Abstract: Integrated circuit capacitors have composite dielectric layers therein. These composite dielectric layers include crystallization inhibiting regions that operate to increase the overall crystallization temperature of the composite dielectric layer. An integrated circuit capacitor includes first and second capacitor electrodes and a capacitor dielectric layer extending between the first and second capacitor electrodes. The capacitor dielectric layer includes a composite of a first dielectric layer extending adjacent the first capacitor electrode, a second dielectric layer extending adjacent the second capacitor electrode and an electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer extending between the first and second dielectric layers. The electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer is formed of a material having a higher crystallization temperature characteristic relative to the first and second dielectric layers.

Abstract: Methods of forming fine patterns for a semiconductor device include forming a hard mask layer on an etch target layer; forming a carbon containing layer on the hard mask layer; forming carbon containing layer patterns by etching the carbon containing layer; forming spacers covering opposing side walls of each of the carbon containing layer patterns; removing the carbon containing layer patterns; forming hard mask patterns by etching the hard mask layer using the spacers as a first etching mask; and etching the etch target layer by using the hard mask patterns a second etching mask.

Abstract: Provided are methods of removing water adsorbed or bonded to a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and methods of depositing an atomic layer using the method of removing water described herein. The method of removing water includes applying a chemical solvent to the surface of a semiconductor substrate, and removing the chemical solvent from the surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Integrated circuit capacitors have composite dielectric layers therein. These composite dielectric layers include crystallization inhibiting regions that operate to increase the overall crystallization temperature of the composite dielectric layer. An integrated circuit capacitor includes first and second capacitor electrodes and a capacitor dielectric layer extending between the first and second capacitor electrodes. The capacitor dielectric layer includes a composite of a first dielectric layer extending adjacent the first capacitor electrode, a second dielectric layer extending adjacent the second capacitor electrode and an electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer extending between the first and second dielectric layers. The electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer is formed of a material having a higher crystallization temperature characteristic relative to the first and second dielectric layers.

Abstract: A capacitor includes a substrate, a plurality of first storage electrodes, a plurality of second storage electrodes, a first supporting layer pattern, a dielectric layer and a plate electrode. A plurality of contact pads is formed I the substrate. The first storage electrodes are arranged along lines parallel with a first direction and electrically connected to the contact pads, respectively. The second storage electrodes are respectively stacked on the first storage electrodes. The first supporting layer pattern extends in a direction parallel with the first direction between adjacent second storage electrodes and makes contact with the adjacent second storage electrodes to support the second storage electrodes. The dielectric layer is formed on the first and second storage electrodes. The plate electrode is formed on the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming a capacitor of an integrated circuit device include forming a lower electrode of the capacitor on an integrated circuit substrate without exposing a contact plug to be coupled to the lower electrode. A supporting conductor is formed coupling the lower electrode to the contact plug after forming the lower electrode. A capacitor dielectric layer is formed on the lower electrode and an upper electrode of the capacitor is formed on the capacitor dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of forming an oxide layer. The method includes: forming a layer of reaction-inhibiting functional groups on a surface of a substrate; forming a layer of precursors of a metal or a semiconductor on the layer of the reaction-inhibiting functional groups; and oxidizing the precursors of the metal or the semiconductor in order to obtain a layer of a metal oxide or a semiconductor oxide. According to the method, an oxide layer having a high thickness uniformity may be formed and a semiconductor device having excellent electrical characteristics may be manufactured.

Abstract: Integrated circuit capacitors have composite dielectric layers therein. These composite dielectric layers include crystallization inhibiting regions that operate to increase the overall crystallization temperature of the composite dielectric layer. An integrated circuit capacitor includes first and second capacitor electrodes and a capacitor dielectric layer extending between the first and second capacitor electrodes. The capacitor dielectric layer includes a composite of a first dielectric layer extending adjacent the first capacitor electrode, a second dielectric layer extending adjacent the second capacitor electrode and an electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer extending between the first and second dielectric layers. The electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer is formed of a material having a higher crystallization temperature characteristic relative to the first and second dielectric layers.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a lower layer, a complex dielectric layer on the lower layer, and an upper layer on the complex dielectric layer. The complex dielectric layer includes an amorphous metal silicate layer and a crystalline metal-based insulating layer thereon. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.

Abstract: Integrated circuit capacitors have composite dielectric layers therein. These composite dielectric layers include crystallization inhibiting regions that operate to increase the overall crystallization temperature of the composite dielectric layer. An integrated circuit capacitor includes first and second capacitor electrodes and a capacitor dielectric layer extending between the first and second capacitor electrodes. The capacitor dielectric layer includes a composite of a first dielectric layer extending adjacent the first capacitor electrode, a second dielectric layer extending adjacent the second capacitor electrode and an electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer extending between the first and second dielectric layers. The electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer is formed of a material having a higher crystallization temperature characteristic relative to the first and second dielectric layers.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes: forming a charge storage layer on a substrate on which a gate insulating layer is formed; forming a first metal oxide layer on the charge storage layer using a first reaction source including a metal oxide layer precursor and a first oxidizing agent and changing the first metal oxide layer to a second metal oxide layer using a second reaction source including a second oxidizing agent having larger oxidizing power than the first oxidizing agent and repeating the forming of the first metal oxide layer and the changing of the first metal oxide layer to the second metal oxide layer several times to form a blocking insulating layer; and forming an electrode layer on the blocking insulating layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a dielectric thin film of a semiconductor device, the method including supplying a first nuclear atom precursor source and a second nuclear atom precursor source having different thermal decomposition temperatures to a substrate and forming a chemical adsorption layer including first nuclear atoms and second nuclear atoms on the substrate. A reactant including oxygen atoms may be supplied to the substrate on which the chemical adsorption layer is formed. An atomic layer including an oxide of the first nuclear atoms and the second nuclear atoms may be formed on the chemical adsorption layer.

