Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a gate dielectric film on a semiconductor substrate and/or a gate electrode. The gate electrode may include a first metal film, a first metal silicide film, and/or a conductive polysilicon film sequentially stacked on the gate dielectric film.

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: An integrated circuit of a semiconductor device has a line type of pattern that is not prone to serious RC delays. The integrated circuit has a line formed of at least a layer of polycrystalline silicon, a layer of metal having a low sheet resistance, and a layer of a barrier metal interposed between the polycrystalline silicon and the metal having a low sheet resistance, and first spacers disposed on the sides of the line, respectively, and is characterized in that the line has recesses at the sides of the barrier layer and the first spacers fill the recesses. The integrated circuit may constitute a gate line of a semiconductor device. The integrated circuit is formed by forming layers of polycrystalline silicon, metal having a low sheet resistance, and a barrier metal one atop the other, patterning the layers into a line, etching the same to form the recesses, and then forming the first spacers.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a doped conductive layer formed over the semiconductor substrate. A diffusion barrier layer is formed over the doped conductive layer. The diffusion barrier layer may be formed from an amorphous semiconductor material. An ohmic contact layer is formed over the diffusion barrier layer. A metal barrier layer is formed over the ohmic contact layer. A metal layer is formed over the metal barrier layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate and a doped conductive layer formed over the semiconductor substrate. A diffusion barrier layer is formed over the doped conductive layer. The diffusion barrier layer comprises an amorphous semiconductor material. After forming the diffusion barrier layer, a heat treatment process may be additionally performed thereon. An ohmic contact layer is formed over the diffusion barrier layer. A metal barrier layer is formed over the ohmic contact layer. A metal layer is formed over the metal barrier layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device, e.g., a memory device, includes a substrate, a first insulation layer on the substrate, and a contact pad disposed in the first insulation layer in direct contact with the substrate. A second insulation layer is disposed on the first insulation layer. A conductive pattern, e.g., a damascene bit line, is disposed in the second insulation layer. A conductive plug extends through the second insulation layer to contact the contact pad and is self-aligned to the conductive pattern. An insulation film may separate the conductive pattern and the conductive plug. A glue layer may be disposed between the conductive pattern and the second insulation layer. The device may further include a third insulation layer on the second insulation layer and the conductive pattern, and the conductive plug may extend through the second and third insulation layers.

Abstract: A gate of a memory device may include a charge trapping structure having a tunnel oxide layer, a charge storing layer, and a blocking layer on a semiconductor substrate; a conductive pattern on the charge trapping structure, the conductive pattern including metal nitride; an ohmic film on the conductive pattern; and a gate electrode on the ohmic film.

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: One embodiment of a method for forming a semiconductor device can include forming a gate pattern on a semiconductor substrate and performing a selective re-oxidation process on the gate pattern in gas ambient including hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. When the gate pattern includes a tunnel insulation layer, a metal nitride layer and a metal layer, the selective re-oxidation process heals the etching damage of a gate pattern and simultaneously prevents oxidation of the metal nitride layer and a tungsten electrode.

Abstract: A flash memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating layer having a first width formed on the semiconductor substrate to trap carriers tunneled from the semiconductor substrate and a metal electrode on the gate insulating layer to receive a voltage required for tunneling. The metal electrode having a second width smaller than the first width. The flash memory device further includes a sidewall spacer surrounding a side surface of the metal electrode to prevent oxidation of the metal electrode.

