Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method for fabricating a storage capacitor designed as a trench or a stacked capacitor and is used in particular in a DRAM memory cell. The method includes steps of forming a lower, metallic capacitor electrode, a storage dielectric and an upper capacitor electrode. The lower, metallic capacitor electrode is formed in a self-aligned manner on a silicon base material in such a way that uncovered silicon regions are first produced at locations at which the lower capacitor electrode will be formed, and then metal silicide is selectively formed on the uncovered silicon regions.

Abstract: A trench capacitor for use in a DRAM memory cell contains a lower capacitor electrode, a storage dielectric, and an upper capacitor electrode, which are at least partially disposed in a trench. The lower capacitor electrode adjoins, in a lower trench region, a wall of the trench, while in the upper trench region there is a spacer layer that adjoins a wall of the trench and is made from an insulating material. The upper electrode contains at least three layers, a first layer disposed in the trench on the storage dielectric and containing doped polysilicon, a second layer disposed on the first layer and containing metal-silicide, and a third layer disposed on the second layer and containing doped polysilicon. The layers of the upper electrode in each case extending along the walls and the base of the trench up to at least the upper edge of the spacer layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provides a stepped tip junction region between a source/drain region of a transistor and a gate. In some embodiments, a spacer of the transistor includes a tip junction spacer layer and a source/drain spacer layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for production of a metallic or metal-containing layer (5) by using a pre-cursor on a silicon- or germanium-containing layer, of, in particular, an electronic component, whereby an intermediate layer is applied to the silicon- or germanium-containing layer before the use of the pre-cursor. Said intermediate layer forms a diffusion barrier for at least those elements or the pre-cursor which would etch the silicon- or germanium-containing layer and is itself resistant to etching by the pre-cursor.

Abstract: An upper capacitor electrode of a trench capacitor of a DRAM memory cell is formed at least in part as a result of a plurality of metal-containing layers being deposited one on top of another and in each case being conditioned after they have been deposited. In this way, the internal stress of the electrode layer can be reduced, and therefore a breaking strength and a resistance to leakage currents of the trench capacitor can be increased.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes a bit line (10), a reference bit line (12), a sense amplifier with two cross-coupled CMOS inverters, which in each case comprise an n-channel transistor (20, 22) and a p-channel field-effect transistor (30, 32), and also, at the respective source terminals, two voltage sources (40, 42), of which the voltage source (40) linked to the n-channel field-effect transistors can be driven from a lower through to an upper potential and the voltage source (42) linked to the p-channel field-effect transistors (30, 32) can be driven from the upper through to the lower potential. With this circuit arrangement, it is possible to store three different charge states in the memory cell (4) on the bit line (10) if the threshold voltages (UTH1, UTH2) at the transistors are chosen to be greater than half the voltage difference between the lower and upper voltage potentials. This can be achieved by production engineering or, for example, by changing the substrate bias voltage.

Abstract: The ALD process chamber has heating radiation sources and the process sequence includes rapid temperature changes on a substrate surface of a substrate arranged in the ALD process chamber. The temperature changes are controlled and the ALD and CVD processes are optimized by in situ temperature steps, for example in order to produce nanolaminates.

Abstract: A structure on a layer surface of the semiconductor wafer has at least one first area region (8, 9), which is reflective for electromagnetic radiation, and at least one second, essentially nonreflecting area region (10, 11, 12). A light-transmissive insulation layer (13) and a light-sensitive layer are produced on said layer surface. The electromagnetic radiation is directed onto the light-sensitive layer with an angle &THgr; of incidence and the structure of the layer surface is imaged with a lateral offset into the light-sensitive layer.

Abstract: An etching mask is produced for etching a substrate by a photoresist layer being exposed such that areas which are exposed once are not yet completely exposed and, on the basis of a reflective layer which is located under the photoresist layer, additionally exposed areas are exposed completely. In consequence, a first etching mask which is used for etching a substrate can be renewed by a second etching mask in that a photoresist layer which is applied to the first etching mask or instead of the first etching mask is exposed such that areas which have been exposed once are not yet completely exposed, and areas which have been additionally exposed on the basis of a reflective layer which is located under the photoresist layer and corresponds to the first etching mask are exposed completely.

Abstract: The bottom and the sides of a lower part of recess formed in the substrate has an insulating structure. A first part of the conductive structure of a first electric conductivity type is located in the lower part of the recess. A second part of the conductive structure of a second electric conductivity type, lower than the first type, is located in an upper part and borders the region of the substrate at the sides of the recess. The conductive structure has a diffusion barrier between its first and second parts. The conductive structure is configured as a bit line of a DRAM cell configuration with a vertical transistor, whereby S/Du represents the lower source/drain area and S/Do represents the upper source/drain area connected to a memory capacitor. Or, the conductive structure is configured as a memory capacitor and the upper source drain/area is connected to a bit line.

