Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices and related methods of manufacturing the same are provided. A nonvolatile memory device includes a tunneling layer on a substrate, a floating gate on the tunneling layer, an inter-gate dielectric layer structure on the floating gate, and a control gate on the inter-gate dielectric layer structure. The inter-gate dielectric layer structure includes a first silicon oxide layer, a high dielectric layer on the first silicon oxide layer, and a second silicon oxide layer on the high dielectric layer opposite to the first silicon oxide layer The high dielectric layer may include first and second high dielectric layers laminated on each other, and the first high dielectric layer may have a lower density of electron trap sites than the second high dielectric layer and may have a larger energy band gap or conduction band-offset than the second high dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a vapor thin film is provided, which includes loading a substrate into a chamber, adsorbing a source gas on the substrate by supplying the source gas into the chamber, and forming the thin film on the substrate by supplying a reaction gas into the chamber, wherein the forming of the thin film on the substrate is proceeded under an electric field formed in one direction on the substrate by applying a bias to the substrate.

Abstract: Nonvolatile memory devices and related methods of manufacturing the same are provided. A nonvolatile memory device includes a tunneling layer on a substrate, a floating gate on the tunneling layer, an inter-gate dielectric layer structure on the floating gate, and a control gate on the inter-gate dielectric layer structure. The inter-gate dielectric layer structure includes a first silicon oxide layer, a high dielectric layer on the first silicon oxide layer, and a second silicon oxide layer on the high dielectric layer opposite to the first silicon oxide layer The high dielectric layer may include first and second high dielectric layers laminated on each other, and the first high dielectric layer may have a lower density of electron trap sites than the second high dielectric layer and may have a larger energy band gap or conduction band-offset than the second high dielectric layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating semiconductor devices with dual-stress layers using double-stress oxide/nitride stacks. A method comprises providing NMOS and PMOS regions, selectively forming a dual-stack tensile stress layer over the NMOS region by depositing a tensile silicon nitride layer over the NMOS and PMOS regions, depositing a tensile silicon oxide layer over the tensile silicon nitride layer, removing a portion of the tensile silicon oxide layer from the PMOS region, and removing a portion of the tensile silicon nitride layer from the NMOS region and selectively forming a dual stack compressive stress layer over the PMOS region by depositing a compressive silicon nitride layer over the NMOS and PMOS regions, depositing a compressive silicon oxide layer over the compressive silicon nitride layer, removing a portion of the compressive silicon oxide layer from the NMOS region, and removing a portion of the compressive silicon nitride layer from the NMOS region.

Abstract: Provided is a non-volatile memory device including; a substrate having source/drain regions and a channel region between the source/drain regions; a tunneling insulating layer formed in the channel region of the substrate; a charge storage layer formed on the tunneling insulating layer; a blocking insulating layer formed on the charge storage layer, and comprising a silicon oxide layer and a high-k dielectric layer sequentially formed; and a control gate formed on the blocking insulating layer, wherein an equivalent oxide thickness of the silicon oxide layer is equal to or greater than that of the high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating semiconductor devices with dual-stress layers using double-stress oxide/nitride stacks. A method comprises providing NMOS and PMOS regions, selectively forming a dual-stack tensile stress layer over the NMOS region by depositing a tensile silicon nitride layer over the NMOS and PMOS regions, depositing a tensile silicon oxide layer over the tensile silicon nitride layer, removing a portion of the tensile silicon oxide layer from the PMOS region, and removing a portion of the tensile silicon nitride layer from the NMOS region and selectively forming a dual stack compressive stress layer over the PMOS region by depositing a compressive silicon nitride layer over the NMOS and PMOS regions, depositing a compressive silicon oxide layer over the compressive silicon nitride layer, removing a portion of the compressive silicon oxide layer from the NMOS region, and removing a portion of the compressive silicon nitride layer from the NMOS region.

Abstract: A gate electrode, in which the slope of the profile of a gate electrode forming material layer, for example, a refractory metal silicide layer is prevented from being decreased due to thermal expansion by patterning a refractory metal silicide layer after performing a thermal process on a refractory metal silicide layer, thereby having a stable operation characteristic, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided.

Abstract: A gate electrode, in which the slope of the profile of a gate electrode forming material layer, for example, a refractory metal silicide layer is prevented from being decreased due to thermal expansion by patterning a refractory metal silicide layer after performing a thermal process on a refractory metal silicide layer, thereby having a stable operation characteristic, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided.

Abstract: A method of etching a platinum group metal film uses a gas mixture containing argon (Ar), oxygen (O2) and halogen gases and a method of forming a lower electrode of a capacitor uses the etching method. The gas mixture contains O2, Ar, and a third component, preferably a halogen, e.g., chlorine (Cl2) or hydrogen bromide (HBr). In the method of forming a lower electrode, a conductive film containing a metal belonging to a platinum (Pt) group is formed on a semiconductor substrate, a hard mask partially exposing the conductive film is then formed on the conductive film. Then, the exposed conductive film is dry-etched using the hard mask as an etching mask and a three-component gas mixture containing argon (Ar) and oxygen (O2), to form a conductive film pattern beneath the hard mask, and the hard mask is then removed.

Abstract: A method of etching a platinum (Pt) layer of a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a platinum layer on a semiconductor substrate, and forming a mask layer on the platinum layer. A photoresist pattern is formed on the mask layer and a mask pattern is formed by plasma-etching using the photoresist pattern as a mask. A platinum pattern is formed by plasma-etching using the photoresist pattern and the mask pattern as a mask. A platinum etching by-product is formed on the sidewalls of the photoresist pattern. The platinum layer is plasma-etched using Ar, Ar/Cl.sub.2 or Ar/HBr gas. The photoresist pattern is removed and then the platinum etching by-product and the mask pattern are removed by plasma etching. The platinum etching by-product is plasma-etched using Cl.sub.2 /O.sub.2 or HBr/O.sub.2 gas. The platinum pattern may be formed in the same etch chamber through multiple steps, and the platinum layer is etched using Ar, Ar/Cl.sub.

Abstract: A method for etching a platinum (Pt) layer of a semiconductor device is provided which improves the etching slope of a sidewall of the platinum layer used as a storage node of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device consists of a semiconductor substrate including a bottom layer on which various other layers are formed. Specifically, according to this invention, a Pt layer is formed on a bottom layer of a semiconductor substrate. An adhesive layer is then formed on the Pt layer while a mask layer is formed on the adhesive layer. After formation of the various layers, the mask layer and adhesive layer are patterned using an etching process to form a mask pattern and an adhesive layer mask pattern, respectively. The semiconductor substrate is then heated and an etching process is performned on the Pt layer using the mask pattern and the adhesive layer mask pattern to form etching slope sidewalls of the Pt layer having etching slopes close to vertical.