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: 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: 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: 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 as 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 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: 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: A method of forming a dielectric layer having a reduced thickness according to embodiments of the invention includes forming a lower oxide layer on a substrate, and forming a nitride layer on the lower oxide layer. Then, a preliminary oxide layer is formed on the nitride layer. A radical oxidation process using oxygen radicals is performed on the preliminary oxide layer to form an upper oxide layer on the nitride layer. The dielectric layer includes an ONO composite layer consisting of the lower oxide layer, the nitride layer, and the upper oxide layer. Due to the decreased thickness of the dielectric layer, the dielectric layer has an improved capacitance and an increased coupling coefficient.

Abstract: A method for forming a capacitor comprises forming a supporting insulating film, an etching stopper film made of alumina series or hafnium oxide series, and a mold insulating film on a surface of a semiconductor substrate having a first structure including conductive plugs surrounded by a first insulating film, patterning the mold insulating film, the etching stopper film and the supporting insulating film to form openings that expose the conductive plugs, forming a storage node conductive film electrically connected to the conductive plugs on the surface of the semiconductor substrate having the openings formed therein and concurrently annealing the etching stopper film, separating the storage node conductive film to form a plurality of storage nodes, exposing at least a part of an outer surface of the storage node by selectively etching remaining mold insulating film, which is exposed by the separated storage node conductive film, until the etching stopper film is exposed, and forming a plurality of plate n

Abstract: A method of forming a dielectric layer for a non-volatile memory cell is disclosed. According to the method, a dielectric layer is formed by successively forming a lower oxide layer, a nitride layer and an upper oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate. The lower and upper oxide layers are formed using a radical oxidation process. A method of forming a non-volatile memory cell having the dielectric layer is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method of forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) region in a semiconductor device, a pad oxide layer and a pad nitride layer may be formed on a semiconductor substrate. The pad nitride layer and pad oxide layer may be patterned to form an isolation region with exposed portions on the pad nitride layer, pad oxide layer and semiconductor substrate. A radical oxide layer may be formed on the exposed portions, and a trench may be formed in the isolation region by etching the semiconductor substrate and radical oxide layer. The STI region may be formed by filling an insulating layer in the trench.

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: 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.