Abstract: Tungsten silicide layers are formed on a substrate and a semiconductor component has deep trench capacitors with a filling of tungsten silicide. The tungsten silicide layers are deposited on the substrate at a temperature of less than 400° C. and at a pressure of less than 10 torr from the vapor phase. The vapor phase hs a tungsten-containing precursor substance and a silicon-containing precursor substance. The molar ratio of the silicon-containing precursor compound to the tungsten-containing precursor compound in the vapor phase is selected to be greater than 500.

Abstract: The stress-reduced layer system has at least one first layer of polycrystalline or single-crystal semiconductor material, which adjoins a microcrystalline or amorphous, conducting or insulating second layer. The semiconductor layer is doped with at least two dopants of the same conductivity type, of which at least one is suitable for reducing mechanical stresses at the interface. The stress-reduced layer system, in a further embodiment, has at least one first layer of semiconductor material, conducting or insulating material and at least one conducting or insulating second layer. A further semiconductor layer, which is doped with at least one dopant that is suitable for reducing mechanical stresses at the interface between the second layer and the first layer, is arranged between the first layer and the second layer or it is applied to the surface of the first layer or the second layer that is opposite from the interface.

Abstract: At least a partial layer of an upper capacitor electrode is formed by metal carbide, preferably by a transition metal carbide. In one embodiment, the metal carbide layer is formed by depositing an alternating sequence of metal-containing layers and carbon-containing layers on top of one another and then subjecting them to a heat treatment, in such a manner that they mix with one another. The patterning of the layer sequence can be carried out before the carbide formation step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method for fabricating a storage capacitor designed as a trench or a stacked capacitor and is used in particular in a DRAM memory cell. The method includes steps of forming a lower, metallic capacitor electrode, a storage dielectric and an upper capacitor electrode. The lower, metallic capacitor electrode is formed in a self-aligned manner on a silicon base material in such a way that uncovered silicon regions are first produced at locations at which the lower capacitor electrode will be formed, and then metal silicide is selectively formed on the uncovered silicon regions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for production of a metallic or metal-containing layer (5) by using a pre-cursor on a silicon- or germanium-containing layer, of, in particular, an electronic component, whereby an intermediate layer is applied to the silicon- or germanium-containing layer before the use of the pre-cursor.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is provided, on which there is arranged a first layer, a second layer and a third layer. The third layer is, for example, a resist mask that is used to pattern the second layer. The second layer is, for example, a patterned hard mask used to pattern the first layer. Then, the third layer is removed and a fourth layer is deposited. The fourth layer is, for example, an insulator that fills the trenches which have been formed in the first layer. Then, the fourth layer is planarized by a CMP step. The planarization is continued and the second layer, which is, for example, a hard mask, is removed from the first layer together with the fourth layer. The fourth layer remains in place in a trench which is arranged in the first layer.

Abstract: A trench capacitor for use in a DRAM memory cell contains a lower capacitor electrode, a storage dielectric, and an upper capacitor electrode, which are at least partially disposed in a trench. The lower capacitor electrode adjoins, in a lower trench region, a wall of the trench, while in the upper trench region there is a spacer layer that adjoins a wall of the trench and is made from an insulating material. The upper electrode contains at least two layers, of which at least one is metallic, with the proviso that the upper electrode does not contain two layers of which the lower layer is tungsten silicide and the upper layer is doped polysilicon. The layers of the upper electrode in each case extending along the walls and the base of the trench up to at least the upper edge of the spacer layer.

Abstract: A trench capacitor has a first capacitor electrode, a second capacitor electrode, and a dielectric, which is arranged between the capacitor electrodes. The first capacitor electrode has a tube-like structure, which extends into a substrate. The second capacitor electrode includes a first section which is opposite to the internal side of the tube-like structure, with the dielectric arranged therebetween, and a second section, which is opposite to the external side of the tube-like structure with the dielectric arranged therebetween.

Abstract: In a SOI substrate, a semiconductor circuit formed in a SOI substrate, and an associated production method, a multilayer barrier layer with a potential barrier and a diffusion barrier is used to reliably prevent diffusion of impurities between element layers. This allows semiconductor circuits to be produced with smaller structure sizes and with a higher integration density.

Abstract: A memory-cell array includes a substrate forming parallel first and second trenches. A transistor's upper source/drain region adjoins two of the first and two of the second trenches, and lies above its lower source/drain region. A conductive structure in a first trench associated with the transistor adjoins the upper source/drain region at its first edge. An insulating structure in the associated first trench insulates the conductive structure from a second edge and from a bottom of the associated first trench. A word line, on which is a further insulating layer, is over the upper/source drain region and parallel to the associated first trench bulges into the second trenches. Insulating spaces adjoin the word line laterally. A contact on the conductive structure and in electrical communication with the upper source/drain region connects with a capacitor.