Abstract: Structures and methods of fabricating of a floating gate non-volatile memory device. In a first example embodiment, We form a bottom tunnel layer comprised of a lower oxide tunnel layer and a upper hafnium oxide tunnel layer; a charge storage layer comprised of a tantalum oxide and a top blocking layer preferably comprised of a lower hafnium oxide storage layer and an upper oxide storage layer. We form a gate electrode over the top blocking layer. We pattern the layers to form a gate structure and form source/drain regions to complete the memory device. In a second example embodiment, we form a floating gate non-volatile memory device comprised of: a bottom tunnel layer comprised essentially of silicon oxide; a charge storage layer comprised of a tantalum oxide; a top blocking layer comprised essentially of silicon oxide; and a gate electrode. The embodiments also comprise anneals and nitridation steps.

Abstract: A first example embodiment comprises the following steps and the structure formed therefrom. A trench having opposing sidewalls is formed within a substrate. A stress layer having an inherent stress is formed over the opposing trench sidewalls. The stress layer having stress layer sidewalls over the trench sidewalls. Ions are implanted into one or more portions of the stress layer to form ion-implanted relaxed portions with the portions of the stress layer that are not implanted are un-implanted portions, whereby the inherent stress of the one or more ion-implanted relaxed portions of stress layer portions is relaxed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device provides a substrate having a first region and a second region. A sacrificial first gate is formed in the first region. Source/drain are formed in the first region. A second region gate dielectric is formed in the second region. A second region gate is formed on the second region gate dielectric. A second region source/drain is formed in the second region. A sacrificial layer is formed over the sacrificial first gate, the source/drain, the first region, and the second region. The sacrificial first gate is exposed. A gate space is formed by removing the sacrificial first gate. A first region gate dielectric is formed in the gate space. A first region gate is formed on the first region gate dielectric. The sacrificial layer is removed.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor substrate includes forming a buffer layer on the substrate. A Ge containing layer, such as a SiGe is formed over the buffer layer. The buffer layer includes defects at the interface of the substrate and buffer layer. The substrate is oxidized to transform the buffer layer to a buried oxide layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit system including loading a wafer into a processing chamber and pre-purging the processing chamber with a first ammonia gas. Depositing a first nitride layer over the wafer and purging the processing chamber with a second ammonia gas. Depositing a second nitride layer over the first nitride layer that is misaligned with the first nitride layer. Post-purging the processing chamber with a third ammonia gas and purging the processing chamber with a nitrogen gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provides a substrate having a first region and a second region. A sacrificial first gate is formed in the first region. Source/drain are formed in the first region. A second region gate dielectric is formed in the second region. A second region gate is formed on the second region gate dielectric. A second region source/drain is formed in the second region. A sacrificial layer is formed over the sacrificial first gate, the source/drain, the first region, and the second region. The sacrificial first gate is exposed. A gate space is formed by removing the sacrificial first gate. A first region gate dielectric is formed in the gate space. A first region gate is formed on the first region gate dielectric. The sacrificial layer is removed.

Abstract: In an non-limiting example, we provide a substrate having a cell region, and non-cell regions. We form a tunneling dielectric layer, a charge storing layer, a top insulating layer (e.g., ONO), over the substrate. Then we form a conductive pad layer over the top insulating layer. We form isolation trenches in the pad layer, the charge storing layer and the tunneling dielectric layer and into the substrate. We form isolation regions in the isolation trenches. We remove the pad layer, charge storing layer and the tunneling dielectric layer in the non-cell regions. We form a gate layer over the pad layer and the substrate surface. We complete to form the memory (e.g., SONOS) device in the cell region and other devices in the non-cell regions of the substrate.

Abstract: An example method of forming a bitline contact region and bitline contact plug for a memory device using a laser irradiation activation process. An example embodiment comprises: providing a substrate having a logic region and a SONOS memory region. We form in the memory region, a memory transistor comprised of a memory gate dielectric, a memory gate electrode, memory LDD regions, memory spacers on the sidewalls of the memory gate electrode. We then perform a “memory Cell Source Line” implant to form a memory source line in the memory region adjacent to the memory gate electrode. We form silicide over the memory gate electrode and on the memory source line. We form an ILD dielectric layer over the substrate surface. We form a contact opening in the ILD dielectric layer over the memory Drain in the memory area. We etch an opening in the substrate in the drain region adjacent to the memory gate electrode. The opening exposes the memory cell first well and exposes the memory drain on the sidewall of the opening.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate dielectric layer is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. A substrate is provided having silicon regions containing surfaces upon which gate dielectrics are to be disposed. An oxide is formed over the surfaces. A silicon layer is formed over the oxide layer. A nitridation process is performed. An optional high temperature annealing step may be performed.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure having devices formed on both sides. A first substrate and a second substrate are provided. The first substrate is preferably comprised of Ge. The second substrate is preferably comprised of silicon. We form a first dielectric layer over the first substrate. We form a first insulating layer over the second substrate. We bond the first dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer to form a first structure. The first structure comprised of the first substrate, an insulation layer (combined first dielectric and first insulating layers) and the second substrate. We reduce the thickness of the first substrate. We form via plugs through the first substrate and the insulation layer and at least partially through the second substrate. We form first active devices on the surface of the first substrate. We form a first capping layer over the first active devices and the first substrate. We reduce the thickness of the second substrate to expose the via plugs.

