on at least an upper portion of each sidewall of openings. A method for fabricating the above-mentioned 3D microelectronic structure is also provided. Specifically, the method includes a step of selectively forming a thermal nitride layer on at least an upper portion of each sidewall of an opening formed in a substrate.

Abstract: In the course of forming a trench capacitor or similar structure, the sidewalls of an aperture in a substrate are lined with a film stack containing a diffusion barrier; an upper portion of the outer layer is stripped, so that the upper and lower portions have different materials exposed; the lower portion of the film stack is stripped while the upper portion is protected by a hardmask layer; a diffusion step is performed in the lower portion while the upper portion is protected; and a selected material such as hemispherical grained silicon is deposited selectively on the lower portion while the exposed surface of the upper portion is a material on which the selected material forms poorly, so that the diffusing material penetrates and the selected material is formed only on the lower portion.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and structure for fabricating a trench capacitor within a semiconductor substrate having a buried plate electrode formed of metal silicide. A collar is formed in a trench etched into a substrate; a conformal metal film is deposited thereover, and is annealed to form a silicide that is self-aligned to the collar. Silicide will not be formed on the collar, pads and other areas where the silicon is not directly exposed and hence the metal layer can be removed from these areas by selective etching.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of removing liquid from a surface of a semiconductor wafer that comprises the steps of providing a plurality of capillary channels, each said capillary channel having a first opening and a second opening, and then placing said first openings in contact with the liquid in a manner effective in drawing away the liquid by capillary action.

Abstract: Methods forming a trench region of a trench capacitor structure having increase surface area are provided. One method includes the steps of forming a discontinuous polysilicon layer on exposed walls of a lower trench region, the discontinuous polysilicon layer having gaps therein which expose portions of said substrate; oxidizing the lower trench region such that the exposed portions of said substrate provided by the gaps in the discontinuous polysilicon layer are oxidized into oxide material which forms a smooth and wavy layer with the discontinuous polysilicon layer; and etching said oxide material so as to form smooth hemispherical grooves on the walls of the trench region.

Abstract: A method of removing water from the surface of a silicon wafer or other substrate subjected to wet processing which includes a step of water rinsing. In this method a silicon wafer whose surface includes liquid water is disposed in an atmosphere saturated with water vapor. The water vapor is removed from the surface of the silicon wafer by a stream of water-saturated gas. Upon removal of liquid water from the surface of the silicon wafer the water vapor in the water vapor saturated atmosphere is removed by evaporation.