Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods to control bottom corner threshold in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) device. A method includes doping a corner region of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) island. The doping includes tailoring a localized doping of the corner region to reduce capacitive coupling of the SOI island with an adjacent structure.

Abstract: A structure forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) trench capacitor is disclosed. The structure comprises a multi-layer substrate having a metal layer and at least one dielectric layer. A trench is etched into the substrate, passing through the metal layer. The trench is lined with a metal material that is in contact with the metal layer, which comprises a first node of a capacitor. A dielectric material lines the metal material in the trench. The trench is filled with a conductor. The dielectric material that lines the metal material separates the conductor from the metal layer and the metal material lining the trench. The conductor comprises a second node of the capacitor.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming a memory cell. A first portion of a switching region is formed over a first electrode. A second portion of the switching region is formed over the first portion using atomic layer deposition. The second portion is a different composition than the first portion. An ion source region is formed over the switching region. A second electrode is formed over the ion source region. Some embodiments include a memory cell having a switching region between a pair of electrodes. The switching region is configured to be reversibly transitioned between a low resistive state and a high resistive state. The switching region includes two or more discrete portions, with one of the portions not having a non-oxygen component in common with any composition directly against it in the high resistive state.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed in which, in an embodiment, a first substrate includes at least one buried plate disposed in an upper part of the first substrate. Each of the at least one buried plate includes at least one buried plate contact, and a plurality of deep trench capacitors disposed about the at least one buried plate contact. A first oxide layer is disposed over the first substrate. The deep trench capacitors and buried plate contacts in the first substrate may be accessed for use in a variety of memory and decoupling applications.

Abstract: A vertically arranged laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device includes a trench extending into a semiconductor body toward a semiconductor substrate. The trench includes sidewalls, a bottom portion connecting the sidewalls, a dielectric material lining the trench and a diffusion agent layer lining the dielectric material. A lightly doped drain region adjoins the trench and extends laterally around the sidewalls from the diffusion agent layer into the semiconductor body. In one implementation, a method for fabricating a vertically arranged LDMOS device includes forming a trench extending into a semiconductor body toward a semiconductor substrate, the trench including sidewalls, a bottom portion connecting the sidewalls, a dielectric material lining the trench and a diffusion agent layer lining the dielectric material.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a varactor includes forming a well over a substrate. The well has a first type doping. A first source region and a second source region are formed in the well, and the first source region and the second source region have a second type doping. A drain region is formed in the well, and the drain region has the first type doping. A first gate region is formed over the well between the drain region and the first source region. Moreover, a second gate region is formed over the well between the drain region and the second source region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method of fabricating the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, the structure includes a first substrate having a buried plate or plates in the substrate. Each buried plate includes at least one buried plate contact, and a plurality of deep trench capacitors disposed about the at least one buried plate contact. A first oxide layer is disposed over the first substrate. The deep trench capacitors and buried plate contacts in the first substrate may be accessed for use in a variety of memory and decoupling applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a back electrode-type solar cell. The method for manufacturing a back electrode-type solar cell disclosed herein includes: A method for manufacturing a back electrode-type solar cell, comprising: preparing an n-type crystalline silicon substrate; forming a thermal diffusion control film on a front surface, a back surface and a side surface of the substrate; forming a p-type impurity region by implanting p-type impurity ions onto the back surface of the substrate; patterning the thermal diffusion control film so that the back surface of the substrate is selectively exposed; and forming a high-concentration back field layer (n+) at an exposed region of the back surface of the substrate and a low-concentration front field layer (n?) at the front surface of the substrate by performing a thermal diffusion process, and forming a p+ emitter region by activating the p-type impurity region.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide a varactor structure that, depends on configurations, can provide a C-V characteristic based on one or a combination of a reverse bias junction capacitor, a channel capacitor, and an oxide capacitor. The junction capacitor is formed by reverse biasing the P+ source region and the N-well. The channel capacitance is formed between the P+ source region and the N+ drain region, and the oxide capacitor is formed in the gate oxide area. Depending on biasing one or a combination of the gate voltage VG, the source voltage VS, and the drain voltage VD, embodiments can utilize one or a combination of the above capacitors. Other embodiments using the varactors in a Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a capacitor structure includes forming a pad oxide layer overlying a substrate, a nitride layer overlying the pad oxide layer, an interlayer dielectric layer overlying the nitride layer, and a patterned polysilicon mask layer overlying the interlayer dielectric layer. The method then applies a first RIE process to form a trench region through a portion of the interlayer dielectric layer using the patterned polysilicon mask layer and maintaining the first RIE to etch through a portion of the nitride layer and through a portion of the pad oxide layer. The method stops the first RIE when a portion of the substrate has been exposed. The method then forms an oxide layer overlying the exposed portion of the substrate and applies a second RIE process to continue to form the trench region by removing the oxide layer and removing a portion of the substrate to a predetermined depth.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a trench capacitor is provided in which a material composition of a semiconductor region of a substrate varies in a quantity of at least one component therein such that the quantity alternates with depth a plurality of times between at least two different values. For example, a concentration of a dopant or a weight percentage of a second semiconductor material in a semiconductor alloy can alternate between with depth a plurality of times between higher and lower values. In such method, the semiconductor region can be etched in a manner dependent upon the material composition to form a trench having an interior surface which undulates in a direction of depth from the major surface of the semiconductor region. Such method can further include forming a trench capacitor having an undulating capacitor dielectric layer, wherein the undulations of the capacitor dielectric layer are at least partly determined by the undulating interior surface of the trench.

