Abstract: A semiconductor devices including non-volatile memories and methods of fabricating the same to improve performance thereof are provided. Generally, the device includes a memory transistor comprising a polysilicon channel region electrically connecting a source region and a drain region formed in a substrate, an oxide-nitride-nitride-oxide (ONNO) stack disposed above the channel region, and a high work function gate electrode formed over a surface of the ONNO stack. In one embodiment the ONNO stack includes a multi-layer charge-trapping region including an oxygen-rich first nitride layer and an oxygen-lean second nitride layer disposed above the first nitride layer. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same are provided. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a memory transistor with an oxide-nitride-nitride-oxide (ONNO) stack disposed above a channel region. The ONNO stack comprises a tunnel dielectric layer disposed above the channel region, a multi-layer charge-trapping region disposed above the tunnel dielectric layer, and a blocking dielectric layer disposed above the multi-layer charge-trapping region. The multi-layer charge-trapping region includes a substantially trap-free layer comprising an oxygen-rich nitride and a trap-dense layer disposed above the trap-free layer. The semiconductor device further includes a strain inducing structure including a strain inducing layer disposed proximal to the ONNO stack to increase charge retention of the multi-layer charge-trapping region. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of scaling a nonvolatile trapped-charge memory device and the device made thereby is provided. In an embodiment, the method includes forming a channel region including polysilicon electrically connecting a source region and a drain region in a substrate. A tunneling layer is formed on the substrate over the channel region by oxidizing the substrate to form an oxide film and nitridizing the oxide film. A multi-layer charge trapping layer including an oxygen-rich first layer and an oxygen-lean second layer is formed on the tunneling layer, and a blocking layer deposited on the multi-layer charge trapping layer. In one embodiment, the method further includes a dilute wet oxidation to densify a deposited blocking oxide and to oxidize a portion of the oxygen-lean second layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a nonvolatile charge trap memory device is described. The method includes subjecting a substrate to a first oxidation process to form a tunnel oxide layer overlying a polysilicon channel, and forming over the tunnel oxide layer a multi-layer charge storing layer comprising an oxygen-rich, first layer comprising a nitride, and an oxygen-lean, second layer comprising a nitride on the first layer. The substrate is then subjected to a second oxidation process to consume a portion of the second layer and form a high-temperature-oxide (HTO) layer overlying the multi-layer charge storing layer. The stoichiometric composition of the first layer results in it being substantially trap free, and the stoichiometric composition of the second layer results in it being trap dense. The second oxidation process can comprise a plasma oxidation process or a radical oxidation process using In-Situ Steam Generation.

Abstract: Scaling a charge trap memory device and the article made thereby. In one embodiment, the charge trap memory device includes a substrate having a source region, a drain region, and a channel region electrically connecting the source and drain. A tunnel dielectric layer is disposed above the substrate over the channel region, and a multi-layer charge-trapping region disposed on the tunnel dielectric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor devices including non-volatile memories and methods of fabricating the same to improve performance thereof are provided. Generally, the device includes a memory transistor comprising a polysilicon channel region electrically connecting a source region and a drain region formed in a substrate, an oxide-nitride-nitride-oxide (ONNO) stack disposed above the channel region, and a high work function gate electrode formed over a surface of the ONNO stack. In one embodiment the ONNO stack includes a multi-layer charge-trapping region including an oxygen-rich first nitride layer and an oxygen-lean second nitride layer disposed above the first nitride layer. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor memory device including a multi-layer charge storing layer and methods of forming the same are described. Generally, the device includes a channel formed from a semiconducting material overlying a surface on a substrate connecting a source and a drain of the memory device; a tunnel oxide layer overlying the channel; and a multi-layer charge storing layer including an oxygen-rich, first oxynitride layer on the tunnel oxide layer in which a stoichiometric composition of the first oxynitride layer results in it being substantially trap free, and an oxygen-lean, second oxynitride layer on the first oxynitride layer in which a stoichiometric composition of the second oxynitride layer results in it being trap dense. In one embodiment, the device comprises a non-planar transistor including a gate having multiple surfaces abutting the channel, and the gate comprises the tunnel oxide layer and the multi-layer charge storing layer.