Abstract: A method of forming a relaxed silicon-germanium layer for use as an underlying layer for a subsequent, overlying tensile strain silicon layer, has been developed. The method features initial growth of a underlying first silicon-germanium layer on a semiconductor substrate, compositionally graded to feature the largest germanium content at the interface of the first silicon-germanium layer and the semiconductor substrate, with the level of germanium decreasing as the growth of the graded first silicon-germanium layer progresses. This growth sequence allows the largest lattice mismatch and greatest level of threading dislocations to be present at the bottom of the graded silicon-germanium layer, with the magnitude of lattice mismatch and threading dislocations decreasing as the growth of the graded silicon-germanium layer progresses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provides a substrate having a first region and a second region. A sacrificial first gate is formed in the first region. Source/drain are formed in the first region. A second region gate dielectric is formed in the second region. A second region gate is formed on the second region gate dielectric. A second region source/drain is formed in the second region. A sacrificial layer is formed over the sacrificial first gate, the source/drain, the first region, and the second region. The sacrificial first gate is exposed. A gate space is formed by removing the sacrificial first gate. A first region gate dielectric is formed in the gate space. A first region gate is formed on the first region gate dielectric. The sacrificial layer is removed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a charge storage layer for a SONOS memory device. A feature of the embodiment is the first gate layer is formed over the charge storing layer (ONO) before the charge storing layer is patterned. The first gate layer protects the charge storing layer (ONO) from various etches used in the process to pattern the various gate dielectric layers on other regions of substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a relaxed silicon—germanium layer for use as an underlying layer for a subsequent overlying tensile strain silicon layer, has been developed. The method features initial growth of a underlying first silicon—germanium layer on a semiconductor substrate, compositionally graded to feature the largest germanium content at the interface of the first silicon—germanium layer and the semiconductor substrate, with the level of germanium decreasing as the growth of the graded first silicon—germanium layer progresses. This growth sequence allows the largest lattice mismatch and greatest level of threading dislocations to be present at the bottom of the graded silicon—germanium layer, with the magnitude of lattice mismatch and threading dislocations decreasing as the growth of the graded silicon—germanium layer progresses.

Abstract: A method for integrating a SONOS device with an improved top oxide with SiO2 gate oxides of different thickness is described. In a first embodiment during ISSG oxidation to form the SiO2 gate oxides, a thin sacrificial silicon nitride layer is used over the top oxide of the ONO to minimize loss and to control the top oxide thickness. In a second embodiment the top oxide layer for the SONOS device is formed by depositing an NO stack. During ISSG oxidation to form the SiO2 gate oxides a portion of the Si3N4 in the NO stack is converted to SiO2 to form the top oxide with improved thickness control.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device can simply form a silicide film for reducing ohmic contact between a metal line and a substrate and a ternary phase thin film as an amorphous diffusion prevention film between a metal line and the silicide film. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of sequentially forming a first refractory metal and a second refractory metal on a semiconductor substrate, forming a silicide film on an interface between the semiconductor substrate and the first refractory metal, and reacting the semiconductor substrate with the first and second refractory metals on the silicide film to form a ternary phase thin film.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device can simply form a silicide film for reducing ohmic contact between a metal line and a substrate and a ternary phase thin film as an amorphous diffusion prevention film between a metal line and the silicide film. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of sequentially forming a first refractory metal and a second refractory metal on a semiconductor substrate, forming a silicide film on an interface between the semiconductor substrate and the first refractory metal, and reacting the semiconductor substrate with the first and second refractory metals on the silicide film to form a ternary phase thin film.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device can simply form a silicide film for reducing ohmic contact between a metal line and a substrate and a ternary phase thin film as an amorphous diffusion prevention film between a metal line and the silicide film. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of sequentially forming a first refractory metal and a second refractory metal on a semiconductor substrate, forming a silicide film on an interface between the semiconductor substrate and the first refractory metal, and reacting the semiconductor substrate with the first and second refractory metals on the silicide film to form a ternary phase thin film.

Abstract: Method for fabricating a polycide dual gate in a semiconductor device fabricates a dual gate having polycide gate electrodes. The polycide can be a cobalt polycide, for example. The method can include forming polysilicon pattern layers on a first and a second regions of a semiconductor substrate, forming a blocking layer to expose top surfaces of the polysilicon pattern layers and mask the substrate, and forming a metal layer on an entire surface and then is annealed to form a gate electrode having a stack of the polysilicon pattern layer under a silicide layer. Impurity ions of opposite conductivities in the first and second regions can be respectively deposited and diffused to form source/drain regions in surfaces of the substrate on both sides of the gate electrode. The implanted impurity ions can further implant ions in the silicide/polysilicon pattern layer gate to reduce fabrication steps or simplify the fabrication process.

Abstract: A method for forming a dual gate of a semiconductor device includes the steps of sequentially stacking a gate insulating film, a semiconductor layer, and a low resistance metal layer on a semiconductor substrate having a first well of a first conductivity type and a second well of a second conductivity type, forming first and second gate patterns that include the semiconductor layer and the low resistance metal layer on the substrate corresponding to the first and second wells, forming sidewall spacers at sides of the first and second gate patterns, and exposing the first well and the first gate pattern, implanting impurity ions of the second conductivity type into the exposed first well and the first gate pattern to form a first source and a first drain, exposing the second well and the second gate pattern, implanting impurity ions of the first conductivity type into the exposed second well and the second gate pattern to form a second source and a second drain; and diffusing the impurity ions from the low re