Abstract: When a metal layer formed by reaction of a metal source and an oxygen (O2) source is deposited, oxidization of a conductive layer disposed under or on the metal layer can be reduced and/or prevented by a method of forming the metal layer and a method of fabricating a capacitor using the same. Between forming the conductive layer and the metal layer, and between forming the metal layer and the conductive layer, a cycle of supplying a metal source, purging, supplying an oxygen source, purging, plasma processing of reduction gas and purging is repeated at least once. In this case, the metal layer is formed by repeating a cycle of supplying a metal source, purging, supplying an oxygen source and purging.

Abstract: Provided are methods of removing water adsorbed or bonded to a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and methods of depositing an atomic layer using the method of removing water described herein. The method of removing water includes applying a chemical solvent to the surface of a semiconductor substrate, and removing the chemical solvent from the surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Integrated circuit capacitors have composite dielectric layers therein. These composite dielectric layers include crystallization inhibiting regions that operate to increase the overall crystallization temperature of the composite dielectric layer. An integrated circuit capacitor includes first and second capacitor electrodes and a capacitor dielectric layer extending between the first and second capacitor electrodes. The capacitor dielectric layer includes a composite of a first dielectric layer extending adjacent the first capacitor electrode, a second dielectric layer extending adjacent the second capacitor electrode and an electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer extending between the first and second dielectric layers. The electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer is formed of a material having a higher crystallization temperature characteristic relative to the first and second dielectric layers.

Abstract: A capacitor includes a substrate, a plurality of first storage electrodes, a plurality of second storage electrodes, a first supporting layer pattern, a dielectric layer and a plate electrode. A plurality of contact pads is formed I the substrate. The first storage electrodes are arranged along lines parallel with a first direction and electrically connected to the contact pads, respectively. The second storage electrodes are respectively stacked on the first storage electrodes. The first supporting layer pattern extends in a direction parallel with the first direction between adjacent second storage electrodes and makes contact with the adjacent second storage electrodes to support the second storage electrodes. The dielectric layer is formed on the first and second storage electrodes. The plate electrode is formed on the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Integrated circuit capacitors have composite dielectric layers therein. These composite dielectric layers include crystallization inhibiting regions that operate to increase the overall crystallization temperature of the composite dielectric layer. An integrated circuit capacitor includes first and second capacitor electrodes and a capacitor dielectric layer extending between the first and second capacitor electrodes. The capacitor dielectric layer includes a composite of a first dielectric layer extending adjacent the first capacitor electrode, a second dielectric layer extending adjacent the second capacitor electrode and an electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer extending between the first and second dielectric layers. The electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer is formed of a material having a higher crystallization temperature characteristic relative to the first and second dielectric layers.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor includes a lower electrode, a dielectric layer, and an upper electrode. The lower electrode includes a first conductive layer, a chemical barrier layer on the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer on the chemical barrier layer. The chemical barrier layer is between the first and second conductive layers and is a different material than the first and second conductive layers. The dielectric layer is on the lower electrode. The upper electrode is on the dielectric layer opposite to the lower electrode. The first and second conductive layers can have the same thickness. The chemical barrier layer can be thinner than each of the first and second conductive layers. Related methods are discussed.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor includes a lower electrode, a dielectric layer, and an upper electrode. The lower electrode includes a first conductive layer, a chemical barrier layer on the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer on the chemical barrier layer. The chemical barrier layer is between the first and second conductive layers and is a different material than the first and second conductive layers. The dielectric layer is on the lower electrode. The upper electrode is on the dielectric layer opposite to the lower electrode. The first and second conductive layers can have the same thickness. The chemical barrier layer can be thinner than each of the first and second conductive layers. Related methods are discussed.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a dielectric structure, after a first dielectric layer is formed on a substrate by using a metal oxide doped with silicon, the substrate is placed on a susceptor of a chamber. By treating the first dielectric layer with a plasma in controlling a voltage difference between the susceptor and a ground, a second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer including a metal oxynitride doped with silicon having enough content of nitrogen is formed on the first dielectric layer. Therefore, dielectric properties of the dielectric structure comprising the first and the second dielectric layers can be improved and a leakage current can be greatly decreased. By adapting the dielectric structure to a gate insulation layer and/or to a dielectric layer of a capacitor or of a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, capacitances and electrical properties can be improved.