Abstract: Provided are methods of forming contact structures and semiconductor devices fabricated using the contact structures. The formation of a contact structure can include forming a first molding pattern on a substrate, forming an insulating layer to cover at least a sidewall of the first molding pattern, forming a second molding pattern to cover a sidewall of the insulating layer and spaced apart from the first molding pattern, removing a portion of the insulating layer between the first and second molding patterns to form a hole, and forming an insulating pattern between the first and second molding patterns, and forming a contact pattern in the hole.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a semiconductor memory cell in which in order to store two bits or more data in a memory cell, three or more bottom electrode contacts (BECs) and phase-change materials (GST) have a parallel structure on a single contact plug (CP) and set resistances are changed depending on thicknesses (S), lengths (L) or resistivities (?) of the three or more bottom electrode contacts, so that a reset resistance and three different set resistances enable data other than in set and reset states to be stored. Also, a method of forming a memory cell in which three or more phase-change materials (GST) have a parallel structure on a single bottom electrode contact, and the phase-change materials have different set resistances depending on composition ratio or type, so that four or more different resistances can be implemented is provided.

Abstract: A phase changeable memory cell array region includes a lower interlayer insulating layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The region also includes a plurality of conductive plugs disposed through the lower interlayer insulating layer. The region also includes a phase changeable material pattern operably disposed on the lower interlayer insulating layer, the phase changeable pattern covering at least two of the plurality of conductive plugs, wherein the phase changeable material pattern includes a plurality of first regions in contact with one or more of the plurality of conductive plugs and at least one second region interposed between the plurality of the first regions, wherein the at least one second region has a lower thermal conductivity than the plurality of first regions. The phase changeable memory cell array region also includes an upper interlayer insulating layer covering at least one of the phase changeable material pattern and the lower interlayer insulating layer.

Abstract: Provided are a phase change memory device and a method of forming the same. According to the phase change memory, a first plug electrode and a second plug electrode are spaced apart from each other in a mold insulating layer. A phase change pattern is disposed on the mold insulating layer. The phase change pattern contacts a top of the first plug electrode and a first potion of a top of the second plug electrode. An interconnection is electrically connected to a second portion of the top of the second plug electrode.

Abstract: A phase changeable memory cell array region includes a lower interlayer insulating layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The region also includes a plurality of conductive plugs disposed through the lower interlayer insulating layer. The region also includes a phase changeable material pattern operably disposed on the lower interlayer insulating layer, the phase changeable pattern covering at least two of the plurality of conductive plugs, wherein the phase changeable material pattern includes a plurality of first regions in contact with one or more of the plurality of conductive plugs and at least one second region interposed between the plurality of the first regions, wherein the at least one second region has a lower thermal conductivity than the plurality of first regions. The phase changeable memory cell array region also includes an upper interlayer insulating layer covering at least one of the phase changeable material pattern and the lower interlayer insulating layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a chalcogenide film is provided which includes forming a germanium film on a substrate by exposing the substrate to a germanium source and a first antimony source, and growing a polynary film from the germanium film by exposing the germanium film to at least one of a tellurium source and a second antimony source.

Abstract: A contact structure that includes a first pattern formed on a substrate, wherein the first pattern has a recessed region in an upper surface thereof, a planarized buffer pattern formed on the first pattern, and a conductive pattern formed on the planarized buffer pattern.

Abstract: In a semiconductor memory device and a method of manufacturing the same, an insulating layer is formed on a substrate having a logic region on which a first pad is provided and a cell region on which a second pad and a lower electrode are subsequently provided. The insulating layer is etched to be a first insulating layer pattern having a first opening exposing the first pad. A first plug is formed in the first opening. The first insulating layer pattern where the first plug is formed is etched to be a second insulating layer pattern having a second opening exposing the lower electrode. A second plug including a phase-changeable material is formed in the second opening. A conductive wire and an upper electrode are formed on the first plug and the second plug, respectively.

Abstract: There are provided PRAMS having a plurality of active regions located vertically in sequence and methods of forming the same. The PRAM and the method provide an approach to rapidly changing phase in a phase change layer pattern with a given design rule. A semiconductor substrate defining at least one reference active region is prepared in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. Other semiconductor substrates on a vertical line passing a main surface of the reference active region are located in sequence. The other semiconductor substrates define other active regions, respectively. A lower cell gate pattern is formed on the semiconductor substrate of the reference active region, and upper cell gate patterns are disposed on the other semiconductor substrates of the other active regions, respectively.

Abstract: Phase change memory devices can have bottom patterns on a substrate. Line-shaped or L-shaped bottom electrodes can be formed in contact with respective bottom patterns on a substrate and to have top surfaces defined by dimensions in x and y axes directions on the substrate. The dimension along the x-axis of the top surface of the bottom electrodes has less width than a resolution limit of a photolithography process used to fabricate the phase change memory device. Phase change patterns can be formed in contact with the top surface of the bottom electrodes to have a greater width than each of the dimensions in the x and y axes directions of the top surface of the bottom electrodes and top electrodes can be formed on the phase change patterns, wherein the line shape or the L shape represents a sectional line shape or a sectional L shape of the bottom electrodes in the x-axis direction.

