Abstract: A method of fabricating a contact plug of a semiconductor device is provided, the method includes forming a gate pattern on a substrate, forming a capping pattern to cover an upper surface and sidewalls of the gate pattern, forming an interlayer insulation layer on the substrate such that the interlayer insulation layer exposes an upper surface of the capping pattern, and removing a portion of the capping pattern and the interlayer insulation layer such that the upper surface of the capping pattern is planarized.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing semiconductor device are provided including forming an insulation layer having a pad on a substrate; forming an etch stop layer on the insulation layer and the pad; forming a mold structure having at least one mold layer on the etch stop layer; forming a first supporting layer on the mold structure; etching the first supporting layer and the mold structure to form a first opening exposing the etch stop layer; forming a spacer on a sidewall of the first opening; etching the etch stop layer using the spacer as an etching mask to form a second opening, different from the first opening, exposing a first portion of the pad having a first associated area; etching the etch stop layer using the spacer as an etching mask to form a third opening exposing a second portion of the pad having a second associated area, the second associated area being larger than the first associated area; and etching the mold structure to form a fourth opening having a width larger than a width of the third opening.

Abstract: Methods for forming a mold for a storage electrode in a semiconductor device include forming an interlayer dielectric layer including a contact plug on a substrate. A first mold dielectric layer is formed of a first material on the interlayer dielectric layer. A second mold dielectric layer is formed of a second material on the first mold dielectric layer. The second material has a different etch selectivity than the first material. A first opening is formed that penetrates the first and second mold dielectric layers. The first opening is dry etched to define a second opening having a larger width in the first mold dielectric layer than in the second mold dielectric layer based on the different etch selectivity of the first and second mold dielectric layers to define the mold for the storage electrode.

Abstract: A photo key has a plurality of first regions spaced apart from one another on a semiconductor substrate, and a second region surrounding the first regions, and one of the first regions and the second region constitutes a plurality of photo key regions spaced apart from one another. Each of the photo key regions includes a plurality of first conductive patterns spaced apart from one another; and a plurality of second conductive patterns interposed between the first conductive patterns.

Abstract: A method of forming a pattern in a semiconductor device includes forming an etching object layer on a substrate, the etching object layer is an oxide that is substantially free of impurities. A mask is formed on the etching object layer, the mask is an oxide that includes impurities. The etching object layer is patterned using the mask as an etching mask and then the mask is removed. The mask is removed using an etchant having an etching selectivity to an oxide that is substantially free of impurities and an oxide that includes impurities during removing of the mask to limit damage to the patterned etching object layer during removal of the mask.

Abstract: In a method of forming an isolation layer, first and second trenches are formed on a substrate. The first and the second trenches have first and second widths, respectively, and the second width is greater than the first width. A second isolation layer pattern partially fills the second trench. A first isolation layer pattern and the third isolation layer pattern are formed. The first isolation layer pattern fills the first trench, and the third isolation layer pattern is formed on the second isolation layer pattern and fills a remaining portion of the second trench.

Abstract: In a reliable semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device, a difference in height between upper surfaces of a cell region and a peripheral region (also referred to as a level difference) is minimized by optimizing dummy gate parts. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a cell region and a peripheral region surrounding the cell region, a plurality of dummy active regions surrounded by a device isolating region and formed apart from each other, and a plurality of dummy gate parts formed on the dummy active regions and on the device isolating regions located between the dummy active regions, wherein each of the dummy gate parts covers two or more of the dummy active regions.

Abstract: A slurry composition for polishing metal includes a polymeric polishing accelerating agent, the polymeric polishing accelerating agent including a backbone of hydrocarbon and a side substituent having at least one of a sulfonate ion (SO3?) and a sulfate ion (OSO3?), and an acidic aqueous solution.

Abstract: A wafer polishing apparatus includes a polishing tape extending between two guide rollers, a first surface of the polishing tape contacting a surface of a wafer to be polished, a polishing head including a pusher pad, the pusher pad adapted to push the polishing tape against the surface of the wafer to be polished, a color image sensor adjacent to the polishing tape, the color image sensor being adapted to detect a color image of the polishing tape and to output a signal corresponding to the detected color image, and a controller connected to the color image sensor, the controller being adapted to receive the signal output from the color image sensor and to determine when a color of the color image detected by the color image sensor changes, a change in the color image indicating a polishing end point.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a non-volatile memory integrated circuit device and a non-volatile memory integrated circuit device fabricated by using the method are provided. A device isolation region is formed in a substrate to define a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. A plurality of first and second pre-stacked gate structures is formed in the cell array region, and each has a structure in which a lower structure, a conductive pattern and a first sacrificial layer pattern are stacked. Junction regions are formed in the cell array region. Spacers are formed on side walls of the first and second pre-stacked gate structures. A second sacrificial layer pattern filling each space between the second pre-stacked gate structures is formed. The first sacrificial layer pattern is removed from each of the first and second pre-stacked gate structures.

