Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an isolation layer defining an active region formed in a semiconductor substrate. A first recessing process is performed on the isolation layer to expose edge portions of the active region. A first rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region. A second recessing process is performed on the isolation layer. A second rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of forming a gate structure for a semiconductor device includes forming a preliminary gate structure on a semiconductor substrate. The preliminary gate structure includes a gate oxide pattern and a conductive pattern sequentially stacked on the substrate. Then, a re-oxidation process is performed to the substrate having the preliminary gate structure using an oxygen radical including at least one oxygen atom, so that an oxide layer is formed on a surface of the substrate and sidewalls of the preliminary gate structure to form the gate structure for a semiconductor device. The thickness of the gate oxide pattern is prevented from increasing, and the quality of the oxide layer is improved.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a floating gate of a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a pattern is formed on a substrate to have an opening that exposes a portion of the substrate. A first preliminary polysilicon layer is formed on the pattern and the exposed portion of the substrate to substantially fill the opening. A first polysilicon layer is formed by partially etching the first preliminary polysilicon layer until a first void formed in the first preliminary polysilicon layer is exposed. A second polysilicon layer is formed on the first polysilicon layer.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a floating gate of a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a pattern is formed on a substrate to have an opening that exposes a portion of the substrate. A first preliminary polysilicon layer is formed on the pattern and the exposed portion of the substrate to substantially fill the opening. A first polysilicon layer is formed by partially etching the first preliminary polysilicon layer until a first void formed in the first preliminary polysilicon layer is exposed. A second polysilicon layer is formed on the first polysilicon layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a floating gate in a non-volatile memory device having a self-aligned shallow trench isolation (SA-STI) structure. First, a tunnel oxide layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate having a SA-STI structure. Next, a first floating gate layer is formed on the tunnel oxide layer at a first temperature of no less than about 530° C. A second floating gate layer is then formed on the first floating gate layer at a second temperature of no more than 580° C. After depositing the first floating gate layer, the second floating gate layer is in-situ deposited to prevent the growth of a native oxide layer on the surface of the first floating gate layer. Thus, gate resistance can be reduced and process time can be shortened.

Abstract: In methods of forming an oxide layer and an oxynitride layer, a substrate is loaded into a reaction chamber having a first pressure and a first temperature. The oxide layer is formed on the substrate using a reaction gas while increasing a temperature of the reaction chamber from the first temperature to a second temperature under a second pressure. Additionally, the oxide layer is nitrified in the reaction chamber to form the oxynitride layer on the substrate. When the oxide layer and/or the oxynitride layer are formed on the substrate, minute patterns of a semiconductor device, for example a DRAM device, an SRAM device or an LOGIC device may be easily formed on the oxide layer or the oxynitride layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a floating gate of a non-volatile memory device can include etching a mask pattern formed between field isolation regions in a field isolation pattern on a substrate to recess a surface of the mask pattern below an upper surface of adjacent field isolation regions to form an opening having a width defined by a side wall of the adjacent field isolation regions above the surface. Then the adjacent field isolation regions is etched to increase the width of the opening.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device such as a flash memory device, an insulating pattern having an opening is formed to partially expose a surface of a substrate. A first silicon layer is formed on the exposed surface portion of the substrate and the insulating pattern. The first silicon layer has an opened seam overlying the previously exposed portion of the substrate. A heat treatment on the substrate is performed at a temperature sufficient to induce silicon migration so as to cause the opened seam to be closed via the silicon migration. A second silicon layer is then formed on the first silicon layer. Thus, surface profile of a floating gate electrode obtained from the first and second silicon layers may be improved.

Abstract: In methods of forming an oxide layer and an oxynitride layer, a substrate is loaded into a reaction chamber having a first pressure and a first temperature. The oxide layer is formed on the substrate using a reaction gas while increasing a temperature of the reaction chamber from the first temperature to a second temperature under a second pressure. Additionally, the oxide layer is nitrified in the reaction chamber to form the oxynitride layer on the substrate. When the oxide layer and/or the oxynitride layer are formed on the substrate, minute patterns of a semiconductor device, for example a DRAM device, an SRAM device or an LOGIC device may be easily formed on the oxide layer or the oxynitride layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an isolation layer defining an active region formed in a semiconductor substrate. A first recessing process is performed on the isolation layer to expose edge portions of the active region. A first rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region. A second recessing process is performed on the isolation layer. A second rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region.

Abstract: In methods of forming an oxide layer and an oxynitride layer, a substrate is loaded into a reaction chamber having a first pressure and a first temperature. The oxide layer is formed on the substrate using a reaction gas while increasing a temperature of the reaction chamber from the first temperature to a second temperature under a second pressure. Additionally, the oxide layer is nitrified in the reaction chamber to form the oxynitride layer on the substrate. When the oxide layer and/or the oxynitride layer are formed on the substrate, minute patterns of a semiconductor device, for example a DRAM device, an SRAM device or an LOGIC device may be easily formed on the oxide layer or the oxynitride layer.