Abstract: A capacitor is described which includes a substrate with a doped area of the substrate forming a first electrode of the capacitor. A plurality of trenches is arranged in the doped area of the substrate, the plurality of trenches forming a second electrode of the capacitor. An electrically insulating layer is arranged between each of the plurality of trenches and the doped area for electrically insulating the trenches from the doped area. The doped area includes first open areas and at least one second open area arranged between neighboring trenches of the plurality of trenches, wherein the at least one open area is arranged below the at least one substrate contact. A shortest first distance between neighboring trenches is separated by the first open areas and is shorter than a shortest second distance between neighboring trenches separated by the at least one second open area.

Abstract: Methods of forming an insulating film include forming an insulating film on a substrate. A first impurity is injected into the insulating film using a thermal process under a first set of processing conditions to form a first impurity concentration peak in a lower portion of the insulating film. A second impurity is injected into the insulating film using the thermal process under a second set of processing conditions, different from the first set of processing conditions, to form a second impurity concentration peak in an upper portion of the insulating film. Injecting the first impurity and injecting the second impurity may be carried out without using plasma and the first impurity concentration peak may be higher than the second impurity concentration peak.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit including a memory device includes, generating a solid electrolyte layer including a first solid electrolyte layer area and a second solid electrolyte layer area, the height of the top surface of the solid electrolyte layer within the second solid electrolyte layer area being lower than the height of the top surface of the solid electrolyte layer within the first solid electrolyte layer area; generating a conductive layer above the top surfaces of the first solid electrolyte layer area and the second solid electrolyte layer area; planarizing the top surface of the conductive layer such that the solid electrolyte layer is exposed within the first solid electrolyte layer area, however is covered by the conductive layer within the second solid electrolyte layer area; patterning the exposed solid electrolyte layer within the first solid electrolyte layer area.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and methods for its fabrication are provided. The semiconductor device comprises a trench formed in the semiconductor substrate and bounded by a trench wall extending from the semiconductor surface to a trench bottom. A drain region and a source region, spaced apart along the length of the trench, are formed along the trench wall, each extending from the surface toward the bottom. A channel region is formed in the substrate along the trench wall between the drain region and the source region and extending along the length of the trench parallel to the substrate surface. A gate insulator and a gate electrode are formed overlying the channel.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an insulating film disposed on the substrate, a resistor groove disposed in the insulating film, and a resistor disposed in the resistor groove. The resistor is separated from all side surfaces of the resistor groove by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: The leakage current generated due to the extension of the depleted layer to the end of the chip is reduced. In MOSFET 100, the depths of the trenches 112 in the gate pad portion 50 and the circumference portion 70 are larger than the depths of the trenches 111 in the cell region 60. Therefore, the depleted layer extending from the cell region 60 along the direction toward the gate pad portion 50 or the direction toward the circumference portion 70 is blocked by the presence of the trench 112. In other words, an extending of the depleted layer can be terminated by disposing the trench 112, so as to avoid reaching the depleted layer to the end of the semiconductor chip. Accordingly, a leakage current generated from the cell region 60 along the direction toward the end of the semiconductor chip can be reduced.