Abstract: A photo key has a plurality of first regions spaced apart from one another on a semiconductor substrate, and a second region surrounding the first regions, and one of the first regions and the second region constitutes a plurality of photo key regions spaced apart from one another. Each of the photo key regions includes a plurality of first conductive patterns spaced apart from one another; and a plurality of second conductive patterns interposed between the first conductive patterns.

Abstract: In an etchant for etching a capping layer having etching selectivity with respect to a dielectric layer, the capping layer changes compositions of the dielectric layer, to thereby control a threshold voltage of a gate electrode including the dielectric layer. The etchant includes about 0.01 to 3 percent by weight of an acid, about 10 to 40 percent by weight of a fluoride salt and a solvent. Accordingly, the dielectric layer is prevented from being damaged by the etching process for removing the capping layer and the electric characteristics of the gate electrode are improved.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: forming a pattern having trenches on a semiconductor substrate; forming a semiconductor layer on the semiconductor device that fills the trenches; planarizing the semiconductor layer using a first planarization process without exposing the pattern; performing an epitaxy growth process on the first planarized semiconductor layer to form a crystalline semiconductor layer; and planarizing the crystalline semiconductor layer until the pattern is exposed to form a crystalline semiconductor pattern.

Abstract: In a method of forming a hole, an insulation layer is formed on a substrate, and a preliminary hole exposing the substrate is formed through the insulation layer. A photosensitive layer pattern including an organic polymer is then formed on the substrate to fill the preliminary hole. An etching gas including hydrogen fluoride (HF) or fluorine (F2) is then provided onto the photosensitive layer pattern to etch the insulation layer so that width of the preliminary hole is increased.

Abstract: In a method of forming a capacitor, a first mold layer pattern including a first insulating material may be formed on a substrate. The first mold layer pattern may have a trench. A supporting layer including a second insulating material may be formed in the trench. The second insulating material may have an etching selectivity with respect to the first insulating material. A second mold layer may be formed on the first mold layer pattern and the supporting layer pattern. A lower electrode may be formed through the second mold layer and the first mold layer pattern. The lower electrode may make contact with a sidewall of the supporting layer pattern. The first mold layer pattern and the second mold layer may be removed. A dielectric layer and an upper electrode may be formed on the lower electrode and the supporting layer pattern.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. A pattern layer is formed on a substrate defined to include a main pattern region and a dummy pattern region. A preliminary main pattern and a preliminary dummy pattern may be formed by patterning the pattern layer so that an upper surface area of the preliminary dummy pattern facing away from a surface of the substrate is less than an entire area of the dummy pattern region that is be subjected to subsequent planarization. The preliminary main pattern and the preliminary dummy pattern are partially etched to form a main pattern and a dummy pattern.

Abstract: A conductive structure includes a contact plug extending through an insulating layer on a substrate, and first and second conductive lines extending alongside one another on the insulating layer. The first conductive line extends on the contact plug. A connecting line on the insulating layer extends between and electrically connects the first and second conductive lines. Related integrated circuit devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.

Abstract: Spaced apart bonding surfaces are formed on a first substrate. A second substrate is bonded to the bonding surfaces of the first substrate and cleaved to leave respective semiconductor regions from the second substrate on respective ones of the spaced apart bonding surfaces of the first substrate. The bonding surfaces may include surfaces of at least one insulating region on the first substrate, and at least one active device may be formed in and/or on at least one of the semiconductor regions. A device isolation region may be formed adjacent the at least one of the semiconductor regions.

Abstract: In a vertical-type non-volatile memory device, an insulation layer pattern is provided on a substrate, the insulation layer pattern having a linear shape. Single-crystalline semiconductor patterns are provided on the substrate to make contact with both sidewalls of the insulation layer pattern, the single-crystalline semiconductor patterns having a pillar shape that extends in a vertical direction relative to the substrate. A tunnel oxide layer is provided on the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern. A lower electrode layer pattern is provided on the tunnel oxide layer and on the substrate. A plurality of insulation interlayer patterns is provided on the lower electrode layer pattern, the insulation interlayer patterns being spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance along the single-crystalline semiconductor pattern. A charge-trapping layer and a blocking dielectric layer are sequentially formed on the tunnel oxide layer between the insulation interlayer patterns.

Abstract: A polishing pad may include a base and a plurality of polishing protrusions on a surface of the base. Each polishing protrusion may include a sidewall defining an opening in a surface of the polishing protrusion opposite the base. In addition, portions of the sidewall opposite the base may define a contact surface.