Abstract: A method of forming a memory device includes forming a first insulating pattern and a polysilicon pattern in a peripheral region of a substrate, forming a cell gate insulating pattern including a second insulating pattern, a charge storage pattern, and a third insulating pattern in a cell region of the substrate, forming a barrier metal layer on the polysilicon pattern and on the third insulating pattern, forming a conductive layer on the barrier metal layer, patterning the conductive layer to simultaneously form a first conductive pattern on the polysilicon pattern and a second conductive pattern on the third insulating pattern, and patterning the barrier metal layer to simultaneously form a first barrier metal pattern on the polysilicon pattern and a second barrier metal pattern on the third insulating pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device, e.g., a charge trapping type non-volatile memory device, may include a charge trapping structure formed in a first area of a substrate and a gate structure formed in a second area of the substrate. The charge trapping structure may include a tunnel oxide layer pattern, a charge trapping layer pattern and a dielectric layer pattern of aluminum-containing tertiary metal oxide. The gate structure may include a gate oxide layer pattern, a polysilicon layer pattern and an ohmic layer pattern of aluminum-containing tertiary metal silicide. A first electrode and a second electrode may be formed on the charge trapping structure. A lower electrode and an upper electrode may be provided on the gate structure. The dielectric layer pattern may have a higher dielectric constant, and the ohmic layer pattern may have improved thermal stability, thereby enhancing programming and erasing operations of the charge trapping type non-volatile memory device.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes sequentially first and second tungsten silicide layers on a silicon layer. The first tungsten silicide layer is in a substantially amorphous state and a ratio of tungsten to silicon in the first tungsten silicide layer is about 1:4.5˜about 1:9.

Abstract: A method of forming a conductive plug for an integrated circuit device may include forming an insulating layer on an integrated circuit substrate with the insulating layer having a surface opposite the substrate and a recess therein. A titanium (Ti) layer may be formed on sidewalls of the recess and on the surface of the insulating layer opposite the substrate. After forming the titanium (Ti) layer, a reaction reducing layer may be formed on portions of the titanium layer on the surface of the insulating layer opposite the substrate by at least one of ionized physical vapour deposition (iPVD) and/or nitriding a portion of the titanium layer, and the reaction reducing layer may include a material other than titanium. After forming the reaction reducing layer, a TiN layer may be formed on the reaction reducing layer and on sidewalls of the recess in the insulating layer using metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD).

Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of methods for increasing the relative thickness in the peripheral or edge regions of gate dielectric patterns to suppress leakage through these regions. The methods provide alternatives to conventional GPOX processes and provide the improved leakage resistance without incurring the degree of increased gate electrode resistance associated with GPOX processes. Each of the methods includes forming a first opening to expose an active area region, forming an oxidation control region on the exposed portion and then forming a second opening whereby a peripheral region free of the oxidation control region is exposed for formation of a gate dielectric layer. The resulting gate dielectric layers are characterized by a thinner central region surrounded or bounded by a thicker peripheral region.

Abstract: A metal contact in a semiconductor device is formed by forming an insulating layer having a contact hole therein on a silicon layer. A cobalt layer is formed on a bottom and inner walls of the contact hole. A cobalt silicide layer is formed at the bottom of the contact hole while forming a titanium layer on the cobalt layer. A plug is formed on the titanium layer so as to fill the contact hole.

Abstract: A conductive structure is formed in an integrated circuit device by forming a lower conductive pattern on a substrate. A barrier metal layer is formed on the lower conductive pattern. The barrier metal layer is flushed with a gas that includes a halogen group gas and an upper conductive layer is formed on the barrier metal layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a method for fabricating the device. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a plurality of preliminary gate electrode structures in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region of a semiconductor substrate; forming selective epitaxial films on the semiconductor substrate in the cell array region and the peripheral region; implanting impurities into at least some of the selective epitaxial films to form elevated source/drain regions in the cell array region and the peripheral circuit region; forming a first interlayer insulating film; and patterning the first interlayer insulating film to form a plurality of first openings exposing the elevated source/drain regions. The method further comprises forming a first ohmic film, a first barrier film, and a metal film; and removing portions of each of the metal film, the first barrier film, and the first ohmic film.

Abstract: A metal contact in a semiconductor device is formed by forming an insulating layer having a contact hole therein on a silicon substrate. A cobalt layer is formed on a bottom and inner walls of the contact hole. A cobalt silicide layer is formed at the bottom of the contact hole while forming a titanium layer on the cobalt layer. A plug is formed on the titanium layer so as to fill the contact hole.

Abstract: A metal deposition processing apparatus includes a first processing chamber configured for holding a semiconductor substrate therein. A second processing chamber is configured for holding the semiconductor substrate therein and for forming an upper metal layer thereon. A transfer chamber is connected to the first processing chamber and the second processing chamber. The transfer chamber is configured to transfer the semiconductor substrate between the first processing chamber and the second processing chamber.