Abstract: In a method of forming an insulation structure, at least one oxide layer is formed on an object by at least one oxidation process, and then at least one nitride layer is formed from the oxide layer by at least one nitration process. An edge portion of the insulation structure may have a thickness substantially the same as that of a central portion of the insulation structure so that the insulation structure may have a uniform thickness and improved insulation characteristics. When the insulation structure is employed as a tunnel insulation layer of a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device may have enhanced endurance and improved electrical characteristics because a threshold voltage distribution of cells in the semiconductor device may become uniform.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a floating gate of a flash memory cell are provided in which a first polysilicon layer is formed between first and second isolation layers. An upper region of the first polysilicon layer is then oxidized. The oxidized upper region of the first polysilicon layer is subsequently removed. A second polysilicon layer is formed on the first polysilicon layer. The second polysilicon layer and the first polysilicon layer are patterned to form the floating gate.

Abstract: There are provided a method and an apparatus of forming an insulating layer including silicon oxynitride. The method includes performing a plasma treatment process for supplying a plasma reaction gas to a substrate to be treated after completing the annealing process. The apparatus includes a sealed processing room having gas supply and exhaust lines running thereto. A quartz inner tube and quartz inlet pipe both include holes therethrough, but in orthogonal directions to one another, to flow a reaction gas onto the wafers loaded within the sealed processing room.

Abstract: In a method of forming a layer having a lower electrical resistance and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first layer may be formed on a single crystalline substrate using amorphous silicon doped with impurities. A heat treatment may be performed on the single crystalline substrate at a temperature of about 550° C. to about 600° C. to convert the first layer into a second layer including a single crystalline silicon film transformed from a lower portion of the first layer contacting the single crystalline substrate and a polysilicon film transformed from an upper portion of the first layer. The layer may be formed at a relatively low temperature by a selective epitaxial growth process, and thus degradation or damage to a semiconductor device, which may be generated in a high temperature process, may be reduced.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device such as a flash memory device, an insulating pattern having an opening is formed to partially expose a surface of a substrate. A first silicon layer is formed on the exposed surface portion of the substrate and the insulating pattern. The first silicon layer has an opened seam overlying the previously exposed portion of the substrate. A heat treatment on the substrate is performed at a temperature sufficient to induce silicon migration so as to cause the opened seam to be closed via the silicon migration. A second silicon layer is then formed on the first silicon layer. Thus, surface profile of a floating gate electrode obtained from the first and second silicon layers may be improved.

Abstract: Methods of forming a gate structure of a non-volatile memory device include forming a gate pattern having a control gate on a semiconductor substrate. An oxidation-preventing layer is formed on the control gate in a process chamber while maintaining a substantially oxygen free atmosphere in the process chamber. An oxide spacer is formed on a sidewall of the gate pattern with the oxidation-preventing layer thereon in the process chamber. Forming an oxidation-preventing layer may include exposing the gate pattern to a first gas in the process chamber and forming an oxide spacer may include exposing the gate pattern to a second gas including oxygen in the process chamber.

Abstract: In accordance with a method of trench isolation, a first oxide layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A first conductive layer and a nitride layer are successively formed on the first oxide layer. The nitride layer, the first conductive layer and the first oxide layer are etched to form a nitride layer pattern, a first conductive layer pattern and an oxide layer pattern. A portion of the substrate adjacent to the first conductive layer pattern is etched to form a trench in the substrate. The trench is cured under dinitrogen monoxide (N2O) or nitrogen monoxide(NO) atmosphere. A second oxide layer is formed in the trench through an in-situ process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a floating gate in a non-volatile memory device having a self-aligned shallow trench isolation (SA-STI) structure. First, a tunnel oxide layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate having a SA-STI structure. Next, a first floating gate layer is formed on the tunnel oxide layer at a first temperature of no less than about 530° C. A second floating gate layer is then formed on the first floating gate layer at a second temperature of no more than 580° C. After depositing the first floating gate layer, the second floating gate layer is in-situ deposited to prevent the growth of a native oxide layer on the surface of the first floating gate layer. Thus, gate resistance can be reduced and process time can be shortened.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment of the invention a method of forming a gate oxide layer of a semiconductor device uses deuterium gas. The method includes introducing a semiconductor substrate, and depositing an insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate by supplying an oxidation reaction gas and a deuterium gas to the semiconductor substrate. Thus, a high quality gate oxide layer can be formed and resistance to degradation from the hot carrier effect can be improved. Further, when the method is applied to a tunnel oxide layer process of a flash memory, problems such as an increasing dispersion of the threshold voltage can be mitigated.