Abstract: Methods of forming a microelectronic device can include providing a gate dielectric layer on a channel region of a semiconductor substrate wherein the gate dielectric layer is a high-k dielectric material. A gate electrode barrier layer can be provided on the gate dielectric layer opposite the channel region of the semiconductor substrate, and a gate electrode metal layer can be provided on the gate electrode barrier layer opposite the channel region of the semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode barrier layer and the gate electrode metal layer can be formed of different materials. Moreover, the gate electrode metal layer can include a first material and the gate electrode barrier layer can include a second material, and the first material can have a lower electrical resistivity than the second material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a metal gate pattern is provided in which capping layers are used to control the relative oxidation rates of portions of the metal gate pattern during a oxidation process. The capping layer may be a multilayer structure and may be etched to form insulating spacers on the sidewalls of the metal gate pattern. The capping layer(s) allow the use of a selective oxidation process, which may be a wet oxidation process utilizing partial pressures of both H2O and H2 in an H2-rich atmosphere, to oxidize portions of the substrate and metal gate pattern while suppressing the oxidation of metal layers that may be included in the metal gate pattern. This allows etch damage to the silicon substrate and edges of the metal gate pattern to be reduced while substantially maintaining the original thickness of the gate insulating layer and the conductivity of the metal layer(s).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a metal gate pattern is provided in which capping layers are used to control the relative oxidation rates of portions of the metal gate pattern during a oxidation process. The capping layer may be a multilayer structure and may be etched to form insulating spacers on the sidewalls of the metal gate pattern. The capping layer(s) allow the use of a selective oxidation process, which may be a wet oxidation process utilizing partial pressures of both H2O and H2 in an H2-rich atmosphere, to oxidize portions of the substrate and metal gate pattern while suppressing the oxidation of metal layers that may be included in the metal gate pattern. This allows etch damage to the silicon substrate and edges of the metal gate pattern to be reduced while substantially maintaining the original thickness of the gate insulating layer and the conductivity of the metal layer(s).

Abstract: Methods of forming a microelectronic device can include providing a gate dielectric layer on a channel region of a semiconductor substrate wherein the gate dielectric layer is a high-k dielectric material. A gate electrode barrier layer can be provided on the gate dielectric layer opposite the channel region of the semiconductor substrate, and a gate electrode metal layer can be provided on the gate electrode barrier layer opposite the channel region of the semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode barrier layer and the gate electrode metal layer can be formed of different materials. Moreover, the gate electrode metal layer can include a first material and the gate electrode barrier layer can include a second material, and the first material can have a lower electrical resistivity than the second material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a metal gate pattern is provided in which capping layers are used to control the relative oxidation rates of portions of the metal gate pattern during a oxidation process. The capping layer may be a multilayer structure and may be etched to form insulating spacers on the sidewalls of the metal gate pattern. The capping layer(s) allow the use of a selective oxidation process, which may be a wet oxidation process utilizing partial pressures of both H2O and H2 in an H2-rich atmosphere, to oxidize portions of the substrate and metal gate pattern while suppressing the oxidation of metal layers that may be included in the metal gate pattern. This allows etch damage to the silicon substrate and edges of the metal gate pattern to be reduced while substantially maintaining the original thickness of the gate insulating layer and the conductivity of the metal layer(s).

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device having a metal gate electrode include sequentially forming a gate insulator, a gate polysilicon layer and a metal-gate layer on a semiconductor substrate. The metal-gate layer and the gate polysilicon layer are sequentially patterned to form a gate pattern comprising a stacked gate polysilicon pattern and a metal-gate pattern. An oxidation barrier layer is formed to cover at least a portion of a sidewall of the metal-gate pattern.

Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor devices and the devices so formed include forming an oxidation barrier pattern to cover sidewalls of a metal-containing pattern. The metal-containing pattern is located on a gate polysilicon layer and includes a metal silicide pattern, a metal barrier pattern and a gate metal pattern which are sequentially stacked. An oxide layer is not formed between the metal barrier pattern and the gate polysilicon pattern. Furthermore, a metal silicide pattern located between the metal barrier pattern and the gate polysilicon pattern functions not only as an ohmic layer decreasing a contact resistance between the metal barrier pattern and the gate polysilicon pattern but also as an oxidation barrier to prevent a metal such as tungsten from being oxidized. Therefore, semiconductor devices have improved operational speed and/or reliability.

Abstract: In an ohmic layer and methods of forming the ohmic layer, a gate structure including the ohmic layer and a metal wiring having the ohmic layer, the ohmic layer is formed using tungsten silicide that includes tungsten and silicon with an atomic ratio within a range of about 1:5 to about 1:15. The tungsten silicide may be obtained in a chamber using a reaction gas including a tungsten source gas and a silicon source gas by a partial pressure ratio within a range of about 1.0:25.0 to about 1.0:160.0. The reaction gas may have a partial pressure within a range of about 2.05 percent to about 30.0 percent of a total internal pressure of the chamber. When the ohmic layer is employed for a conductive structure, such as a gate structure or a metal wiring, the conductive structure may have a reduced resistance.

Abstract: A golf bag is provided which includes a lift pipe fitted into a guide pipe and which moves vertically along the guide pipe. A top end of the lift pipe protrudes upwardly from the golf bag body. Vertical movement of the lift pipe is lockable and unlockable by a locking device an unlocking device. A pair of wheels is provided that is rotationally mounted on front and lower side corners of a main frame. A connecting structure is provided such that vertical movement of the lift pipe causes the wheels to move horizontally so that the intervals between the wheels increase.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device having a metal gate electrode include sequentially forming a gate insulator, a gate polysilicon layer and a metal-gate layer on a semiconductor substrate. The metal-gate layer and the gate polysilicon layer are sequentially patterned to form a gate pattern comprising a stacked gate polysilicon pattern and a metal-gate pattern. An oxidation barrier layer is formed to cover at least a portion of a sidewall of the metal-gate pattern.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a polysilicon layer on which a heat treatment is performed in hydrogen atmosphere, a preliminary polysilicon layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. Fluorine (F) impurities are implanted onto the preliminary polysilicon layer, so that the preliminary polysilicon layer is formed into a polysilicon layer. A main heat treatment is performed on the polysilicon layer, thereby preventing a void caused by the fluorine (F) in the polysilicon layer. A subsidiary heat treatment is further performed on the polysilicon layer prior to the main heat treatment, thereby activating dopants in the polysilicon layer. Electrical characteristics and performance of a semiconductor device are improved since the void is sufficiently prevented in the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: In a method for forming a gate in a semiconductor device, a first preliminary gate structure is formed on a substrate. The first preliminary gate structure includes a gate oxide layer, a polysilicon layer pattern and a tungsten layer pattern sequentially stacked on the substrate. A primary oxidation process is performed using oxygen radicals at a first temperature for adjusting a thickness of the gate oxide layer to form a second preliminary gate structure having tungsten oxide. The tungsten oxide is reduced to a tungsten material using a gas containing hydrogen to form a gate structure. The tungsten oxide may not be formed on the gate structure so that generation of the whiskers may be suppressed. Thus, a short between adjacent wirings may not be generated.

Abstract: Methods of forming a semiconductor device may include forming a tunnel oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate structure on the tunnel oxide layer, forming a leakage barrier oxide, and forming an insulating spacer. More particularly, the tunnel oxide layer may be between the gate structure and the substrate, and the gate structure may include a first gate electrode on the tunnel oxide layer, an inter-gate dielectric on the first gate electrode, and a second gate electrode on the inter-gate dielectric with the inter-gate dielectric between the first and second gate electrodes. The leakage barrier oxide may be formed on sidewalls of the second gate electrode. The insulating spacer may be formed on the leakage barrier oxide with the leakage barrier oxide between the insulating spacer and the sidewalls of the second gate electrode. In addition, the insulating spacer and the leakage barrier oxide may include different materials. Related structures are also discussed.

