Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein may achieve crack free filling of structures. A flowable film may substantially fill gaps in a structure and extend over a base in an open area adjacent to the structure. The top surface of the flowable film in the open area may slope down and may be lower than top surfaces of the structure. A capping layer having compressive stress may be formed over the flowable film. The bottom surface of the capping layer in the open area adjacent to the structure is lower than the top surfaces of the lines and may be formed on the downward slope of the flowable film. The flowable film is cured after forming the capping layer, which increases tensile stress of the flowable film. The compressive stress of the capping layer counteracts the tensile stress of the flowable film, which may prevent a crack from forming in the base.

Abstract: Electrical isolation in non-volatile memory is provided by air gaps formed using sacrificial films of differing etch rates. A high etch rate material is formed in an isolation trench. Flowable chemical vapor deposition processes are used to form high etch rate films, and curing is performed to increase their etch rate. A low etch material is formed over the high etch rate material and provides a controlled etch back between charge storage regions in a row direction. A discrete low etch rate layer can be formed or the high etch rate material can be oxidized to form an upper region with a lower etch rate. A controlled etch back enables formation of a wrap-around dielectric and control gate structure in the row direction with minimized variability in the dimensions of the structures. At least a portion of the high etch rate material is removed to form air gaps for isolation.

Abstract: Air gap isolation in non-volatile memory arrays and related fabrication processes are provided. Electrical isolation between adjacent active areas of a substrate can be provided, at least in part, by bit line air gaps that are elongated in a column direction between the active areas. A blocking layer can be introduced to inhibit the formation of materials in the air gaps during subsequent process steps. The blocking layer may result in selective air gap formation or varying dimension of air gaps at cell areas relative to select gate areas in the memory. The blocking layer may result in a smaller vertical dimension for air gaps formed in the isolation regions at select gate areas relative to cell areas. The blocking layer may inhibit formation of air gaps at the select gate areas in other examples. Selective etching, implanting and different isolation materials may be used to selectively define air gaps.

Abstract: When microfabrication is done, a reliable semiconductor device is offered. A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate which has a main front surface, a plurality of convex patterns formed on the main front surface of a semiconductor substrate so that each might have a floating gate and a control gate, a first insulating film formed so that the upper surface and the side surface of each of a plurality of convex patterns might be covered, and so that width might become large rather than the portion which covers the lower part side surface of a convex pattern in the portion which covers an upper part side surface, and a second insulating film that covers the upper surface and the side surface of the first insulating film so that the cavity between the adjacent convex patterns may be occluded. The position occluded by the second insulating film of a cavity is a position higher than the upper surface of a floating gate, and is a position lower than the upper surface of a control gate.

Abstract: When microfabrication is done, a reliable semiconductor device is offered. A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate which has a main front surface, a plurality of convex patterns formed on the main front surface of a semiconductor substrate so that each might have a floating gate and a control gate, a first insulating film formed so that the upper surface and the side surface of each of a plurality of convex patterns might be covered, and so that width might become large rather than the portion which covers the lower part side surface of a convex pattern in the portion which covers an upper part side surface, and a second insulating film that covers the upper surface and the side surface of the first insulating film so that the cavity between the adjacent convex patterns may be occluded. The position occluded by the second insulating film of a cavity is a position higher than the upper surface of a floating gate, and is a position lower than the upper surface of a control gate.