Abstract: An ultra shallow junction (USJ) FET device and method for forming the same with improved control over SDE or LDD doped region interfaces to improve device performance and reliability is provided, the method including providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate structure comprising a gate dielectric, an overlying gate electrode, and first offset spacers adjacent either side of the gate electrode; forming at least one doped semiconductor layer comprising dopants over a respective source and drain region adjacent the respective first offset spacers; forming second offset spacers adjacent the respective first offset spacers; and, thermally treating the at least one semiconductor layer to cause out-diffusion of the dopants to form doped regions in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A capacitor having a suitably large value for decoupling applications is formed in a trench defined by isolation structures such as recessed isolation or shallow trench isolation. The capacitor provides a contact area coextensive with an active area and can be reliably formed individually or in small numbers. Plate contacts are preferably made through implanted regions extending to or between dopant diffused regions forming a capacitor plate. The capacitor can be formed by a process subsequent to formation of isolation structures such that preferred soft mask processes can be used to form the isolation structures and process commonality and compatibility constraint are avoided while the capacitor forming processes can be performed in common with processing for other structures.

Abstract: Double-sided container capacitors are formed using sacrificial layers. A sacrificial layer is formed within a recess in a structural layer. A lower electrode is formed within the recess. The sacrificial layer is removed to create a space to allow access to the sides of the structural layer. The structural layer is removed, creating an isolated lower electrode. The lower electrode can be covered with a capacitor dielectric and upper electrode to form a double-sided container capacitor.

Abstract: A method for fabricating silicon-on-insulator (SOI) trench memory includes forming a trench on a substrate, wherein a buried oxide layer is disposed on the substrate, a SOI layer is disposed on the buried oxide layer, and a hardmask layer is disposed on the SOI layer, implanting ions into the substrate and the SOI layer on a first opposing side of the trench and a second opposing side the trench to partially form a capacitor, depositing a node dielectric in the trench, filling the trench with a first polysilicon, removing a portion of the first polysilicon from the trench, removing an exposed portion of the node dielectric, filling the trench with a second polysilicon, masking to define an active region on the hardmask layer, forming shallow trench isolation (STI) such that the STI contacts a portion of the buried oxide layer, removing the hardmask layer, and forming a transistor.

Abstract: A method for preparing a trench capacitor structure first forms at least one trench in a substrate, and forms a capacitor structure in the bottom portion of the trench, wherein the capacitor structure includes a buried bottom electrode positioned on a lower outer surface of the trench, a first dielectric layer covering an inner surface of the bottom electrode and a top electrode positioned on the surface of the dielectric layer. Subsequently, a collar insulation layer is formed on the surface of the first dielectric layer above the top electrode, and a first conductive block is then formed in the collar insulation layer. A second conductive block with dopants is formed on the first conductive block, and a thermal treating process is performed to diffuse the dopants from the second conductive block into an upper portion of the semiconductor substrate to form a buried conductive region.

Abstract: A trench capacitor with an isolation collar in a semiconductor substrate where the substrate adjacent to the isolation collar is free of dopants caused by auto-doping. The method of fabricating the trench capacitor includes the steps of forming a trench in the semiconductor substrate; depositing a dielectric layer on a sidewall of the trench; filling the trench with a first layer of undoped polysilicon; etching away the first layer of undoped polysilicon and the dielectric layer from an upper section of the trench whereby the semiconductor substrate is exposed at the sidewall in the upper section of the trench; forming an isolation collar layer on the sidewall in the upper section of the trench; and filling the trench with a second layer of doped polysilicon.

Abstract: A method for preparing a trench capacitor structure first forms at least one trench in a substrate, and forms a capacitor structure in the bottom portion of the trench, wherein the capacitor structure includes a buried bottom electrode positioned on a lower outer surface of the trench, a first dielectric layer covering an inner surface of the bottom electrode and a top electrode positioned on the surface of the dielectric layer. Subsequently, a collar insulation layer is formed on the surface of the first dielectric layer above the top electrode, and a first conductive block is then formed in the collar insulation layer. A second conductive block with dopants is formed on the first conductive block, and a thermal treating process is performed to diffuse the dopants from the second conductive block into an upper portion of the semiconductor substrate to form a buried conductive region.

Abstract: An electrode structure includes a first layer of conductive material and a dielectric layer formed on a surface of the first layer. An opening is formed in the dielectric layer to expose a portion of the surface of the first layer. A binding layer is formed on the dielectric layer and on the exposed portion of the surface of the first layer and a second layer of conductive material is formed on the conductive binding layer. The binding layer can be an oxide and the second layer a conductive material that is diffusible into an oxide. The electrode structure can be annealed to cause conductive material from the second layer to be chemisorbed into the binding layer to improve adhesion between the first and second layers. A programmable cell can be formed by forming a doped glass layer in the electrode structure.

