Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device may include a substrate, an interlayer insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate, a contact plug penetrating the interlayer insulating layer, the contact plug being formed of a sequentially stacked metal plug and buffer plug, a conductive protection pattern covering the contact plug, the conductive protection pattern being a conductive oxide layer, a lower electrode, a ferroelectric pattern, and an upper electrode sequentially stacked on the conductive protection pattern, and an insulating protection layer covering the sequentially stacked lower electrode, ferroelectric pattern, and upper electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device and a method for forming the same. The method includes forming an insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate having a conductive region, forming a contact hole that exposes the conductive region by etching the insulating layer, forming a barrier metal layer that covers a sidewall and a bottom of the contact hole, and forming a contact plug in the contact hole by interposing the barrier metal layer therebetween. An etching process may be preformed that recesses the barrier metal layer and the contact plug in such a manner that a top surface of the contact plug protrudes upward beyond a top surface of the barrier metal layer. A capping plug may be formed covering the recessed barrier metal layer and the recessed contact plug. A capacitor may be formed on the capping plug.

Abstract: An embodiment of the FeRAM includes a ferroelectric capacitor including a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric layer, and a top electrode. Strontium ruthenium oxide is formed between the bottom electrode and the ferroelectric layer and between the ferroelectric layer and the top electrode. A diffusion barrier layer including strontium ruthenium oxide and iridium is formed between the top electrode and a direct cell contact plug coupled to a plate line interconnecting top electrodes of ferroelectric capacitors. Thus, diffusion of nitrogen or metallic materials produced in subsequent processes is suppressed to prevent degradation of the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: For forming stacked capacitors, an opening is formed through at least one semiconductor material. A lower electrode material is patterned within the opening to form a plurality of lower electrodes within the opening. The stacked capacitors are formed with the lower electrodes within the opening by depositing a capacitor dielectric and an upper electrode within the opening. With such a relatively large opening, a capacitor dielectric of the stacked capacitors is deposited with a large thickness for improving reliability of the stacked capacitors.

Abstract: A stacked ferroelectric memory device has selection transistors including a first gate structure, a first impurity region, a second impurity region, a first insulating interlayer covering the selection transistors, bit line structures electrically connected to the first impurity regions, a second insulating interlayer covering the bit line structures, doped single crystalline silicon plugs formed through the first and the second insulating interlayers, each of which contacts the second impurity region and has a height greater than that of the bit line structures, active patterns disposed on the plugs and the second insulating interlayer, each of which contacts the plugs, and ferroelectric transistors disposed on the active patterns, each of which has a second gate structure including a ferroelectric layer pattern and a conductive pattern, a third impurity region and a fourth impurity region. The ferroelectric memory device performs a random access operation and has a high degree of integration.

Abstract: A memory device includes one or more layers of parallel strings of ferroelectric gate transistors on a substrate, each layer of parallel strings including a plurality of parallel line-shaped active regions and a plurality of word lines extending in parallel transversely across the active regions and disposed on ferroelectric patterns on the active regions. A string select gate line may extend transversely across the active regions in parallel with the word lines. A ground select gate line may extend transversely across the active regions in parallel with the word lines.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having MIM capacitors is configured so that the bottom surface of the lower electrode and a top surface area of an oxidation barrier pattern are substantially equal. Related methods for forming the device are also described.

Abstract: For forming stacked capacitors, an opening is formed through at least one semiconductor material. A lower electrode material is patterned within the opening to form a plurality of lower electrodes within the opening. The stacked capacitors are formed with the lower electrodes within the opening by depositing a capacitor dielectric and an upper electrode within the opening. With such a relatively large opening, a capacitor dielectric of the stacked capacitors is deposited with a large thickness for improving reliability of the stacked capacitors.

Abstract: For forming stacked capacitors, an opening is formed through at least one semiconductor material. A lower electrode material is patterned within the opening to form a plurality of lower electrodes within the opening. The stacked capacitors are formed with the lower electrodes within the opening by depositing a capacitor dielectric and an upper electrode within the opening. With such a relatively large opening, a capacitor dielectric of the stacked capacitors is deposited with a large thickness for improving reliability of the stacked capacitors.

Abstract: An embodiment of the FeRAM includes a ferroelectric capacitor including a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric layer, and a top electrode. Strontium ruthenium oxide is formed between the bottom electrode and the ferroelectric layer and between the ferroelectric layer and the top electrode. A diffusion barrier layer including strontium ruthenium oxide and iridium is formed between the top electrode and a direct cell contact plug coupled to a plate line interconnecting top electrodes of ferroelectric capacitors. Thus, diffusion of nitrogen or metallic materials produced in subsequent processes is suppressed to prevent degradation of the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: Ferroelectric memory devices and methods for fabricating such devices are provided. The ferroelectric memory device may comprise one or more interlayer dielectric layers on a semiconductor substrate, an oxygen-diffusion barrier pattern on the interlayer dielectric layer(s), and an upper insulating layer that is on the interlayer dielectric layer(s) that at least partially surrounds the oxygen-diffusion barrier pattern. These devices further include a capacitor that has a bottom electrode that is on the oxygen-diffusion barrier layer and on at least a portion of the upper insulating layer, a ferroelectric layer that is on the bottom electrode, and a top electrode that is on the ferroelectric layer. In some embodiments of the present invention, the top surface of the upper insulating layer is higher than the top surface of the oxygen-diffusion barrier pattern.