Abstract: An embodiment of a nonvolatile charge trap memory device is described. In one embodiment, the device comprises a channel comprising silicon overlying a surface on a substrate electrically connecting a first diffusion region and a second diffusion region of the memory device, and a gate stack intersecting and overlying at least a portion of the channel, the gate stack comprising a tunnel oxide abutting the channel, a split charge-trapping region abutting the tunnel oxide, and a multi-layer blocking dielectric abutting the split charge-trapping region. The split charge-trapping region includes a first charge-trapping layer comprising a nitride closer to the tunnel oxide, and a second charge-trapping layer comprising a nitride overlying the first charge-trapping layer. The multi-layer blocking dielectric comprises at least a high-K dielectric layer.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of integrating a non-volatile memory device into a logic MOS flow is described. Generally, the method includes: forming in a first region of a substrate a channel of a memory device from a semiconducting material overlying a surface of the substrate, the channel connecting a source and a drain of the memory device; forming a charge trapping dielectric stack over the channel adjacent to a plurality of surfaces of the channel, wherein the charge trapping dielectric stack includes a blocking layer on a charge trapping layer over a tunneling layer; and forming a MOS device over a second region of the substrate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a nonvolatile charge trap memory device is described. The method includes providing a substrate having a charge-trapping layer disposed thereon. A portion of the charge-trapping layer is then oxidized to form a blocking dielectric layer above the charge-trapping layer by exposing the charge-trapping layer to a radical oxidation process.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a nonvolatile charge trap memory device is described. The method includes forming a first oxide layer on a surface of a substrate. The first oxide layer is exposed to a first decoupled plasma nitridation process having a first bias. Subsequently, a charge-trapping layer is formed on the first oxide layer. The charge-trapping layer is exposed to an oxidation process and then to a second decoupled plasma nitridation process having a second, different, bias.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method to form the same. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate having a non-volatile charge trap memory device disposed on a first region and a logic device disposed on a second region. A charge trap dielectric stack may be formed subsequent to forming wells and channels of the logic device. HF pre-cleans and SC1 cleans may be avoided to improve the quality of a blocking layer of the non-volatile charge trap memory device. The blocking layer may be thermally reoxidized or nitridized during a thermal oxidation or nitridation of a logic MOS gate insulator layer to densify the blocking layer. A multi-layered liner may be utilized to first offset a source and drain implant in a high voltage logic device and also block silicidation of the nonvolatile charge trap memory device.

Abstract: Deposition and anneal operations are iterated to break a deposition into a number of sequential deposition-anneal operations to reach a desired annealed dielectric layer thickness. In one particular embodiment, a two step anneal is performed including an NH3 or ND3 ambient followed by an N2O or NO ambient. In one embodiment, such a method is employed to form a dielectric layer having a stoichiometry attainable with only a deposition process but with a uniform material quality uncharacteristically high of a deposition process. In particular embodiments, sequential deposition-anneal operations provide an annealed first dielectric layer upon which a second dielectric layer may be left substantially non-annealed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a bilayer charge storing layer and methods of forming the same are provided. Generally, the method includes: (i) forming a first layer of the bilayer charge storing layer; and (ii) forming a second layer formed on a surface of the first layer, the second layer including an oxynitride charge trapping layer. Preferably, the first layer includes a substantially trap free oxynitride layer. More preferably, the oxynitride charge trapping layer includes a significantly higher stoichiometric composition of silicon than that of the first layer. In certain embodiments, the oxynitride charge trapping layer has a concentration of carbon selected to increase the number of traps therein. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a non-volatile memory transistor including an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) dielectric stack on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, the ONO dielectric stack comprising a multilayer charge storage layer including a silicon-rich, oxygen-lean top silicon oxynitride layer and a silicon-rich, oxygen-rich bottom silicon oxynitride layer, and a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) logic transistor including a gate oxide and a high work function gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a silicon-oxide-oxynitride-oxide-silicon structure and methods of forming the same are provided. Generally, the structure comprises: a tunnel oxide layer on a surface of a substrate including silicon; a multi-layer charge storing layer including an oxygen-rich, first oxynitride layer on the tunnel oxide layer in which the stoichiometric composition of the first oxynitride layer results in it being substantially trap free, and an oxygen-lean, second oxynitride layer on the first oxynitride layer in which the stoichiometric composition of the second oxynitride layer results in it being trap dense; a blocking oxide layer on the second oxynitride layer; and a silicon containing gate layer on the blocking oxide layer. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for programming and sensing a bi-nitride layer trapped-charge memory device in one of a first and second programmed states or one of a first and second erased states, where the first and second programmed states correspond to first and second uniform trapped charge distributions of a first charge type and the first and second erased states correspond to first and second uniform trapped charge distributions of a second charge type.

Abstract: A nonvolatile charge trap memory device and a method to form the same are described. The device includes a channel region having a channel length with <100> crystal plane orientation. The channel region is between a pair of source and drain regions and a gate stack is disposed above the channel region.

Abstract: A blocking layer of a non-volatile charge trap memory device is formed by oxidizing a portion of a charge trapping layer of the memory device. In one embodiment, the blocking layer is grown by a radical oxidation process at temperature below 500° C. In accordance with one implementation, the radical oxidation process involves flowing hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) gas mixture into a process chamber and exposing the substrate to a plasma. In a preferred embodiment, a high density plasma (HDP) chamber is employed to oxidize a portion of the charge trapping layer. In further embodiments, a portion of a silicon-rich silicon oxynitride charge trapping layer is consumptively oxidized to form the blocking layer and provide an increased memory window relative to oxidation of a nitrogen-rich silicon oxynitride layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a nonvolatile charge trap memory device is described. The method includes first forming a tunnel dielectric layer on a substrate in a first process chamber of a single-wafer cluster tool. A charge-trapping layer is then formed on the tunnel dielectric layer in a second process chamber of the single-wafer cluster tool. A top dielectric layer is then formed on the charge-trapping layer in the second or in a third process chamber of the single-wafer cluster tool.