Abstract: A DRAM cell with a self-aligned gradient P-well and a method for forming the same. The DRAM cell includes (a) a semiconductor substrate; (b) an electrically conducting region including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion; (c) a first doped semiconductor region wrapping around the first portion, but electrically insulated from the first portion by a capacitor dielectric layer; (d) a second doped semiconductor region wrapping around the second portion, but electrically insulated from the second portion by a collar dielectric layer. The second portion is on top of and electrically coupled to the first portion, and the third portion is on top of and electrically coupled to the second portion. The collar dielectric layer is in direct physical contact with the capacitor dielectric layer. When going away from the collar dielectric layer, a doping concentration of the second doped semiconductor region decreases.

Abstract: A trench capacitor structure in which arsenic contamination is substantially reduced and/or essentially eliminated from diffusing into a semiconductor substrate along sidewalls of a trench opening having a high aspect ratio is provided. The present invention also provides a method of fabricating such a trench capacitor structure as well as a method for detecting the arsenic contamination during the drive-in annealing step. The detection of arsenic for product running through the manufacturing lines uses the effect of arsenic enhanced oxidation. That is, the high temperature oxidation anneal used to drive arsenic into the semiconductor substrate is monitored for thickness. For large levels of arsenic outdiffusion, the oxidation rate will increase resulting in a thicker oxide layer. If such an event is detected, the product that has been through the process steps to form the buried plate up to the drive-in anneal, can be reworked to reduce arsenic contamination.

Abstract: The surface area of the walls of a trench formed in a substrate is increased. A barrier layer is formed on the walls of the trench such that the barrier layer is thinner near the corners of the trench and is thicker between the corners of the trench. A dopant is introduced into the substrate through the barrier layer to form higher doped regions in the substrate near the corners of the trench and lesser doped regions between the corners of the trench. The barrier layer is removed, and the walls of the trench are etched in a manner that etches the lesser doped regions of the substrate at a higher rate than the higher doped regions of the substrate to widen and lengthen the trench and to form rounded corners at the intersections of the walls of the trench.

Abstract: A method for forming a deep trench structure comprises the steps of providing a silicon substrate; forming a mask layer of a predetermined pattern on the silicon substrate to expose a portion of the silicon substrate; forming a first trench in the exposed portion of the silicon substrate, the first trench having a first depth; forming a nitride layer on the surfaces of the whole structure; forming a second trench in the first trench downward, the second trench having a second depth greater than the first depth; forming another nitride layer on the surfaces of the whole structure; and forming a third trench in the second trench downward, the third trench having a third depth greater than the second depth. The method of the present invention can make the whole trench have better etch uniformity, thereby obtaining good electrical performance.

Abstract: A method of forming a trench capacitor is disclosed. After completion of the bottom electrode of the capacitor, a collar dielectric layer is directly formed on the sidewall of the deep trench using self-starved atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (self-starved ALCVD). Then, a high dielectric constant (high k) dielectric layer is formed overlying the collar dielectric and the bottom portion of the deep trench using atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALCVD). Thereafter, a conductive layer is filled into the deep trench and recessed to a predetermined depth. A portion of the dielectric layer and the high dielectric constant (high k) layer at the top of the deep trench are removed to complete the fabrication of the deep trench capacitor.

Abstract: Provided herein are vertical nanotube semiconductor devices and methods for making the same. An embodiment of the semiconductor devices comprises a vertical transistor/capacitor cell including a nanotube. The device includes a vertical transistor and a capacitor cell both using a single nanotube to form the individual devices.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method for making a trench capacitor of DRAM devices. A single-sided spacer is situated on the sidewall of a recess at the top of the trench capacitor prior to the third polysilicon deposition and recess etching process. The single-sided spacer is formed on the second polysilicon layer and collar oxide layer. Then, the third polysilicon deposition and recess etching process is carried out to form a third polysilicon layer on the second polysilicon layer. Dopants of the third polysilicon layer are blocked from diffusing to the substrate by the single-sided spacer.

Abstract: A method for forming a buried plate in a trench capacitor is disclosed. The trench is completely filled with a dopant source material such as ASG. The dopant source material is then recessed and the collar material is deposited to form the collar in the upper portion of the trench. After drive-in of the dopants to form the buried plate, the dopant source material is removed and the collar materials may be removed.