Abstract: A phase change memory device and method of manufacturing the same is provided. A first electrode having a first surface is provided on a substrate. A second electrode having a second surface at a different level from the first surface is on the substrate. The second electrode may be spaced apart from the first electrode. A third electrode may be formed corresponding to the first electrode. A fourth electrode may be formed corresponding to the second electrode. A first phase change pattern may be interposed between the first surface and the third electrode. A second phase change pattern may be interposed between the second surface and the fourth electrode.

Abstract: Phase change memory devices include a heating electrode on a substrate and a phase change material pattern on the heating electrode. An adhesive pattern is disposed between the heating electrode and the phase change material pattern. The adhesive pattern contains carbon. Methods of fabricating phase change memory devices are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a phase-change memory device including a phase-change material pattern of which strips are shared by neighboring cells. The phase-change memory device includes a plurality of bottom electrodes arranged in a matrix array. The phase-change material pattern is formed on the bottom electrodes, and the strips of the phase-change material pattern are electrically connected to the bottom electrodes. Each strip of the phase-change material pattern is connected to at least two diagonally neighboring bottom electrodes of the bottom electrodes.

Abstract: Provided are a phase change memory device and a method of forming the same. According to the phase change memory, a first plug electrode and a second plug electrode are spaced apart from each other in a mold insulating layer. A phase change pattern is disposed on the mold insulating layer. The phase change pattern contacts a top of the first plug electrode and a first potion of a top of the second plug electrode. An interconnection is electrically connected to a second portion of the top of the second plug electrode.

Abstract: There are provided PRAMS having a plurality of active regions located vertically in sequence and methods of forming the same. The PRAM and the method provide an approach to rapidly changing phase in a phase change layer pattern with a given design rule. A semiconductor substrate defining at least one reference active region is prepared in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. Other semiconductor substrates on a vertical line passing a main surface of the reference active region are located in sequence. The other semiconductor substrates define other active regions, respectively. A lower cell gate pattern is formed on the semiconductor substrate of the reference active region, and upper cell gate patterns are disposed on the other semiconductor substrates of the other active regions, respectively.

Abstract: There are provided PRAMS having a plurality of active regions located vertically in sequence and methods of forming the same. The PRAM and the method provide an approach to rapidly changing phase in a phase change layer pattern with a given design rule. A semiconductor substrate defining at least one reference active region is prepared in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. Other semiconductor substrates on a vertical line passing a main surface of the reference active region are located in sequence. The other semiconductor substrates define other active regions, respectively. A lower cell gate pattern is formed on the semiconductor substrate of the reference active region, and upper cell gate patterns are disposed on the other semiconductor substrates of the other active regions, respectively.

Abstract: In a semiconductor memory device and a method of manufacturing the same, an insulating layer is formed on a substrate having a logic region on which a first pad is provided and a cell region on which a second pad and a lower electrode are subsequently provided. The insulating layer is etched to be a first insulating layer pattern having a first opening exposing the first pad. A first plug is formed in the first opening. The first insulating layer pattern where the first plug is formed is etched to be a second insulating layer pattern having a second opening exposing the lower electrode. A second plug including a phase-changeable material is formed in the second opening. A conductive wire and an upper electrode are formed on the first plug and the second plug, respectively.

Abstract: A phase changeable memory cell array region includes a lower interlayer insulating layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The region also includes a plurality of conductive plugs disposed through the lower interlayer insulating layer. The region also includes a phase changeable material pattern operably disposed on the lower interlayer insulating layer, the phase changeable pattern covering at least two of the plurality of conductive plugs, wherein the phase changeable material pattern includes a plurality of first regions in contact with one or more of the plurality of conductive plugs and at least one second region interposed between the plurality of the first regions, wherein the at least one second region has a lower thermal conductivity than the plurality of first regions. The phase changeable memory cell array region also includes an upper interlayer insulating layer covering at least one of the phase changeable material pattern and the lower interlayer insulating layer.

Abstract: Ferroelectric capacitors include a support insulating film on an integrated circuit substrate and having a trench therein. A lower electrode is on sidewalls and a bottom surface of the trench. A seed conductive film covers the lower electrode. A ferroelectric film is provided on the support insulating film and the seed conductive film and an upper electrode is provided on the ferroelectric film. The lower electrode may fill the trench and the ferroelectric film may extend over all of the seed conductive film and the support insulating film adjacent the seed conductive film.

Abstract: There are provided PRAMS having a plurality of active regions located vertically in sequence and methods of forming the same. The PRAM and the method provide an approach to rapidly changing phase in a phase change layer pattern with a given design rule. A semiconductor substrate defining at least one reference active region is prepared in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. Other semiconductor substrates on a vertical line passing a main surface of the reference active region are located in sequence. The other semiconductor substrates define other active regions, respectively. A lower cell gate pattern is formed on the semiconductor substrate of the reference active region, and upper cell gate patterns are disposed on the other semiconductor substrates of the other active regions, respectively.