Abstract: A gate structure includes a gate insulation layer on a substrate, a polysilicon layer pattern on the gate insulation layer, a composite metal layer pattern on the polysilicon layer pattern, and a metal silicide layer pattern on a sidewall of the composite metal layer pattern.

Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor devices are provided. A preliminary gate structure is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The preliminary gate structure includes a gate insulation layer pattern, a polysilicon layer pattern and a conductive layer pattern. A first oxidation process is performed on the preliminary gate structure using an oxygen radical. The first oxidation process is carried out at a first temperature. A second oxidation process is carried out on the oxidized preliminary gate structure to provide a gate structure on the substrate, the second oxidation process being carried out at a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first conductive layer on a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer including a high-k dielectric material on the first conductive layer, a second conductive layer including polysilicon doped with P-type impurities on the dielectric layer, and a third conductive layer including a metal on the second conductive layer. In some devices, a first gate structure is formed in a main cell region and includes a tunnel oxide layer, a floating gate, a first high-k dielectric layer, and a control gate. The control gate includes a layer of polysilicon doped with P-type impurities and a metal layer. A second gate structure is formed outside the main cell region and includes a tunnel oxide layer, a conductive layer, and a metal layer. A third gate structure is formed in a peripheral cell region and includes a tunnel oxide, a conductive layer, and a high-k dielectric layer having a width narrower than the conductive layer. Method embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes dual spacers is provided. A nitrogen atmosphere may be created and maintained in a reaction chamber by supplying a nitrogen source gas. A silicon source gas and an oxygen source gas may then be supplied to the reaction chamber to deposit a silicon oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate, which may include a conductive material layer. A silicon nitride layer may then be formed on the silicon oxide layer by performing a general CVD process. Next, the silicon nitride layer may be etched until the silicon oxide layer is exposed. Because of the difference in etching selectivity between silicon nitride and silicon oxide, portions of the silicon nitride layer may remain on sidewalls of the conductive material layer. As a result, dual spacers formed of a silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer may be formed on the sidewalls.

Abstract: In methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices, a preliminary gate oxide layer is formed on a substrate. A surface treatment process is performed on the preliminary gate oxide layer that reduces a diffusion of an oxidizing agent in the preliminary gate oxide layer to form a gate oxide layer on the substrate. A preliminary gate structure is formed on the gate oxide layer. The preliminary gate structure includes a first conductive layer pattern on the gate oxide layer and a second conductive layer pattern on the first conductive layer pattern. An oxidation process is performed on the preliminary gate structure using the oxidizing agent to form an oxide layer on a sidewall of the first conductive layer pattern and on the gate oxide layer, and to round at least one edge portion of the first conductive layer pattern.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes dual spacers is provided. A nitrogen atmosphere may be created and maintained in a reaction chamber by supplying a nitrogen source gas. A silicon source gas and an oxygen source gas may then be supplied to the reaction chamber to deposit a silicon oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate, which may include a conductive material layer. A silicon nitride layer may then be formed on the silicon oxide layer by performing a general CVD process. Next, the silicon nitride layer may be etched until the silicon oxide layer is exposed. Because of the difference in etching selectivity between silicon nitride and silicon oxide, portions of the silicon nitride layer may remain on sidewalls of the conductive material layer. As a result, dual spacers formed of a silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer may be formed on the sidewalls.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, including forming a gate insulating film and a gate electrode film on a semiconductor substrate, and patterning the gate electrode film to form a gate electrode. A portion of the gate insulating film is removed to form an undercut region beneath the gate electrode. A buffer silicon film is formed over an entire surface of the resultant substrate to cover the gate electrode and to fill the undercut region. The buffer silicon film is selectively oxidized to form a buffer silicon oxide film.