Abstract: A method for forming a self-aligned buried strap in a vertical memory cell. A semiconductor substrate with a trench is provided. A collar dielectric layer is conformally formed on the trench bottom portion, and the trench is filled with a conducting layer. The collar dielectric layer is etched below the level of the surface of the conducting layer to form a groove between the conducting layer and the trench. The groove is filled with a doped conducting layer. The dopant in the doped conducting layer is diffused to the semiconductor substrate in an ion diffusion area as a buried strap. The conducting layer and the doped conducting layer are etched below the ion diffusion area. A top trench insulating layer is formed on the bottom of the trench, wherein the top trench insulating layer is lower than the ion diffusion area.

Abstract: The invention provides a trench storage structure that includes a substrate having a trench, a capacitor conductor in the lower part of the trench, a conductive node strap in the trench adjacent the capacitor conductor, a trench top oxide above the capacitor conductor, and a conductive buried strap in the substrate adjacent the trench top oxide. The trench top oxide includes a doped trench top oxide layer above the conductive strap, and an undoped trench top oxide layer above the doped trench top oxide layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a trench capacitor. A semiconductor substrate with a trench is provided, and a trench capacitor is formed in the trench with a storage node and a node dielectric layer. The top portion of the trench is ion implanted to a predetermined angle to form an ion doped area on a sidewall of the top portion of the trench and a top surface of the trench capacitor. The ion doped area is oxidized to form an oxide layer. A sidewall semiconductor layer is formed on another sidewall using the oxide layer as a mask, and then the oxide layer is removed. A barrier layer is conformally formed on the surface of the trench, and the trench is filled with a conducting layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes first and second semiconductor layers, a buried insulating layer, a trench comprising a retreated portion, and the trench defining a first opening width at the second semiconductor layer, a first capacitor electrode formed in the first semiconductor layer, a capacitor insulating film formed in the trench, a second capacitor electrode formed in the trench in the first semiconductor layer, an insulating film formed on a side surface of the retreated portion and defining second and third opening widths, the second opening width serving as a width at the buried insulating layer and being not more than the first opening width, and the third opening width serving as a width at a boundary portion between the buried insulating layer and first semiconductor layer, and a connection portion electrically connected to the second capacitor electrode.

Abstract: A method for forming a self-aligned buried strap in a vertical memory cell. A semiconductor substrate with a trench is provided, a capacitor wire is formed on the bottom portion of the trench, and a collar dielectric layer is formed between the capacitor wire and the semiconductor substrate to act as an isolation. The capacitor wire and the collar dielectric layer are etched to a predetermined depth, such that a gap is formed between the spacer and the capacitor wire and the collar dielectric layer. Ions are doped into the exposed semiconductor substrate to form an ion doped area acting as a buried strap. The spacer is removed, and an exposed collar dielectric layer is etched below the level of the surface of the capacitor wire, and a groove is formed between the capacitor wire and the trench sidewall to fill with a conducting layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a buried plate of a deep trench capacitor is described. A substrate having a deep trench therein is provided. A doped layer is formed on the surface of the deep trench and a material layer is formed on the doped layer. A passivation layer is formed on the sidewall of the deep trench that is not covered by the material layer. After removing the material layer, a thermal process is conducted to drive-in the dopants in the doped layer to the substrate to form a doped region, wherein the doped region serves as a buried plate of the deep trench capacitor. The doped layer also reacts with the substrate to form an oxide layer. After removing the oxide layer, a bottle-shaped deep trench is formed.

Abstract: A trench capacitor process for preventing parasitic leakage. The process is capable of blocking leakage current from a parasitic transistor adjacent to the trench, and includes the steps of forming a doping layer and a cap layer covering portions of the sidewall of the trench and performing an annealing process on the doping layer to form a dopant region in the substrate adjacent to each sidewall of the trench and blocks leakage current from a parasitic transistor adjacent to the trench.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a deep trench capacitor is provided. A substrate with a deep trench thereon is provided. A bottom electrode is formed at a bottom of the deep trench and a capacitor dielectric layer, a first conductive layer, a protective layer and a collar layer are sequentially formed on the surface of the deep trench. The protective layer and the collar oxide layer on the surface of the first conductive layer are removed, material is deposited into the deep trench to form a material layer. A portion of the material layer is removed to form a first opening. Thereafter, collar oxide layer and the protective layer not covered by the material layer is removed. A portion of the mask layer and the protective layer on the sidewall of the first opening is removed to form a second opening. After removing the material layer, a second conductive layer and a third conductive layer are sequentially formed in the deep trench.