Abstract: Ferroelectric integrated circuit devices, such as memory devices, are formed on an integrated circuit substrate. Ferroelectric capacitor(s) are on the integrated circuit substrate and a further structure on the integrated circuit substrate overlies at least a part of the ferroelectric capacitor(s). The further structure includes at least one layer providing a barrier to oxygen flow to the ferroelectric capacitor(s). An oxygen penetration path contacting the ferroelectric capacitor(s) is interposed between the ferroelectric capacitor(s) and the further structure. The layer providing a barrier to oxygen flow may be an encapsulated barrier layer. Methods for forming ferroelectric integrated circuit devices, such as memory devices, are also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having an MIM capacitor and a method of forming the same are provided. A lower electrode includes a plate electrode and a sidewall electrode. The plate electrode is formed by a patterning process preferably including a plasma anisotropic etching. The sidewall electrode is formed like a spacer on an inner sidewall of an opening exposing the plate electrode by a plasma entire surface anisotropic etching.

Abstract: Ferroelectric integrated circuit devices, such as memory devices, are formed on an integrated circuit substrate. Ferroelectric capacitor(s) are on the integrated circuit substrate and a further structure on the integrated circuit substrate overlies at least a part of the Ferroelectric capacitor(s). The further structure includes at least one layer providing a barrier to oxygen flow to the ferroelectric capacitor(s). An oxygen penetration path contacting the ferroelectric capacitor(s) is interposed between the ferroelectric capacitor(s) and the further structure. The layer providing a barrier to oxygen flow may be an encapsulated barrier layer. Methods for forming ferroelectric integrated circuit devices, such as memory devices, are also provided.

Abstract: For forming stacked capacitors, an opening is formed through at least one semiconductor material. A lower electrode material is patterned within the opening to form a plurality of lower electrodes within the opening. The stacked capacitors are formed with the lower electrodes within the opening by depositing a capacitor dielectric and an upper electrode within the opening. With such a relatively large opening, a capacitor dielectric of the stacked capacitors is deposited with a large thickness for improving reliability of the stacked capacitors.

Abstract: Methods for forming an electronic device can include forming a capacitor structure on a portion of a substrate with the capacitor structure including a first electrode on the substrate, a capacitor dielectric on the first electrode, a second electrode on the dielectric, and a hard mask on the second electrode. More particularly, the capacitor dielectric can be between the first and second electrodes, the first electrode and the capacitor dielectric can be between the second electrode and the substrate, and the first and second electrodes and the capacitor dielectric can be between the hard mask and the substrate. An interlayer dielectric layer can be formed on the hard mask and on portions of the substrate surrounding the capacitor structure, and portions of the interlayer dielectric layer can be removed to expose the hard mask while maintaining portions of the interlayer dielectric layer on portions of the substrate surrounding the capacitor structure.

Abstract: Ferroelectric memory devices and methods for fabricating such devices are provided. The ferroelectric memory device may comprise one or more interlayer dielectric layers on a semiconductor substrate, an oxygen-diffusion barrier pattern on the interlayer dielectric layer(s), and an upper insulating layer that is on the interlayer dielectric layer(s) that at least partially surrounds the oxygen-diffusion barrier pattern. These devices further include a capacitor that has a bottom electrode that is on the oxygen-diffusion barrier layer and on at least a portion of the upper insulating layer, a ferroelectric layer that is on the bottom electrode, and a top electrode that is on the ferroelectric layer. In some embodiments of the present invention, the top surface of the upper insulating layer is higher than the top surface of the oxygen-diffusion barrier pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having MIM capacitors is configured so that the bottom surface of the lower electrode and a top surface area of an oxidation barrier pattern are substantially equal. Related methods for forming the device are also described.

Abstract: Methods for forming an electronic device can include forming a capacitor structure on a portion of a substrate with the capacitor structure including a first electrode on the substrate, a capacitor dielectric on the first electrode, a second electrode on the dielectric, and a hard mask on the second electrode. More particularly, the capacitor dielectric can be between the first and second electrodes, the first electrode and the capacitor dielectric can be between the second electrode and the substrate, and the first and second electrodes and the capacitor dielectric can be between the hard mask and the substrate. An interlayer dielectric layer can be formed on the hard mask and on portions of the substrate surrounding the capacitor structure, and portions of the interlayer dielectric layer can be removed to expose the hard mask while maintaining portions of the interlayer dielectric layer on portions of the substrate surrounding the capacitor structure.

Abstract: Ferroelectric integrated circuit devices, such as memory devices, are formed on an integrated circuit substrate. Ferroelectric capacitor(s) are on the integrated circuit substrate and a further structure on the integrated circuit substrate overlies at least a part of the ferroelectric capacitor(s). The further structure includes at least one layer providing a barrier to oxygen flow to the ferroelectric capacitor(s). An oxygen penetration path contacting the ferroelectric capacitor(s) is interposed between the ferroelectric capacitor(s) and the further structure. The layer providing a barrier to oxygen flow may be an encapsulated barrier layer. Methods for forming ferroelectric integrated circuit devices, such as memory devices, are also provided.