Abstract: A method for fabricating trench capacitors having trenches with mesopores, the trench capacitors being suitable both for discrete capacitors and for integrated semiconductor memories, significantly increases the surface area for electrodes of the capacitors and, hence, the capacitance thereof. The mesopores, which are small woodworm-hole-like channels having diameters from approximately 2 to 50 nm, are fabricated electrochemically. It is, thus, possible to produce capacitances with a large capacitance-to-volume ratio. Growth of the mesopores stops, at the latest, when the mesopores reach a minimum distance from another mesopore or adjacent trench (self-passivation). As such, the formation of “short circuits” between two adjacent mesopores can be avoided in a self-regulated manner. Furthermore, a semiconductor device is provided including at least one trench capacitor on the front side of a semiconductor substrate fabricated by the method according to the invention.

Abstract: A memory device that includes a semiconductor substrate, and an array of memory cells, each cell being electrically isolated from adjacent cells and including an island formed from the substrate, the island having a top portion and at least one sidewall portion, and being spaced apart from other islands by a bottom surface on the substrate, a capacitor formed contiguous with the sidewall portion, and a transistor formed on the top portion of the island, the transistor including a gate oxide layer formed on a surface of the top portion, a gate formed on the gate oxide layer, and a first and a second diffused regions formed in the top portion, the first diffused region being spaced apart from the second diffused region.

Abstract: A method for removal of hemispherical grained silicon (HSG) in a deep trench is described. A buried silicon germanium (SiGe) layer serving as an etch stop layer is formed in the collar region of the trench, followed by depositing a HSG layer. The HSG layer is then successfully striped by wet etching with a potassium hydroxide/propanone/water etchant, that is, without damage to the trench sidewalls, since a good etch rate selectivity between the HSG layer and the SiGe layer is obtained by the wet etchant. In addition, no etch stop layer exists between the HSG layer and the bottom of the trench when manufacturing trench capacitors in accordance with the method; capacitance degradation is therefore not of concern.

Abstract: A semiconductor Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) cell is fabricated using a vertical access transistor and a storage capacitor formed in a vertical trench. A Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) region is used as a masking region to confine the channel region of the access transistor, the first and second output regions of the access transistor, and a strap region connecting the second output region to the storage capacitor, to a narrow portion of the trench. The so confined second output region of the access transistor has reduced leakage to similar second output regions of adjacent memory cells. Adjacent memory cells can then be placed closer to one another without an increase in leakage and cross-talk between adjacent memory cells.

Abstract: A method for forming a uniform bottom electrode in a trench of a trench capacitor. A semiconductor substrate has a dense trench area and a less dense trench area with a plurality of trenches formed in both areas respectively. A hard mask layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and the trenches are filled with the mask layer. The hard mask layer is etched at an angle until the dense trench area and the less dense trench area in the semiconductor substrate are exposed to leave the hard mask layer in the trenches. Finally, the hard mask layers in the trenches are etched, and a uniform thickness of the hard mask layer in each trench is achieved.

Abstract: A method for forming a vertical transistor and a trench capacitor. A semiconductor substrate having a pad stacked layer on the surface and a trench formed therein is provided. A capacitor is formed at the bottom part of the trench and a portion of the upper sidewall of the trench is exposed. A conductive wire is then formed on the capacitor, followed by forming a dielectric layer on the exposed sidewalls of the trench. A trench top dielectric is then formed by liquid phase deposition on the conductive wire. A transistor is then formed on the trench top dielectric, which isolates the transistor from the capacitor.

Abstract: A memory cell and method of forming the same is provided. To make contact between a bit line and a select transistor of a dynamic memory unit on a semiconductor wafer, a contact hole is filled with a metal or a metal alloy. A liner layer may be introduced between the semiconductor substrate and the metal filling. The semiconductor substrate has a doped region in the contact hole.

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: A method of fabricating a DRAM cell, comprising the following steps. A substrate is provided. An isolation structure is formed within the substrate. The substrate is patterned to form nodes adjacent the isolation structure. Doped regions are formed with the substrate adjacent the nodes. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the patterned substrate, lining the nodes. A conductive layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer, filling the nodes. The conductive layer is patterned to form: a top electrode capacitor within the nodes; and respective word lines over the substrate adjacent the top electrode capacitor; each word line having exposed side walls. Source/drain regions are formed adjacent the word lines.